Game Preview: The Rangers host Saginaw Spirit for their Next Gen game on Thursday
Kitchener, ON – The Kitchener Rangers are gearing up for the first home game of the New Year against the 2024 Memorial Cup hosts the Saginaw Spirit in their Next Gen game. Puck drop is set for 7 pm at The Aud on this rare Thursday night game in Kitchener.
- TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)
- Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV
- Radio: 570 AM CKGL
- Live Stats
- Live Tweets
- Game Preview Video
- East Avenue Blue Magazine
PROMOTIONS
The Kitchener Rangers Next Generation Game is back for another season tonight vs the Saginaw Spirit. This game is an exciting and interactive experience for kids ages 12 and under, where kids can help the Rangers staff at various levels of the game operations and experience the thrill of being a part of a Rangers game. From helping the trainers on the Rangers bench to introducing the team, kids get to be a part of all the action.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This Season:
The two clubs have faced off against each other two of four times so far this season. The first match-up was the Rangers’ home opener on September 29th in which they won 4-3. The Rangers last met the Spirit in Saginaw on October 7th where they lost 8-2. In this game, Hunter Brzustewicz and Adrian Misaljevic recorded the only Rangers goals. Those who are currently in Saginaw’s lineup, Matyas Sapovaliv, Aiden Young, Lincoln Moore, and Calem Mangone each secured a goal in the game while Hunter Haight (Minnesota Wild) registered his first OHL hat trick.
Over the Years:
Kitchener and Saginaw have played each other 22 times dating back to the 2017-18 season. The Rangers own the overall record at 13-7-2-0 and while playing at The Aud they are 8-1-2-0. The best campaign during this time was the 2017-18 season with the Rangers going undefeated. In these 22 games, the Rangers have netted 79 goals while the Spirit have scored 75.
Team Statistics:
The Rangers and Spirit are both ranked high in league special teams. Kitchener owns the fourth best powerplay converting at 26.5% while Saginaw owns the league’s second-best powerplay converting at 32.7%. When playing on home ice the Rangers pp rises to third place at 29.7%.
The Rangers own the third-best penalty kill at 82.6% while the Spirit owns the top spot at 86.5%. When on the road Saginaw drops to third at 86.7% and on home ice the Rangers have the best penalty kill at 90%.
So far this season the Rangers have played four more games than the Spirit. The two clubs have a 40-goal differential with the Rangers having netted 176 and the Spirit scoring 136.
SCOUTING THE RANGERS (26-9-2-0)
1st in the Western Conference, 1st in the OHL / 3rd in Week 13 of the CHL Power Rankings
Last Time Out:
The Rangers last hit the ice on New Year’s Day in Oshawa against the Generals. The Blueshirts came out on top with a 3-2 victory. Adrian Misaljevic, Simon Motew, and Antonio Pugliese each grabbed a goal in the game while Matthew Sop and Cameron Reid each provided two assists for the Rangers.
Rangers to Watch:
- Hunter Brzustewicz (Vancouver Canucks) continues to dominate the blueline with 58 points, puting him as the top scorer in the OHL and ranking sixth in the CHL. Brzustewicz is also ranked eighth in the CHL with the most power-play assists at 16. The defender is currently on a five-game point streak with seven assists across those five games. This season Brzustewicz has gone pointless in only five of 37 games one of which being opening night against Saginaw.
- Matthew Sop leads the OHL attackers with 22 goals and 34 assists for 56 points. Sop sits with the fourth most assists in the league along with being in a four-way tie with the most game-winning goals at six.
- Adrian Misaljevic has recorded 40 points so far this season with 21 goals and 19 assists. He is ranked as the fourth in points for the Rangers and is in a two-way tie for the most first goals in the CHL. Against Saginaw this season he has recorded one goal and two assists through those two games played.
SCOUTING THE SPIRIT (22-10-0-1)
4th in the Western Conference, 6th in the OHL/ 1st in Week 13 of the OHL Power Rankings
Last Time Out:
The Spirit travelled to the Soo to face the Greyhounds on New Year’s Eve ultimately winning 4-3. Sebastien Gervais and Ethan Hay (Tampa Bay Lightning) each registered goals while Michael Misa netted two. Dean Loukus had a three-point night with three assists for back-to-back multi-point games.
Spirit to Watch:
- Zayne Parekh is trailing Brzustewicz in points by defensemen with 13 goals and 32 assists for 45 points through 33 games. Parekh is currently on a five-game point streak with two goals and three assists in these five games. He is also ranked 10th in the CHL for most power-play assists with 15. In the two games against Kitchener this season Parekh has six assists.
- Michael Misa is the second in points for the Spirit with a 17-22-39 stat line with 32 games played. Misa has recorded 14 multi-point games this season, two of which came against the Rangers. In every game Misa has played against Kitchener in his young OHL career he has registered a point, playing in five games total with three goals and five assists.
- Hunter Haight (Minnesota Wild) was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft 47th overall to the Minnesota Wild. The Centreman is ranked as the third in scoring for the Spirit and 26th in the league with 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points. Haight has played in five games against the Rangers in his time in the OHL and has recorded five goals and four assists in these games. Haight recorded his first OHL hat trick against Kitchener on October 7th.
RANGERS REACH
Support our community while cheering on your Rangers! Rangers Reach 50/50 and game worn jersey 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! Your 50/50 and jersey ticket purchases help to make a difference in our community! Tickets can be purchased online anywhere in Ontario at Rangers5050.com and rangersjersey.com
BROADCAST COVERAGE
Thursday’s match vs the Saginaw Spirit 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 Thursday night’s action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.
UP NEXT:
The Rangers head up north to take on the Sudbury Wolves and North Bay Battalion before returning to The Aud next week. The Rangers’ next home game is Friday, January 12th against the Erie Otters. Great seats are still available, grab your tickets at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.
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The Kitchener Rangers will be joined by hockey personality Paul Bissonnette also known as “BizNasty” for two different fan experiences and a special puck drop at the game on Sunday, January 14th vs. the Ottawa 67’s at 2 pm. These include a pre-game event in Subscribers Lounge with a mingle and Q+A and a separate event in the Blueline Club to watch the game and interact with Biz over some food and good hockey.
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE:
Biz Night Subscribers Lounge Experience
The Biz Night Blueline Club Experience
For inquiries, contact:
Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
[email protected]
Photo Credit: Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers
