Game Recap: Cameron Mercer made 10,014 Bears fly in 5-2 win over Guelph
Game Summary: Cameron Mercer was the 2023 Teddy Bear Goal scorer, his goal sent 10,014 bears to local charities thanks to the support of Rangers Nation. The Rangers won 5-2 over their Highway 7 rivals the Guelph Storm to even out the season series at one win apiece in front of a standing room crowd of 7,278 fans. The two teams will play each other again on Sunday in Guelph.
Mercer scored a second goal later in the game to lead the Rangers in goals tonight. Hunter Brzustewicz and Matthew Sop both added two assists to their point totals while Kyle Morey scored and had an assist in the game.
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
GUE 1, KIT 0
1:11 Max Namestnikov (14) – Jake Karabela, Braeden Bowman
On the Storm breakout, Kitchener native Braeden Bowman chipped the puck in. Jake Karabela found the puck along the half boards and saw Max Namestnikov sitting out front of the net, a hard pass to Namestnikov got deflected up and over Jackson Parsons.
GUE 1, KIT 1
12:26 Cameron Mercer (3) – Justin Bottineau, Matthew Andonovski
The Teddy Bears were launched onto the ice with a goal scored by Cameron Mercer. Mercer scored on a wrist shot from the bottom of the blocker side faceoff circle, which ripped past Brayden Gillespie on the glove side, tying the game and sending 10,014 stuffed bears onto the ice.
GUE 1, KIT 2
17:32 Carson Rehkopf (30) – Hunter Brzustewicz, Mathew Sop – PPG
Carson Rehkopf scored his 30th goal of the season, adding to his league lead, with a goal on the powerplay. At 16:50 Ryan McGuire took a high sticking penalty on Filip Mesar to give the Rangers the man advantage. Rehkopf received the puck from Hunter Brzustewicz atop the zone and walked in, sniping the puck glove side to give the Rangers the lead heading into the first intermission.
2nd Period
GUE 1, KIT 3
6:16 Kyle Morey (5) – Matthew Sop
The Rangers scored their third unanswered goal as Kyle Morey tapped in a gorgeous pass from Matthew Sop. Sop brought the puck into the Storm zone and put a deke on multiple Guelph defenders. Following the deke he sent a pass back across the ice splitting the defenders to Morey who sent it in.
GUE 1, KIT 4
6:33 Luke Ellinas (3) – Luca Romano, Kyle Morey
Luke Ellinas scored just 17 seconds later as he was uncontested in the slot with the puck and rocketed it home top shelf. The goal ended Guelph goaltender Brayden Gillespie’s night as he gave up four goals on 13 shots.
GUE 1, KIT 5
7:31 Cameron Mercer (4) – Hunter Brzustewicz
The teddy bear toss hero Cameron Mercer scored his second goal of the game giving Kitchener a four-goal lead. Hunter Brzustewicz pulled off a spin move atop the Storm zone to avoid pressure and spotted Mercer driving the net down low. Mercer deflected a hard shot past Damian Slavik facing his first shot of the game.
3rd Period
GUE 1, KIT 5
8:58 Leo Serlin (7) – Justin DeZoete
The Rangers turnover landed on Justin DeZoete’s stick along the goal line who sent it to Leo Serlin in front of the net. Serlin tucked it in from in tight cutting the Rangers’ lead to three.
The Stars:
First Star: Cameron Mercer (2G, Teddy Bear Hero)
Second Star: Hunter Brzustewicz (2A)
Third Star: Jackson Parsons (23 Saves, 2 GA)
The Goalies:
Brayden Gillespie started the game for Guelph, playing the first 26:33 of the game. He was pulled after giving up four goals on 13 shots. He was given the loss in the game, moving his record to 12-8-0-1. Damian Slavik came in relief, giving up one goal on 13 shots. Jackson Parsons stopped twenty-three of twenty-five shots and earned the third star of the game. His record has improved to 15-5-1-0.
The Numbers Game:
Shots: GUE 25, KIT 26
Powerplay: GUE 0-4, KIT 1-5
FO%: GUE 44.6%, KIT 55.4%
Up Next: The Rangers will rest until Friday when they begin their three-game weekend at home against the Brantford Bulldogs. Friday is the first of a home-and-home series with Brantford before the Blueshirts wrap up the three-in-three weekend on Sunday in Guelph. Friday’s game will be the first regular season game between Kitchener and Brantford. Grab your tickets to the hottest team in the OHL at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.
Photo Credit: Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers
For inquiries, contact:
Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
[email protected]
