Game Preview: Rangers battle Highway Seven Rivals in Guelph on Saturday
Guelph, ON – The Kitchener Rangers broke an eight-game win streak on Friday night against Owen Sound in a 4-1 loss at home. The Rangers head to face the Guelph Storm on Saturday for their first of eight meetings of the season. Puck drop is slated for 4 pm at The Sleeman Centre.
- TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)
- Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV
- Radio: 570 AM CKGL
- Live Stats
- Live Tweets
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Last Faceoff:
The last faceoff between the two clubs was on March 7, 2023, at The Aud where the Rangers came out victorious 4-1. Five current Rangers, Simon Motew, Mitchell Martin, Cameron Mercer, Mitchell Martin, and Matthew Sop all recorded a point in the game. Max Namestnikov recorded the only goal for Guelph.
Over the Years:
The Rangers had a 6-2-0-0 record against the Storm last season and while playing at The Sleeman Centre the two clubs split the series 2-2. Kitchener and Guelph have matched up 34 times over the past five seasons, the Rangers have the overall advantage with a 26-14-2-0 record. Playing on the road in Guelph the Rangers continue to own a record of 13-7-2-0.
Special Teams:
The Rangers currently have the league’s second-best powerplay at 29.1% while the Storm sit sixth converting at 23.6%. Guelph is currently placed third in the league’s penalty kill standings at 86%, and Kitchener’s penalty kill follows at fourth in the league at 84.2%.
SCOUTING THE RANGERS (17-6-0-0)
1st in the Western Conference, 1st in the OHL/ 4th in Week 8 of the CHL Power Rankings
Last Time Out:
The Rangers have taken the ice at The Aud 13 times this season and have only fallen short in two games, both losses were to Owen Sound. In last night’s loss to Owen Sound only 29 seconds into the game, Filip Mešár (Montreal Canadians) scored on the first shot of the game for the Rangers’ only goal.
Rangers to Watch:
- Rehkopf remains first for points (44) and goals (25) in the CHL. After Friday’s contest Rehkopf’s four-game point streak came to an end. This was only the fourth game in 23 games played this season that he has not recorded at least one point.
- Trent Swick recorded the only assist of the game last night to extend his point streak to five. On his five-game point streak, Swick has registered four goals and six assists for 10 points. Swick has a total of 24 points (9G, 15A) this season.
- Since Filip Mešár’s return from the Laval Rocket on October 27th he has recorded at least one point in 10 of 12 games. Mešár has had eight multi-point nights through these 12 games played and has a 9-14-23 stat line which is the most points in the least number of games played for anyone in the OHL.
SCOUTING THE STORM (12-8-0-1)
Sixth in the Western Conference, 9th in the OHL/ 10th in Week 8 of the OHL Power Rankings
Last Time Out:
This will be Guelph’s second game of a three in three weekend. The Storm hosted the North Bay Battalion on Friday night where they won 3-1. Max Namestnikov, Zackary Sandhu, and Braeden Bowman each scored in the win.
Storm to Watch:
- Guelph veteran Braeden Bowman leads the Storm with seven goals and 14 assists. Bowman has grabbed a goal and four assists in the past three games putting him on a point streak after Friday’s match against North Bay. In six games played against the Rangers last season, the Kitchener native registered three goals and two assists in those games.
- Defenceman Michael Buchinger (St. Louis Blues) leads the Storm’s blueline with 18 points (4G, 14A). This past season Buchinger played in all eight meetings against the Rangers where he recorded two goals and seven assists.
- Goaltender Brayden Gillespie has been playing at a .915 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average through 18 games played. Gillespie last played on Friday night against North Bay where he faced 31 shots and stopped 30.
Drafted Storm:
Jake Karabela (Washington Capitals), Matthew Poitras (Boston Bruins) Poitras is currently with Boston Bruins in the NHL, Vilmer Alriksson (Vancouver Canucks), Michael Buchinger (St. Louis Blues), Cam Allen (Washington Capitals), and Chandler Romeo (Ottawa Senators) are six Storm skaters drafted by their NHL clubs respectively.
BROADCAST COVERAGE
Saturday’s contestant vs the Guelph Storm 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 Saturday afternoon’s meeting on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.
UP NEXT:
Wrapping up the three-in-three weekend the Rangers travel to Flint, MI on Sunday to face the Firebirds. Puck drop is set for 4 pm at The Dort Financial Center. The Rangers get right back to action on Wednesday in Pennsylvania against the Erie Otters and finally return home on Friday December 1st to take on the Niagara IceDogs for their only meeting this season at The Aud. Don’t miss any of the action and get your tickets 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]
