The Match Up – Game One Preview

By: Shannon Costello

The 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup Championship in Mississauga is looming closer and the road there is getting clearer as the OHL Playoffs kick off this week for 16 teams across the province. Tonight is game one of the quarter final series between the Kitchener Rangers and the Plymouth Whalers at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

The last time these two teams met in the post season was in 2008 when Kitchener swept Plymouth in the first round, and eventually went on to become OHL Champions. Only Jason Akeson, R.J. Malahak and Tyler Brown will remember that matchup from their rookie years, and Jason is hoping for a repeat. “That was a time that I’ll never forget. But this year I’m hoping to make some new memories.”

Last season Plymouth was knocked out of contention by the Windsor Spitfires in the second round of the playoffs, before Windsor went on to extinguish Kitchener’s hopes in the third round. Both teams are looking to go far this year, as the Whalers have never taken home the Memorial Cup in their 21 year franchise history.

Finishing the regular season ranked third in the Western Conference, the Kitchener Rangers are currently on a seven game losing streak, but are looking to turn their luck around tonight. “It’s going to be a good hard battle,” Akeson says. “It’s going to come down to which team wants to work harder. I’m pretty excited to see how the series goes; it’s going to be a good test for our team.”
Jason, who shared the scoring title this year with 108 regular season points, including a team record-breaking 84 assists, is in his final year and is ready to do whatever it takes to win the Cup. He has four years of experience with the Rangers, and even scored his first OHL goal at the 2008 Memorial Cup Tournament. In last year’s playoffs Akeson managed 19 points in 20 games and led the team with a +8.

Captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenceman Ryan Murphy also stood out in last year’s playoffs as top scorers. Landeskog led all returning players with 23 points, and Murphy’s drastic increase to 0.85 points per game in the post season did not go unnoticed. Murphy also does well playing against the Whalers, as he has been named one of the three stars in three of the four games these teams have squared off.

While most of the Kitchener roster are returning players with playoff experience, 8 Rangers rookies will get their first taste of the post season tonight. “It’s a different experience. It’s something where the rookies are going to be maybe a little awestruck and excited,” Jason admitted. “It’s going to be fun and it’s going to be a good experience for all of them. When they see all those fans yelling out there and with their blue colours on – it’s something special. I’m looking forward to it.”

Only 9 of the 24 man Whaler roster have any OHL post season experience, so they will be counted on to lead the team as the playoff intensity picks up. Robbie Czarnik is one of Plymouth’s top scorers this season and is in his overage year. He is hoping that this year’s playoff run leads to signing with the LA Kings.

Alex Aleardi, a one-time Kitchener Ranger but current Plymouth Whaler, is also more than ready to go up against his old team and hear the fans who once cheered for him jeer as he attempts to tear down Kitchener’s playoff hopes. Coming off his first 20 goal season.

In their four regular season matchups, Kitchener has won 3 contests, though last Friday’s playoff preview between the two teams saw Plymouth come out on top. Scott Wedgewood, the Whalers number 1 goalie was not between the pipes for that game, so the best of team is yet to come. Though the Rangers have scored 10 goals in 95 shots on Wedgewood this season, he is hoping his 2 years of playoff experience helps him back his team to a title.

This is just game one of what could be a long series, but both teams are ready to fight hard to keep their season alive. Game 2 is Saturday, March 26 at 7:00pm at Compuware Arena in Plymouth. The two teams return to the Auditorium on Monday, March 28 for a 7:00pm puck drop.