Game Preview: Kitchener Travels to Memorial Cup Host Saginaw on Saturday
Saginaw, MI – The Rangers are in Saginaw on Saturday night to take on the Spirit looking to come back after their first three straight losses of the season. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm at The Dow Event Centre.
- Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV
- Radio: 570 AM CKGL
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
This Season:
The Rangers opened their season at The Aud against Saginaw on September 29th where they won 4-3. The last two meetings between the clubs Saginaw has defeated the Rangers. The most recent match between them was held on January 4th at The Aud with a final score of 3-2 in favour of the Spirit. Max Dirracolo scored his first OHL goal assisted by Antonio Pugliese and Hunter Brzustewicz (Vancouver Canucks). Tanner Lam grabbed a goal assisted by Matthew Andonovksi (Ottawa Senators) and Hunter Brzustewicz (Vancouver Canucks). Current Saginaw skaters Calem Mangone, and Hunter Haight (Minnesota Wild) scored with, Michael Misa registering two assists, and Joey Willis, Hunter Haight, Sebastien Gervais, and Calem Mangone each tallying one.
Over the Years:
The Rangers have faced Saginaw 19 times over the past five seasons. They hold a 9-8-2-0 overall record and when playing in Saginaw the Rangers are 3-6-0-0. Over these 19 games, the Rangers have scored 57 goals while the Spirit have netted 69. The best campaign between the two clubs was the 2017-18 season when Kitchener went undefeated in all four games.
Team Statistics:
Kitchener
Overall Power Play: 6th in the OHL at 24.3%
Away Power Play: 8th in the OHL at 22.9%
Overall Penalty Kill: 8th in the OHL at 81.1%
Away Penalty Kill: 15th in the OHL at 76%
Saginaw
Overall Power Play: 3rd in the OHL at 27.7%
Home Power Play: 2nd in the OHL at 29.5%
Overall Penalty Kill: 1st in the OHL at 85.4%
Home Penalty Kill: 2nd in the OHL at 85%
SCOUTING THE RANGERS (30-14-2-0)
3rd in the Western Conference, 5th in the OHL / 4th in Week 16 of the OHL Power Rankings
Last Time Out:
Kitchener last took the ice on Friday against the Soo Greyhounds where they fell 4-2. Matthew Sop and Eduard Šalé (Seattle Kraken) scored the Rangers’ goals with Carson Campbell and Matthew Sop recording the assists. The Rangers were short-staffed in the game missing six key players from their lineup while dressing seven first-year players.
Rangers to Watch:
- Matthew Sop was bumped up to fifth in points in the league after registering two points in Friday night’s game against the Soo. Over his last 10 games, Sop has 11 points (5G, 6A). In his 46 games this season Sop has a 27-38-65 stat line.
- Eduard Šalé (Seattle Kraken), the Rangers trade deadline pick-up from the Barrie Colts, earned his first point in a Rangers jersey on Saturday, January 20th against London with a goal, followed by another on Friday in the Soo. The forward has played in 29 games this season registering nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points.
- Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken) has earned 15 points over his last 10 games (8G, 7A). Rehkopf has played 38 games registering 37 goals and 28 assists for 65 points to make him fourth in points and first in goals in the OHL.
In Net:
- Jackson Parsons suited up in Friday night’s game against the Soo facing 27 shots allowing three to finish the game with a .889 save percentage. Over 33 games, Parsons has an 18-11-1-0 record with a .899 save percentage and 2.98 goals-against average which is fourth best amongst goaltenders in the OHL.
SCOUTING THE SPIRIT (30-12-0-1)
4thin the Western Conference, 6th in the OHL/ 2nd in Week 16 of the OHL Power Rankings
Last Time Out:
The Saginaw Spirit is on a five game win streak, taking down Guelph, Ottawa, Peterborough, Kingston and most recently Windsor. In Windsor on Thursday night, the Spirit goals were scored by Owen Beck (Montreal Canadiens), Ethan Hay (Tampa Bay Lightning), Jorian Donovan (Ottawa Senators), Joey Willis, and Josh Bloom (Vancouver Canucks).
Spirit to Watch:
- Michael Misa is tied for the most points for Saginaw with 22 goals and 30 assists. He is currently on a five-game point streak with three goals and three assists in those games. The 2007-born forward has two goals and four assists against the Rangers in the three games they have played this season.
- Hunter Haight (Minnesota Wild) has played in all 43 games for Saginaw this season registering a 19-33-52 stat line. The forward has 13 points (4G, 9A) over his last 10 games. Haight has five goals and two assists against the Rangers this season.
- Owen Beck (Montreal Canadians) was picked up by Saginaw from Peterborough at the trade deadline and has since recorded 14 points (5G, 9A) for the Spirit in seven games. Beck has a 17-40-57 stat line on the season which puts him 14th in points in the OHL.
In Net:
- Andrew Oke has played in 28 of Saginaw’s 43 games with a 19-8-0-0 record while in net. Oke is fifth amongst goaltenders in the goal-against category at 3.02 and a .890 save percentage. The netminder is tied for fifth in the OHL for wins.
BROADCAST COVERAGE
Saturday’s contestant vs the Saginaw Spirit will not be televised on Rogers TV. The game will be streamed live online on OHL Live on CHL TV. Additionally, fans can listen to Saturday night’s action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.
UP NEXT:
This upcoming week the Rangers will play two of their biggest rivals starting against the London Knights on Tuesday at the Aud for a 7 pm puck drop. Then hosting the Guelph Storm on Friday night. Puck drop is set for 7 pm. You won’t want to miss it! Great tickets 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
