Missi
The Kitchener Rangers fell 3-2 to the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors at The Aud Friday night. Michael Catenacci and Zach Lorentz scored for the Rangers in the loss.
Michael Catenacci opened the scoring for the Rangers. Ben Thomson slid a shot past Majors netminder JP Anderson and the captain reached into the crease to tap in over the goal line. The veteran centre scored his sixth of the season in his 200th career OHL game. Assisting on the play were Ben Thomson and Jesse Young, who recorded his first point of the year.
The Majors responded just over two minutes later with two quick goals to give them the lead. Riley Brace had his initial shot stopped by John Gibson, but Brett Foy collected the rebound and lifted it into the net for his fifth of the year. David Corrente was also credited with an assist on the play.
Mika Partanen added an unassisted goal 1:17 later. The Finnish winger raced in alone and fired a shot high blocker side that beat Gibson. The tally was the sophomore import’s fourth of the season.
Mississauga added one more before the end of the period to take a 3-1 lead into intermission. Brace netted goal number 18 on the power play, with assists from Stuart Percy and Derek Schoenmakers. The fourth-year winger is the team’s scoring leader and has scored six goals in his last five games.
The Majors out-shot the Rangers 12-9 in the opening frame.
They continued to lead shots on goal in a scoreless second period, with a 16-7 advantage.
The Rangers closed the gap to one midway through the final frame. Anderson was able to stop a streaking Eric Ming, but sophomore forward Zach Lorentz was there to bank the rebound off the goalie and into the net. The Waterloo, ON-native’s fifth of the season was also assisted by Cody Sol.
That would be as close as they would get, however. The Majors were out-shot by Kitchener 9-7 in the third period, but finished the game with a 35-25 overall advantage.
With the 3-2 win, the Majors snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 12-12-1-3. The Rangers’ season record is now 18-8-1-0.
Scoring
1. KIT M. Catenacci, (6) (B. Thomson, J. Young), 6:44
1. MISS B. Foy, (5) (R. Brace, D. Corrente), 8:58
1. MISS M. Partanen, (4) , 10:15
1. MISS R. Brace, (18) (S. Percy, D. Schoenmakers), 15:57 (PP)
3. KIT Z. Lorentz, (5) (E. Ming, C. Sol), 10:57
Three Stars
1. MISS #25 Riley Brace
2. KIT #12 Eric Ming
3. MISS # 28 Stuart Percy
Attendance – 6,364
The Rangers hit the road tomorrow for a 7pm meeting with the Erie Otters. They return home on Tuesday, December 6 at 7pm for the 17th Annual Teddy Bear Toss game against the London Knights. Fans attending the game are asked to bring a new or gently used teddy bear/stuffed animal to the game to toss when the Rangers score their first goal of the game. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, via the internet or in person at The Aud Box Office or Centre in the Square Box Office.