Game Preview: Rangers Begin Eastern Swing in Kingston on Friday

Game Preview: Rangers Begin Eastern Swing in Kingston on Friday

Kingston, ON – The Kitchener Rangers head east to Kingston for the only time of the season to take on the Frontenacs. Puck drop is set for 7 pm at The Leon’s Centre.

• TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)
• Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV
• Radio: 570 AM CKGL
• Live Stats
• Live Tweets

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Over the Years:

Kitchener and Kingston have played each other 10 times since the 2016-17 season. The Rangers hold the advantage with an overall record of 6-3-1-0 and when playing in Kingston they are 2-2-1-0. The last time they met was on March 19^th, 2023 in Kitchener when the Rangers won 6-0. Current Rangers Matthew Sop (1G), Carson Rehkopf (2G), Filip Mešár (Montreal Canadiens- 1A), and Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames-1A) all got on the board in the game. Former Ranger and current Frontenac Roman Schmidt (Tampa Bay Lightning) registered an assist in the game.

Team Statistics:

Kitchener

Overall Power Play: 6th in the OHL at 22.5%

Away Power Play: 9^th in the OHL at 21.6%

Overall Penalty Kill: 7^th in the OHL at 80.8%

Away Penalty Kill: 14^th in the OHL at 76.7%

Kingston

Overall Power Play: 4^th in the OHL at 24.6%

Home Power Play: 9^th in the OHL at 21.1%

Overall Penalty Kill: 11^th in the OHL at 80.1%

Home Penalty Kill: 4^th in the OHL at 82.7%

SCOUTING THE RANGERS (31-17-2-0)

4^th in the Western Conference, 6^th in the OHL / 6^th in Week 18 of the OHL Power Rankings

Last Time Out:                                                                                                                  

The Rangers were last on the ice in Erie on Saturday night where they lost 6-1 against the Otters. The only Rangers goal was scored by Simon Motew assisted by Matthew Sop and Edward Šalé (Seattle Kraken).

Rangers to Watch:

• Matthew Sop is tied for the most points on the Rangers with 30 goals and 39 assists for 69 points. He is ranked fourth in goal scoring in the league and fifth in points. Sop is currently on a four-game point streak with four goals and two assists in those games.
• Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames) is tied for the most points amongst defenders in the OHL with 69 while also the top assist-getter in the league with 61. Brzustewicz is tied for the most points on the Rangers with Sop at 69 points.
• Trent Swick over his last 10 games has registered 11 points (three goals and eight assists). The forward is fourth in points and goals on the Rangers with a 20-30-50 stat line.

Goaltending:

• Jackson Parsons has played in 36 games with a 19-12-1-0 record. His goals-against average is 3.00 which is third best in the OHL and his save percentage is 0.897. Parsons played 49 minutes against the Otters on Saturday night where he faced 20 shots allowing three goals to finish the game with a 3.66 goals-against-average and a 0.850 save percentage.

Rangers Connections

Roman Schmidt played 146 games for the Rangers scoring 15 goals and 50 assists for 65 points. Schmidt was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 NHL Draft in the third round, 96^th overall. The defenceman was traded from the Rangers to the Frontenacs on December 12^th,  2023 in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection and a third-round pick in 2027.

SCOUTING THE FRONTENACS (23-23-1-0)

7^th in the Eastern Conference, 14^th in the OHL / 15^th in Week 18 of the OHL Power Rankings

Last Time Out:

The Kingston Frontenacs travelled to Oshawa on Tuesday night where they defeated the Generals 6-4. Four Frontenacs had multi-point nights with Paul Ludwinski (Chicago Blackhawks) leading the way with three goals and two assists, Jacob Battaglia scored one goal and two assists, Matthew Soto had three assists, and Roman Schmidt (Tampa Bay Lightning) registered one goal and one assist.

Frontenacs to Watch:

• Paul Ludwinski (Chicago Blackhawks) has played 39 games with the Frontenacs registering 17 goals and 33 assists for 50 points for the most points on the team. Over his last 10 games, he has 14 points with five goals and nine assists.
• Jacob Battaglia has the second most points for Kingston with a 24-24-48 stat line. The 2006-born winger has 13 points over his last 10 games with eight goals and five assists.
• Leading the Frontenacs blueline is Quinton Burns (St. Louis Blues) with four goals and 21 assists for 25 points. Burns was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 2023 NHL Draft in the third round, 74^th

Goaltender:

• Mason Vaccari has been the Frontenacs go-to goaltender this season playing in 42 games with a 19-21-1-0 record. His goals-against average is 3.70 and his save percentage is 0.880. Most recently Vaccari played against Oshawa where he faced 37 shots allowing four goals to finish the game with a 0.892 save percentage.

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Friday’s game vs the Kingston Frontenacs 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 night’s action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.

UP NEXT:

The Rangers get back to The Aud on Tuesday night to take on their Highway Seven rivals the Guelph Storm. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 pm. They will then host the Mississauga Steelheads for some Friday night hockey at The Aud followed by a Sunday afternoon game hosting Sudbury. Great seats are still available, grab your tickets to the action at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.

For inquiries, contact:

Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
[email protected]

Photo Credit: Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers