Three Kitchener Rangers selected in 2023 NHL Draft
Nashville, Tenn. – Three Kitchener Rangers were selected in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft Thursday. Carson Rehkopf was picked by the Seattle Kraken in the second round, followed by Hunter Brzustewicz (Vancouver Canucks) in the third round and Matthew Andonovski (Ottawa Senators) in the fifth round.
- Media Scrums: Rehkopf | Brzustewicz
- The Record Newspaper Feature
- Kitchener Rangers in the NHL
- Pick-by-Pick Results
Rehkopf was selected by Seattle in the second-round, 50th-overall, after finishing third on the Kitchener’s roster last season, and the highest of Draft eligible Rangers. The Vaughan, Ont. native recorded 59 points (30G, 29A) in 68 games-played with Kitchener during the 2022-23 campaign.
“Kitchener is such a first-class place, I think they do everything for our development,” said Rehkopf while addressing the media in Nashville Thursday. “They’ve given me the opportunity to show myself and really play my game. It’s really helped me.”
.@CarsonRehkopf addressing the media in Nashville after being picked by @SeattleKraken. #RTown | #Kitchener pic.twitter.com/esJpS3VLJy
— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) June 29, 2023
Brzustewicz (pronounced brew-STEHV-itch) was selected by Vancouver in the third-round, 75th overall. The Washington, Mich., native finished first among all Rangers blueliners and was eighth among all OHL defenceman this past season, recording 57 points (6G, 51A) in 68 games.
“It’s been great in Kitchener, the Rangers welcomed me with open arms,” said Brzustewicz also while addressing the media Thursday. “My teammates were very welcoming, and my billets were also a big part of that. I love them and want to say thank you to them. It’s been great in Kitchener, my coaches and teammates were awesome.”
.@brzustewicz4 addressing the media after being selected by @Canucks. #OHLRangers | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/IvRpintFWf
— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) June 29, 2023
Andonovski was then selected by Ottawa in the fifth round (140th overall). A native of Markham, Ont., Andonovski recorded 16 points, including a plus-25 rating, in 67 games this past season.
With today’s three Rangers being selected, Kitchener now had nine players on their roster last season that were tied to NHL clubs: Matthew Andonovski (Ottawa Senators), Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars), Hunter Brzustewicz (Vancouver Canucks), Tomas Hamara (Ottawa Senators), Filip Mesar (Montreal Canadiens), Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings), Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken), Roman Schmidt (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Danny Zhilkin (Winnipeg Jets).
Since 1969, the Kitchener Rangers have now had 168 players selected in the NHL Draft, which is the fourth-most of any OHL club. The highest two selections were Gabriel Landeskog (2011) and Brian Bellows (1982), who were both selected second overall. The most Rangers selected in a draft was five in 1998. 16 Rangers have been selected in the NHL Draft by 14 different NHL clubs in just the past 10 years and 12 former Rangers have played in the NHL in that time.
For live coverage of the Rangers at the 2023 NHL Draft, stay tuned to the Rangers social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by searching @OHLRangers.
For inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Senior Director, Broadcasting, Communications & Hockey Operations
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
519-497-9342
[email protected]