Kitchener Rangers Review
After a record-breaking season, the Kitchener Rangers end on a high note.
The Rangers top season started with the announcement that they would host the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup. Although the host team automatically enters the Championship, the Rangers had other plans in mind.
The team got of to a quick start with their first win streak beginning during the exhibition season and straight into the regular season with a total of nine in a row before their first lost. At the Christmas break the team sat at a record of 29 wins and five losses
On November 2, 2007, against the Erie Otters, Peter DeBoer accomplished a coaching milestone with his 500th win. He joined only five other OHL coaches in reaching this milestone and is now listed with the likes of Brian Kilrea, Bert Templeton, Larry Mavety, and Dick Todd.
After the Christmas break the Kitchener Rangers welcomed back four players from the U20 World Junior Championship where Canada earned its fourth consecutive gold medal with a 3-2 win against Sweden.
Matt Halischuk scored the game winning goal bringing the Canadians to the title.
Goaltender Steve Mason, swept the individual awards at the championship being named the directorate’s best goaltender, the tournament MVP and to the media all-star team.
Yannick Weber was the top scoring defenseman accumulating six points in six games.
Mikkel Boedker tied for the point scoring lead on his team collecting a total of six points, including two goals.
In February 2008, three Kitchener Ranger players; Yannick Weber, Nick Spaling and Justin Azevedo, were called upon to play in the OHL All Star Classic that was held in Sault Ste. Marie on February 6th, 2008. During the skills competition that was held as part of this event Yannick Weber was ranked as having the hardest shot coming in at 99.2 mph and he was also one of three players from the West to score during the Breakaway Relay.
Justin Azevedo reached a player best on February 24th when he scored his 100th career goal in Erie, Pennsylvania. Justin became the 20th Rangers player in history to reach the 100th career goal milestone.
As the season progressed the Kitchener Rangers moved their way into the #1 spot in all of Canada. In total the Kitchener Rangers held the #1 spot for 15 weeks. Along with ending the season #1 in Canada, the Rangers also finished a top the Ontario Hockey League first overall to win the Hamilton Spectator Trophy.
The Kitchener Rangers headed into the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup as OHL Champions after they claimed a 4-1 victory over Belleville on May 12, 2008.
The Rangers ended their season on May 25 as the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup Finalists.
The Ontario Hockey League held the 2007-08 Awards Ceremony on June 4 at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Justin Azevedo was honoured once more with the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (Scoring Champion) and the Red Tilson Trophy for Most Outstanding Player. Josh Unice claimed the F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy for Best Rookie GAA.
The NHL Draft is scheduled for June 20 and 21 in Ottawa, ON. NHL Central Scouting has ranked Mikkel Boedker 11 overall as a first round pick. Boedker accumulated 29 goals and 44 assists for 73 points in 62 regular season games. During the playoffs Mikkel amassed nine goals and 26 assists for 35 points in 20 games.
As always Kitchener fans proved to be some of the best around. We look forward to another successful season in 2008-09.
