Game Preview: Kitchener travels to Sarnia for third meeting of the season

Game Preview: Kitchener travels to Sarnia for third meeting of the season

Sarnia, ON – Kitchener heads to Sarnia on Sunday afternoon to face the Sting for their Teddy Bear Toss game. The Rangers are looking for a bounce-back win after falling short in overtime to Niagara on Friday night. The Rangers have secured five of six points in their last three games.

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

 

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This Season:

Kitchener has beaten Sarnia in both games this season. The first showdown occurred in Sarnia on October 4^th, resulting in a 3-1 win for the Rangers. Their latest contest took place on October 24^th at The Aud, also concluding with a 6-1 victory favouring the Rangers. In the recent match, several players came up big including Tanner Lam with a goal and two assists, Trent Swick with two goals, and Adrian Misaljevic registering a goal and an assist. The sole Sting goal was netted by Zach Filak and assisted by Kitchener native, Marko Sikic.

 

Over the Years:

Dating back to the 2018-19 season, the two clubs have met 21 times, the Rangers hold the advantage with a 14-6-0-1 record. When visiting Sarnia, the Rangers maintain a strong 7-3-0-0 record. Throughout these matches, the Rangers have scored 95 goals and conceded 68.

 

Team Statistics:

The Rangers have competed in 27 games this season, holding two more games in hand compared to the Sting’s 25. Kitchener’s goal differential is 54 compared to the Sting’s negative 20.

The Rangers own the second spot in the league for power play, converting at 29.8%. Their penalty kill ranks fourth overall in the league at 84.1%, but when playing away, it falls to the 10^th spot at 79.3%.

The Sting holds the 19^th position in the league’s power play at 12.1%, which increases slightly to 16^th place when playing at home, converting at 14.3%. Their penalty kill is in the 16^th spot in the league at 77.1%.

 

SLOVAKIA’S PRELIMINARY WORLD JUNIOR SELECTION ROSTER

Team Slovakia has announced its World Junior Selection Camp roster. Rangers’ winger, Filip Mešár has been selected to attend the Team Slovakia camp. Mešár was a member of the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 Team Slovakia World Junior Rosters, most notably he was an alternate captain in 2023 where he tallied six points in five games played.

Sarnia winger, Roman Kukumberg, was also selected to attend the Slovakia selection camp for the 2023-24 World Juniors team.

 

SCOUTING THE RANGERS (19-7-1-0)

1^st in the Western Conference, 1^st in the OHL/ 4^th in Week 8 of the CHL Power Rankings

 

Last Time Out:

In Friday night’s OT loss to Niagara, Matthew Sop found the net for a goal, while Carson Rehkopf had a three-point performance (1G, 2A) to earn the game’s second star. Mešár contributed the crucial tying goal that pushed the game to overtime while also adding an assist. Despite the Rangers firing an impressive 47 shots on former Rangers’ and current IceDogs’ goaltender Marcus Vandenberg, his exceptional performance denied many scoring opportunities.

 

Rangers to Watch:

• Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken) remains atop of the CHL leaderboards as the top goal scorer with 27 and is tied for most points with 48. In the first two meetings against Sarnia this season, Rehkopf has recorded a goal and an assist in each game.
• Brzustewicz (Vancouver Canucks) remains the CHL leader in points for defencemen with 38 assists and six goals for 44 points. In the last two games, he has recorded four assists and in both games against Sarnia, Brzustewicz grabbed an assist in each.
• Sop sits behind Rehkopf and Brzustewicz for the third-most points in the OHL with 43. Over the last four games, he has registered eight points with five goals and three assists putting him on a four-game point streak. In the most recent game against the Sting on October 24^th, Sop had two points (1G, 1A).

 

SCOUTING THE STING (10-15-0-0)

Ninth in the Western Conference, 18^th in the OHL

 

Last Time Out:

On Friday night, the Sarnia Sting welcomed the Brantford Bulldogs, clinching a 4-3 overtime victory. Seven Sting skaters contributed with points including former Rangers Jacob LeBlanc (three assists) and Andrew LeBlanc (game-tying goal). Easton Wainwright and Marko Sikic each scored a goal, while Sandis Vilmanis had two points (1G, 1A).

 

Sting to Watch:

• Jacob LeBlanc leads the Sting in points and assists, boasting four goals and 20 assists for 24 points in 25 games played. LeBlanc currently holds the eighth position among league defensemen. Over the last two games, LeBlanc showcased his playmaking skills with four assists. Since Jacob was traded away from the Rangers on September 29, 2022, he has yet to register a point against Kitchener.
• Sandis Vilmanis (Florida Panthers) has the second most points on the team with 23 (8G, 15A). In his last two games played, Vilmanis has tallied two goals and one assist for three points.
• Sting overager and Kitchener native, Marko Sikic is next in line for Sting point-getters with a 7-15-22. Against Guelph and Brantford in Sarnia’s most recent games, Sikic has two points (1G, 1A).

 

Sting NHL Draft Eligible:

Carson Hall, Sean Doherty, Dennis Lominac, Lukas Fisher, Duncan Schneider, and Karsen Chartier are six Sting members eligible in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft.

 

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Sunday’s game vs the Sarnia Sting 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 Sunday’s action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.

 

UP NEXT:

The Rangers host their Highway Seven rivals the Guelph Storm on Tuesday night for the annual Teddy Bear Toss game. Bring your new teddy bears to toss onto the ice after the first Rangers’ goal. You can still purchase tickets at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.

 

Photo Credit: Natalie Shaver / OHL Images

 

For inquiries, contact:

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