Game Recap: Saginaw defeats the Rangers in their Next Gen Game 3-2
Game Summary: Kitchener hosted their Next Generation game on their only Thursday night home game of the season. Kids were highlighted in all aspects of the game from in-game announcements to helping the broadcast in the contest. However, Saginaw took the win 3-2 in the contest while heavily outshooting the Rangers 33-13.
Recently signed defenseman Max Dirracolo scored his first career OHL goal to open the scoring with a wonderful shot three minutes into the game. Hunter Brzustewicz extended his point streak to six games and now has points in 12 of his last 13 games.
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
SAG 0, KIT 1
3:03 Max Dirracolo (1) – Antonino Pugliese, Hunter Brzustewicz
Max Dirracolo got the next-generation game buzzing with his first career OHL goal. 48 seconds after Saginaw had a goal disallowed, Dirracolo received the puck in the high slot from Antonino Pugliese. Dirracolo sniped the puck home and put the Rangers up early.
SAG 0, KIT 2
5:04 Tanner Lam (8) – Matthew Andonovski, Hunter Brzustewicz
Just over two minutes after Max Dirracolo put Kitchener up, fellow first-year player Tanner Lam put himself on a breakaway and gave Kitchener a two-goal lead. Lam drove wide to bring himself one-on-one with Andrew Oke, he faked the forehand and went to his backhand, beating a sprawling Oke to score his eighth goal of the season.
2nd Period
SAG 1, KIT 2
1:03 Calem Mangone (3) – Michael Misa, Hunter Haight – PPG
Saginaw struck 49 seconds into the second period, as Calem Mangone cut the lead in half. On a powerplay due to a hold by Hunter Brzustewicz with 19 seconds left in the first period. Mangone found a loose puck in the blue paint following two saves by Jackson Parsons and tapped it in for Saginaw’s first of the game.
SAG 2, KIT 2
10:38 Dean Loukus (9) – Sebastien Gervais
With plenty of traffic in front of Jackson Parsons, Dean Loukus found the puck and pulled a stellar move to tie the game. The puck was loose in the slot and Loukus tapped it to bring it to his forehand and snuck it in past Parsons.
3rd Period
SAG 3, KIT 2
13:26 Hunter Haight (16) – Michael Misa, Calem Mangone – PPG
Hunter Haight put Saginaw up one on the powerplay with a snipe from the glove side faceoff circle. A five-minute major and game misconduct was handed to Luke Ellinas at 10:27 for slew footing. Three minutes into the penalty Haight received the puck at the blue line and walked down to the faceoff circle to put the puck low glove on Jackson Parsons giving Saginaw the lead. The Spirit continued the remaining 2:01 in the powerplay following the goal.
The Stars:
First Star: Hunter Haight (1G, 1A)
Second Star: Dean Loukus (1G)
Third Star: Jackson Parsons (30 Saves, 3 GA)
The Goalies:
Andrew Oke registered his 18th win of the year stopping 11 of 13 shots. His record moves to 18-6-0-0. Jackson Parsons registered the loss as he made 30 of 33 potential saves. His record moved to 17-8-1-0.
The Numbers Game:
Shots: SAG 33, KIT 13
Powerplay: SAG 2-5, KIT 0-3
FO%: SAG 45.7%, KIT 64.3%
Up Next: The Rangers travel north to Sudbury on Saturday and North Bay on Sunday before returning home next Friday, January 12th to take on Erie. Kitchener has won all three games this season against Erie. Don’t miss any of the action, tickets for all home games can be purchased at the box office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.
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The Kitchener Rangers will be joined by hockey personality Paul Bissonnette also known as “BizNasty” for two different fan experiences and a special puck drop at the game on Sunday, January 14th vs. the Ottawa 67’s at 2 pm. These include a pre-game event in Subscribers Lounge with a mingle and Q+A and a separate event in the Blueline Club to watch the game and interact with Biz over some food and good hockey.
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE:
Biz Night Subscribers Lounge Experience
The Biz Night Blueline Club Experience
For inquiries, contact:
Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
[email protected]
Photo Credit: Heather Townsend / Kitchener Rangers
