Game Preview: Rangers host Spitfires for a Sunday Matinee
Kitchener, ON – The Rangers wrap up the weekend against the Windsor Spitfires on home ice for a Sunday matinee. Puck Drop is set for 2 pm at the Aud.
- Tickets: Buy Online
- TV:Rogers TV cable 20 (Kitchener)
- Video Stream:OHL Live on CHL TV
- Radio:570 AM CKGL
- Live Stats
- Live Tweets
- Game Video Preview
Head-to-Head:
This is the first meeting between the clubs since the Rangers swept the Spitfires in the first round of the playoffs last season. Despite losing all four regular season games to Windsor, the Rangers came out on top in four straight games as the underdog eighth seed versus the first seed Windsor. It was the first time in OHL history an eighth seed swept the first seed team. Kitchener traveled to Windsor for the first two games of the series and left leading the series 2-0. Games three and four were played at The Aud and the Blueshirts were able to seal the deal on home ice.
The Rangers and Spitfires have matched up 24 times over the last five regular seasons. Windsor has a slight edge on the Rangers as Kitchener’s record is 10-11-3-0 in regular-season play. On home ice, the East Avenue Blue are 6-5-1-0 against Windsor.
The Rangers have started the season with four wins and two losses. Most recently they played the Barrie Colts on Friday night and came out with an 8-0 victory. On the other hand, the Spitfires have started the season 1-6-0-0. Their previous game was last night in Erie and they lost to the Otters 7-1.
The Rangers have recorded a total of 27 goals for and 17 against in their first six games compared to the Spitfires 20 goals for and 40 against. The Rangers penalty kill sits at 76% and their power play is 23.8% which puts them seventh in the OHL. The Spitfires’ penalty kill and is 75% and their power play is 9.1%.
Scouting the Rangers:
Kitchener had a blowout game against Barrie on Friday night with 10 Rangers recording at least one point for a final score of 8-0. Carson Rehkopf (Seattle) made hats come down with a third period natural hat trick. He was awarded the first star of the game with a four-point performance. Rehkopf now has a total of nine points (5G, 4A) in the first six games of the season.
Matthew Sop also put four points (2G, 2A) on the board in the Rangers’ last game. Sop is currently fourth on the team in points with eight (3G, 5A). The last time the Rangers played Windsor in the regular season Sop recorded two goals for third star in the Rangers 6-3 loss.
Adrian Misaljevic continues to lead the Rangers in points after grabbing a goal and assist against Barrie. This puts Misaljevic in third in the OHL in points 11 points (5G, 6A).
Hunter Brzustewicz (Vancouver) trails behind Misaljevic as the second-most point-getter for the Rangers with 10 (3G, 7A). He also ranks second amongst defencemen in points in the OHL. In Friday night’s game, Brzustewicz collected a goal and two assists for a three-point night. He is on a three-game goal streak which began October 6th against Owen Sound and a five-game point streak which began on September 30th in Flint.
Between the pipes, Jackson Parsons stood tall making 18 saves for his second shutout of the season and of his OHL career. Parsons has a 2.74 goals against average and a 0.894 save percentage in five games played.
Scouting the Spitfire:
The Spitfires have started the season off with a record of 1-6-0-0, after losing to Erie last night on the road. Aidan Castle scored Windsor’s lone goal in the 7-1 loss to Erie.
Second year forward Liam Greentree leads Windsor in points, goals, and assists (5G, 5A, 10PTS) through their first games six games. In his freshman season, Greentree led all Windsor first-year players in points with 45 (25G, 20A) and ranked fourth in the OHL amongst rookies.
Overager and veteran Oliver Peer is right behind Greentree with seven points (2G, 5A). Peer finished the 2022-23 season with 67 points (22G, 45A) in 63 games, which was good enough for the fifth-most point-getter for the team last season.
Rodwin Dionicio (Anaheim) leads the blueline with five points (3G, 2A). This ranks Dionicio 14th in points for defencemen in the OHL. Dionicio is the only NHL draftee on the Spitfires. Windsor has seven skaters that are eligible for the upcoming 2024 NHL draft.
Broadcast Coverage: Sunday’s contest vs. Windsor will be televised live throughout Kitchener and the Waterloo Region on Rogers TV, cable channel 20, and can be watched across the province of Ontario on the Super Sports Pak on channel 470 for cable subscribers. The game will be streamed live online on OHL Live on CHL TV. Additionally, fans can listen to Sunday’s action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.
Rangers Reach: Support our community while cheering on your Rangers! Rangers Reach 50/50 Raffles take place at each Rangers home game and proceeds go to support our many community initiatives, including Scholarships, Community Impact Grants, in-kind donations, and more! Tickets start at just $5 and can be purchased online anywhere in Ontario at Rangers5050.com
Next Up:
Kitchener heads to Niagara on Wednesday for the only time this regular season to face the IceDogs at the Meridian Centre for a 7 pm puck drop. The Rangers return to the Aud on Friday, October 20th to take on the Owen Sound Attack for the second time this season. Puck drop is slated for 7 pm. Tickets are available at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.
Photo credit – Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers
For inquiries, contact:
Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
[email protected]
