Rangers Bounced by Battalion
Two goals from Battalion forward Connor Jarvis led Brampton to a 5-2 victory over the Kitchener Rangers as exhibition play resumed at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex on Sunday. Newcomer Juraj Bezuch and Brandon Lesway each scored for the Rangers in the loss.
The Battalion opened the scoring midway through the first period of play, with an unassisted goal by Connor Jarvis. The third-year Brampton winger fired a shot off the left post that bounced behind goaltender Frank Palazzese, who was making his first start of the preseason for the Rangers.
Mike Amadio extended Brampton’s lead to 2-0 four minutes later, finding the back of the net in dying seconds of a power play. Assisting on the play were Brenden Miller and Brennan Feasey.
The Rangers cut that deficit in half with just over a minute remaining in the opening frame. Import forward Juraj Bezuch recorded his first of exhibition play, hammering a rebound by Battalion netminder Jake Smith. Matia Marcantuoni and Radek Faksa were credited with the assists.
Brampton reestablished a two-goal cushion late in the second period, off the stick of Geoff Bezruchko, who pounced a rebound in front and redirected it past a sprawling Palazzese. Feasey and Amadio each collected their second point of the afternoon with assists on the play.
Brandon Lesway pulled the Rangers back within one goal seven minutes into the final period. His first of the exhibition season was assisted by Matt Schmalz and Darby Llewellyn, two of the club’s additions from the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.
The Battalion added two goals late in the third to extend their lead to 5-2. First, Kyle Hope fired a point shot past Palazzese with an assist from Jamie Lewis. Then, with less than two on the clock, Jarvis netted his second of the game, assisted by Wood.
The two teams will meet Monday, September 3 in Brampton for the second game of this home-and-home exhibition series.
Scoring
1. BRA C. Jarvis, (unassisted), 9:09
1. BRA M. Amadio, (B. Miller, B. Feasey), 13:28 (PP)
1. KIT J. Bezuch, (M. Marcantuoni, R. Faksa), 18:54
2. BRA G. Bezruchko, (B. Feasey, M. Amadio), 15:07
3. KIT B. Lesway, (M. Schmalz, D. Llewellyn), 7:04
3. BRA K. Wood, (J. Lewis), 16:10
3. BRA C. Jarvis, (K. Wood), 18:20
Attendance: 1877
The Kitchener Rangers’ exhibition season continues on Monday, September 3 at 2pm when they travel to Brampton to take on the Battalion. The Rangers’ final home exhibition will be Friday, September 14 at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, when they host the Barrie Colts at 7pm. Tickets will available on game day, please visit our website for details.
