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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Top of the League Faces off for Second Time at the Aud

December 15, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener, ON - The Kitchener Rangers collected nine of a possible 10 points over the last five games. On Friday, the Rangers will host the second-place Soo Greyhounds for their second meeting of the season. Puck drop is set for 7 pm at The Aud.

TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)

Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV

Radio: 570 AM CKGL

PROMOTIONS

The Kitchener Rangers are proud to once again partner with The Food Bank of Waterloo Region for our Holiday Game and Food Drive on Friday, December 15th. Volunteers from The Food Bank will be onsite collecting donations so bring cash or a non-perishable food item to the game! Integral to our community during this holiday season, we ask that #RTown generously donate what they can upon entry. Fans are also encouraged to wear their best holiday sweater or elf costume to the game to celebrate the season. The halls of the Aud will be decked as the Rangers complete their last game before the holiday break.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This Season:

The Soo Greyhounds have been chasing the Rangers in the league standings ever since they came to The Aud on November 12th when the Rangers secured a 5-3 victory to maintain their first-place spot. Rangers Carson Rehkopf, Antonio Pugliese and Filip Mešár all recorded a goal while Trent Swick found the back of the net twice to take home first star honours. The Greyhounds' Justin Cloutier netted two goals and Owen Allard netted one in the game.

Over the Years:

The Rangers and Greyhounds have faced each other 22 times dating back to the 2017-18 season, with the Rangers holding an 8-13-1-0 record and when playing at The Aud, the Rangers have a 5-6-1-0 record. Last season the Rangers finished the season series against Soo 3-1 marking their best record against the Greyhounds since the 2009-10 season when the Rangers went undefeated.

Team Statistics:

The Rangers and Greyhounds special teams both have been strong through the first half of the season. Kitchener has the league's best penalty kill when playing on home ice converting at 90.3%. While their power play is fourth in the league at 29.4% and second-best at home at 33.9%. The Greyhounds' power play is currently ranked eighth in the league converting at 22.3%. While they own the third-best penalty kill at 83.3% and drop to fourth when playing on the road to 85.3%.

The Rangers have tallied the most goals for in the league with 158 and have 97 goals against for an impressive plus-61 goal differential. The Greyhounds have not been shy of goals either netting 138 while allowing 102 goals against for a plus-36 goal differential.

WORLD JUNIORS

Both teams will be short a few of their key pieces as they are away with their respective countries gearing up for the World Junior Championships in Sweden. The Rangers' Carson Rehkopf and the Soo's Owen Allard have both been named to Team Canada. Rangers' forward Filip Mešár is with Team Slovakia in hopes of making his fourth World Juniors and Greyhounds' defenseman Arttu Karki has cracked Finland's preliminary roster.

SCOUTING THE RANGERS (23-7-2-0)

1st in the Western Conference, 1st in the OHL / 2nd in Week 11 of the CHL Power Rankings

Last Time Out

The Rangers were in Guelph on Sunday afternoon taking on the Strom where they won 3-2 in regulation. Eight different Rangers recorded a point with Adrian Misaljevic, Luke Ellinas and Matthew Sop (1G, 1A) each netting a goal. Trent Swick, Matthew Andonovski, Cameron Reid and Luca Romano all had an assist in the match and Cameron Arquette recorded his first OHL point in his first OHL game on Sop's goal.

Rangers to Watch:

Matthew Sop is currently on four OHL leaderboards, second in points behind Rehkopf, with 21 goals, and 31 assists for 52 points, he has the third most assists in the league, he is in a four-way tie for second in power play assists (13) and has the third most game-winning goals with five. Sop is on a nine-game point streak having recorded 17 points with eight goals and nine assists.

Hunter Brzustewicz remains atop all CHL defencemen in points with 51 and sits third for most assists in all the CHL with 44. The last time the Rangers played the Soo Brzustewicz had two assists.

Jackson Parsons is ranked first on some key league goaltender leaderboards with a 2.61 goals against average, .913 save percentage, 16 wins, and four shutouts in 24 games played. On November 12th against the Soo, Parsons faced 35 shots allowing three to finish the contest with a .914 save percentage.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS (21-8-2-1)

2nd in the Western Conference, 2nd in the OHL/ 4th in Week 11 of the CHL Power Rankings

Last Time Out:

The Greyhounds are on an extended road trip having travelled to North Bay on Wednesday night to face the Battalion where they came out victorious 6-2. Greyhounds' skaters Christopher Brown and Justin Cloutier both recorded a goal each with Brenden Sirizzotti and Alex Kostov both tallying two goals in the win. After taking on the Rangers Friday they will head to Guelph the following day to close out their first half of the season.

Greyhounds to Watch:

Jack Beck (Drafted by Calgary Flames in 2021) leads the Greyhounds in points with 11 goals and 28 assists totalling 39 points in 31 games. Beck is currently on a five-game point streak with 11 points (2G, 7A) in these games. He has recorded three points in each of his last three games played (3G, 5A). The winger has played against Kitchener five times in his OHL career and has two assists which both occurred on October 7th, 2022, when he played for the Ottawa 67's.

Marco Mignosa is second on the Greyhounds in points with an 11-21-32 stat line. Mignosa has played 11 games against the Rangers, collecting two assists, on October 29th, 2021 and March 11th, 2022. On Wednesday night in North Bay, Mignosa had two assists.

Charlie Schenkel has taken to the net in 24 of their games. He holds a 3.09 goals against average, .883 save percentage with a 14-7-2-0 record.

RANGERS REACH

Support our community while cheering on your Rangers! Rangers Reach 50/50 and game worn jersey Raffles take place at each Rangers home game and proceeds go to support our many community initiatives, including Scholarships, Community Impact Grants, in-kind donations, and more! Your 50/50 and jersey ticket purchases help to make a difference in our community! Tickets can be purchased online anywhere in Ontario at Rangers5050.com and rangersjersey.com

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Friday's contest vs Soo Greyhounds will be televised live throughout Kitchener and the Waterloo Region on Rogers TV, cable channel 20, and can be watched across the province of Ontario on the Super Sports Pak on channel 470 for cable subscribers. The game will be streamed live online on OHL Live on CHL TV. Additionally, fans can listen to Friday's action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.

UP NEXT:

The Rangers will head to Barrie on Saturday for their last game before the Holiday break. Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm at The Sadlon Arena. The Rangers return to The Aud on December 29th to take on the Flint Firebirds. Don't miss the action and grab your tickets at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2023


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