Rangers Report

Rangers survive scare

It was a spooky game.

A phantom call on an Invisible Man. A possessed Saginaw team that just didn't give up. And a Rangers crew in disguise.

In the end, Kitchener eked out a 6-5 overtime victory a day before Halloween.

There was a long meeting post-game meeting in the dressing room Sunday and coach Jay McKee didn't mince words when describing his club's effort against the OHL's basement dwellers when he emerged from the talk.

"We shouldn't be too proud about the win," he said. "It is a win … but if we play this way this upcoming week against teams like Sarnia and Erie we're going to get shelled."

At least it ended well with one of the prettiest goals scored at the Aud in years.

Kitchener 6, Saginaw 5 (OT)

Kitchener:

Adam Mascherin-Mason Kohn-Jeremy Bracco
Connor Bunnaman-Greg Meireles-Darby Llewellyn
Nick McHugh-Jacob Cascagnette-Jake Henderson
Dylan Seitz-X-Cedric Schiemenz

Doug Blaisdell-Dylan Di Perna
Joseph Garreffa-Connor Hall
Alex Peterson-Elijah Roberts

Dawson Carty (8-1-0-1) starts.

Saginaw:

Brady Gilmour-Mitch Stephens-Cole Coskey
Hayden Hodgson-Kris Bennett-Kirill Maksimov
Mike Davies-Max Grondin-Tye Felhaber
Kyle Bollers-Gianluca Fuoco-Rocky Kaura

Filip Hronek-Markus Niemelainen
Keaton Middleton-C.J. Garcia
Robert Proner-Brock Hill

Brendan Bonello (0-2-0-0) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Adam Mascherin scored in the first period but the goal was waved off after the refs called Connor Bunnaman for incidental conduct with Saginaw goalie Brendan Bonello. Replays showed Bunnaman barely grazing - or even missing - Bonello. The goal would have put the Rangers up 3-1.

- Saginaw's Kris Bennett was awarded a penalty shot in the first period but was denied by Dawson Carty.

- Mike Davies broke a Rangers shutout streak at home of 144 minutes and 15 seconds with his second goal of the season in the opening frame. It was the first goal scored at the Aud since Oct. 14.

- German import Cedric Schiemenz scored his first career OHL goal. Fellow German Tobias Rieder also scored his first OHL goal against Saginaw in 2010.

- Saginaw had a four-on-one break in the second but didn't get a shot on net. Dylan Di Perna was the lone Ranger back on that play.

- You could say Dylan Seitz is responding well to an increase in ice time. The rookie had three points in today's win.

- Adam Mascherin scores some pretty goals but today's OT winner was one of his best.

- All that said, the Rangers did not play well as a team defensively. Too many turnovers and mistakes that, against better teams, is going to cost them, unless of course they tighten things up.

- Kitchener can also thank Saginaw's awful power play in the win. It went 0-for-5 and looked very unorganized.

JB's top three Rangers: Adam Mascherin, Dylan Seitz, Cedric Schiemenz

Backup brilliant

The Rangers have run into some hot goaltending.

First it was Dawson Carty blanking the Bulldogs last Friday.

And last night it was backup Chris McGonigle earning his first win in his first start at the Aud with a 2-0 gem against the visiting Peterborough Petes.

To think Kitchener still has goalie Luke Opilka - an NHL draft pick - waiting in the wings.

These are good problems to have.

It was a nice win for McGonigle who has persevered through a lot to make it to the OHL.

Kitchener 2, Peterborough 0

The schedule Gods continue to be kind to the Rangers.

Kitchener gets Peterborough at the Aud to start the weekend on four days rest while the Petes played last night (a 4-2 win against Flint).

The Rangers wrap up weekend play by hosting the OHL worst Saginaw Spirit on Sunday, also at home.

Every win matters this season as the west is a complete logjam.

To snag four points the Rangers will rely on their top guns but also need to start seeing some secondary scoring support. As the numbers show, depth scoring is a problem.

Kitchener:

Adam Mascherin-Mason Kohn-Jeremy Bracco
Connor Bunnaman-Greg Meireles-Dylan Seitz
Darby Llewellyn-Jacob Cascagnette-Jake Henderson
Nick McHugh-X-Cedric Schiemenz

Doug Blaisdell-Dylan Di Perna
Connor Hall-Joseph Garreffa
Alex Peterson-Elijah Robert

Chris McGonigle (0-2) starts

Peterborough:

Logan DeNoble-Steve Lorentz-Adam Timleck
Nick Isaacson-Zach Gallant-Jonathan Ang
Matyas-Svoboda-Tyler Rollo-Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
Josh Coyle-Eddie Schulz-Chad Denault

Matt Timms-Kyle Jenkins
Brandon Prophet-Matt Spencer
Troy Henley-Cole Fraser

Dylan Wells (5-3-0-2) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Rookie forwards Riley Damiani and Eric Guest and blueliner Giovanni Vallati are in the Soo competing at the U17 World Challenge.

- Rangers D Kyle Gentles remains out with an upper body injury.

- No easy transition into the first game at the Aud for goalie Chris McGonigle. Petes fired 18 first period shots at the keeper. He stopped them all and remained perfect for the rest of the game making 32 saves in all.

- That's two shutouts in the past three games for the Rangers who also blanked Hamilton 2-0 (Dawson Carty in goal) last week.

- Mason Kohn looked possessed - in a good way - in this one. You don't usually see the Floridian out-fancy Bracco and Mascherin on the top line but he did a pretty good job tonight.

- Rookie Dylan Seitz went down hard on a third period hit and had to be seen by team trainer Dan Lebold. Seitz did return to action and appears to be OK.

- Speaking of Seitz, he had a partial breakaway in the second period but had to give up on it when his stick broke. Bad luck there.

- How's that defence looking? Two goals given up in the past three games.

- Jeremy Bracco has points in all 10 games he's played this season. The streak lives on.

- Got a kick out of the Petes scratches in the press box when they were surprised about the attendance being more than 7,000. Fan support is a big reason players want to dress for Kitchener.

- Thought the third line stepped it up tonight. It was their best game in a while.

- Wouldn't be surprised to see McGonigle start again on Sunday vs. Saginaw.

JB's top three Rangers: Chris McGonigle, Mason Kohn, Dylan Di Perna

Farm report

Here's a look at how some of the Rangers' draft picks are doing:

2016 draft

D Merrick Rippon (2nd round): Ottawa, CCHL - 17 GP, 2G, 6A
D Jack York (5th): Kemptville, CCHL - 17 GP, 1G, 2A
G Lucas Pfeil (6th): Ridley College - Record: 5-2, 2.22 GAA
F Liam Peyton (6th): Gloucester, CCHL - 7 GP, 2G, 0A
F Ian Vucko (10th): Trenton, OJHL - 7 GP, 0G, 0A
F Brayden Patricia (11th): New Jersey Hitmen 16U - 8 GP, 4G, 9A

2015 draft:

F Jacob Tortora (1st, acquired via trade): USNTP - 12 GP, 5G, 2A
D Tyler Inamoto (6th): USNTP -  11 GP, 0G, 3A
F Scott Del Zotto (12th): Toronto Jr. Canadiens, OJHL - 10 GP, 3G, 2A

2014 draft:

D Griffin Luce (5th): University of Michigan - 4 GP, 0G, 0A
D Adam Fox (8th): Harvard - Season starts tomorrow
F Tom Novak (13th): University of Minnesota - 4 GP, 1G, 2A

2013 draft:

D Charles McAvoy (6th): Boston University - 5 GP, 0G, 4A

Wolves the early feel-good story in OHL

Worst to first in the east.

That's the story of the Sudbury Wolves so far this season.

Yeah it's early, but it's a good sign for a franchise that has struggled in recent years.

And it's one of the feel-good stories in the league.

Last week's OHL column looked at some of the ugly incidents. So, in fairness, this week we highlight some good memories not just in Sudbury, but one for each club.

To keep it relatively current the focus was on the past five years.

Take a trip down memory lane.

Oh, there is some other stuff too - a new Marner rumour, a hot Gen and cold Dog, teams to target for trades and much more.

Ice chips

A few leftover items from my notepad.

First, Rangers forward Riley Damiani and Eric Guest and defenceman Giovanni Vallati have left for the World Under-17 hockey Challenge in the Soo.

They'll miss five games for the Rangers beginning Friday at home to Peterborough and ending next Saturday in Erie.

Kitchener import Cedric Schiemenz has been a healthy scratch of late and will likely step back into the lineup. Joseph Garreffa, a forward that has been playing defence, can go back to his natural position too.

Blueliner Alex Peterson and Kyle Gentles can also help fill the void in the back end.

Another option is Liam Peyton (Gloucester) up front.

The team still has Frank Hora in the mix.

The overage veteran remains with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL on a 25-game tryout deal. Of course that doesn't mean he has to stay for the full duration and can be sent back to Kitchener at any time.

Hora has played well in two games for the Monsters (one assist) but was a healthy scratch in the team's last two games.

The Monsters have seen an influx of injured d-men return to the lineup while Cody Goloubef was sent down by Columbus to get back in shape following a preseason oblique strain.

Those changes have squeezed Hora to the pressbox for now.

Meanwhile, forward Adam Mascherin was named to the OHL roster for the upcoming Canada-Russia series.

The Rangers sniper will play Games 3 and 4 for the OHL's leg of the six-game series that also sees the Russkies face the best from the WHL and QMJHL.

The games run Nov. 10 in North Bay and Nov. 14 in Hamilton.

Waterloo defenceman Logan Stanley (Windsor Spitfires) is on the roster for the game in North Bay while Kitchener's Nic Hague (Mississauga Steelheads) will represent the OHL in both games.

Full rosters.

Comeback kings

I tell ya, it sure didn't look like Kitchener was going to rally in Mississauga on Sunday.

It was a bleak start to the game. Perhaps the worst opening frame of the season.

But, as they say, that's why you play three periods.

And the Rangers, to their credit, rallied to to defeat a good team on home ice and left the Hershey Centre with two points after a 3-2 OT win.

And since it's Monday, let's review a few things.

Three up:

Dynamic duo. The Rangers have two good ones in Adam Mascherin and Jeremy Bracco. It has been a while since the club had a legit game breaker. With this duo it feels like Kitchener is never out of a game and always has a chance to rally. We saw that first hand Sunday.

Defence. Sure, it still needs to be more consistent and, at times, it looks a bit erratic but the team has allowed two goals in the past two games against teams that can score. Maybe things are beginning to turn a corner.

Rookies: There are 10 first year players on the Rangers this season, though a couple are playing Jr. B right now. Still, that's a lot of greenhorns. And the youngsters have looked just fine. At times in the past three games the all-rookie fourth line was one of the team's best.

Three down:

Secondary scoring. The Mascherin-Bracco combo is great but for this team to have sustained success the second and third lines are going to have to be more consistent on the score sheet.

Slow starts. Miraculously it hasn't caught up to them yet. The Rangers are 3-1 when trailing after the first period. But playing the comeback game is dangerous.

Crowd. Not in Kitchener, but in Mississauga. Take away the Rangers fans on Sunday and there might have been a few hundred supporters left. Why it doesn't work at the Hershey Centre is an annual head scratcher from this seat.

Kitchener 3, Mississauga 2 (OT)

The Rangers head into Mississauga to face another elite opponent.

Kitchener lost to London on Thursday and rebounded to blank Hamilton Friday and now gets a team many picked to win the eastern conference.

After a slow start, the Steelheads have five of six possible points in their past three games.

The Rangers were 1-0-1-0 against the Fish last season.

Kitchener:

Adam Mascherin-Greg Meireles-Jeremy Bracco
Connor Bunnaman-Mason Kohn-Nick McHugh
Darby Llewellyn-Jacob Cascagnette-Jake Henderson
Dylan Seitz-Riley Damiani-Eric Guest

Doug Blaisdell-Dylan Di Perna
Connor Hall-Joseph Garreffa
Giovanni Vallati-Elijah Roberts

Dawson Carty (7-1-0-1) starts.

Mississauga:

Owen Tippett-Michael McLeod-Nathan Bastian
Jeremey Goodwin-Ryan McLeod-Aidan McFarland
Damian Bourne-Jason Smith-Marcus Dickerson
Michael Little-Shaw Boomhower-Scoley Dow

Jacob Moverare-Stefan LeBlanc
Nic Hague-Stephen Gibson
Jake Ramalho-Austin Osmanski

Jacob Ingham (2-2-0-1) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Lots of local connections with the Trout. Forward Nathan Bastian and defencemen Stephen Gibson and Nic Hague hail from Kitchener while GM James Boyd once played for the Rangers as did assistant coach Jamie Caruso.

- Jacob Cascagnette returned to action after missing one game to rest his face which was hurt in a fight with London's Brandon Crawley this past Thursday.

- A big Riley Damiani fan base at the Hershey for this one. A good showing for the local lad.

- A brutal first period followed by better hockey as the game wore on. Still, this one certainly had the feel of a third game in 3.5 days.

- Secondary scoring is struggling right now for the Rangers. The third unit has one goal in the past six games and it was a Llewellyn marker on the power play.

- Jeremy Bracco's overtime winner was scored on a breakaway. Jacob Ingham stopped his first attempt but the Leafs pick buried the rebound.

- Last year the Rangers were up 2-0 and lost 3-2 in overtime in Mississauga. Eerie.

- Bracco keeps his points streak alive. It's a nine games now, 11 if you count last season's playoffs.

- Adam Mascherin has five goals in his past five games. #heatingup

JB's top three Rangers: Adam Mascherin, Doug Blaisdell, Jeremy Bracco

Statement win

The power play clicked.

The penalty killing was perfect.

And Dawson Carty shut the door.

Take away the slow opening half of the first period and it was a pretty ideal game for the Rangers, who stopped the OHL's best offence 2-0 Friday at the Aud.

Get the goods here.

Then shift your focus to Sunday when the Rangers head to Mississauga - a team with five of a possible six points in its past three games.

Kitchener 2, Hamilton 0

Time to turn the page from last night's mess.

It was a tale of two teams in London. Fast, skilled and exciting for the first 30 and a bit scrambly for the second half. And that's what you get with a team dressing nine first year players.

But oh the glimpses of what could be sure are nice.

As it was, London rallied to win again, this time in the final minute.

The Rangers haven't defeated the Knights in their past eight tries.

Tonight, it's the high scoring Hamilton Bulldogs in a battle of the two highest scoring teams in the OHL.

Kitchener:

Adam Mascherin-Mason Kohn-Jeremy Bracco
Eric Guest-Greg Meireles-Nick McHugh
Connor Bunnaman-Darby Llewellyn-Jake Henderson
Dylan Seitz-Riley Damiani-Cedric Schiemenz

Doug Blaisdell-Dylan Di Perna
Connor Hall-Joseph Garreffa
Elijah Roberts-Giovanni Vallati

Dawson Carty (6-1-0-1) starts.

Hamilton:

Matt Strome-MacKenzie Entwistle-Matt Luff
Mike Cramarossa-Will Bitten-Marian Studenic
Trent Fox-Luke Kutkevicius-Brandon Saigeon
Zach Jackson-Connor Roberts-Isaac Nurse

Cole Candella-Justin Lemcke
Jesse Saban-Ben Gleason
Jack Hanley-Connor Walters

Kaden Fulcher (7-1-0-1) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Cedric Schiemenz returns to the lineup after a night off with F Jacob Cascagnette (face) day to day after last night's fight against London's Brandon Crawley.

- Heading into the game the 'Dogs (49 goals) and Rangers (51) were the highest scoring teams this season in their respective conferences.

-  Bulldogs associate coach and asst. GM Troy Smith spent nine years behind the bench in Kitchener as assistant and head coach.

- Hamilton had a 12-2 shot advantage in the first period and ended up being out-shot 13-12.

- PA announcer Dave Schnider had the night off tonight in case anyone was wondering.

- A slow start salvaged by a strong finish for the Rangers. Kitchener controlled the match from about the 10 minute mark on.

- Dawson Carty made 43 saves to earn his second career OHL shutout in 72 starts. His last one was also a 2-0 win but against Flint on Feb. 6.

- Hamilton came into the game averaging 5.4 goals per game and had never scored fewer than four in one game this season.

- Can't really blame 'Dogs keeper Kaden Fulcher. Both Kitchener's goals were legit.

- MacKenzie Entwistle missed a penalty shot in the second period. Michael Cramarossa was also robbed at the side of the net.

- That all said, Hamilton played a decent game (save their abysmal PP) and hung around.

- The Rangers killed five power plays. The penalty killers were on point, aggressive and nearly scored.

- The 'Dogs have now lost two in a row. Kitchener gets back into the win column after losing in London.

- Five points separates first to eighth in the western conference.

- I'll admit it. I could watch Joseph Garreffa skate all day. The kid can fly and really opens up the play. Reminds me of Ryan Murphy.

- Jeremy Bracco's assist gives him points in all eight games that he's played this season.

- Mason Kohn 9-for-13 on draws, Connor Bunnaman 7-for-9.

JB's top three Rangers: Dawson Carty, Adam Mascherin, Connor Bunnaman

London 5, Kitchener 4

Help is on the way.

Goalie Luke Opilka has moved back to Waterloo Region and is on the ice after months away due to hip surgery.

The Illinois born netminder isn't practising with the club and is probably about two weeks away - at best - but the end is in sight.

His return means the club has five goalies in the system at that presents some interesting options for the Rangers. Goalies are always in high demand and Kitchener certainly would be dealing from a position of strength if GM Murray Hiebert decides he needs to make a deal.

Right now, it's a tough week ahead with roadies in London and Mississauga book ending a home date against the high scoring Hamilton Bulldogs.

Kitchener:

Adam Mascherin-Mason Kohn-Jeremy Bracco
Connor Bunnaman-Greg Meireles-Nick McHugh
Darby Llewellyn-Jacob Cascagnette-Jake Henderson
Dylan Seitz-Riley Damiani-Eric Guest

Doug Blaisdell-Dylan Di Perna
Connor Hall-Joseph Garreffa
Giovanni Vallati-Elijah Roberts

Dawson Carty (6-0-0-1) starts.

London:

Max Jones-Cliff Pu-Janne Kuokkanen
Sam Miletic-Robert Thomas-J.J. Piccinich
Cole Tymkin-Alex Formenton-Brady Pataki
Liam Foudy-Alex Turko-Jacob Golden

Brandon Crawley-Victor Mete
Olli Juolevi-Evan Bouchard
Ian Blacker-Nic Mattinen

Tyler Johnson (2-1) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- London is missing Tyler Parsons (injury), Owen MacDonald (suspension), Chris Martenet (upper body injury), Mitch Marner (Leafs) and Matthew Tkachuk (Flames).

- Rangers F Cedric Schiemenz is a healthy scratch.

- Local boy Eric Guest got the nod for the opening draw on wing on the second line but went back to the fourth unit after that.

- First time I've ever seen the Bud not packed to the rafters. Still a good crowd by OHL standards but far fewer fans than usual for a Rangers-Knights game.

- Rangers D Connor Hall skated off the ice for the first intermission with a towel wrapped around his left wrist but came back out for the second period.

- Jacob Cascagnette got bloodied by a punch from London's Brandon Crawley at the end of the second period and did not return. It was a tough loss as Cascagnette is one of the team's best players in faceoffs.

- Kitchener hasn't defeated London in eight straight games.

- The Rangers were very London-esque early on - using speed and skill to dominate the game. They had a 3-0 lead too but saw it evapourate. Victor Mete dealt the dagger with 40 seconds to go.

- Some positives? Kitchener's youngsters looked sharp, especially the line of Seitz, Damiani and Guest. Also thought it was Giovanni Vallati's best game this season.

- A lot of hate out there for this year's Knights. Three things, first give them credit for remaining competitive without the Big 3 (Marner, Dvorak and Tkachuk). Two, don't rule out a return of Marner and/or Tkachuk at some point. Three, don't rule out major additions through trade.

- The defence looked a bit sloppy in the final half of the game. But Hall isn't 100 per cent, Garreffa isn't a fulltime defenceman, Kyle Gentles is out and Vallati is just 16. Let's give it some time to tighten up before worrying.

JB's top three Rangers: Riley Damiani, Giovanni Vallati, Dylan Seitz

News and notes

A bit of a grab bag this morning.

First up, this week's OHL column.

It's loaded with goodies - coaching no-nos over the years, talking checking to the head, how to punish a fan that runs on the ice and a killer clash between two teams you wouldn't expect.

In other news, how about those Memorial Cup hosting Spitfires? The team loses stud D Mikhail Sergachev to the Habs (though I suppose he could always return) and picks up D Sean Day from Mississauga for a song.

After all the draft picks were exchanged Windsor was basically out two seconds. Not a bad price compared to what folks were going for at the trade deadline last season.

Leaves a bit of a hole on Missy's blue line though. It'll be interesting to see how they respond. They have a bunch of picks in the bank.

As for the Rangers, goalie Luke Opilka is back on the ice, but not at full practice yet.

The Blueshirts are nursing him along after hip surgery. He's week-to-week right now. His return date will depend on how he responds to regular work. It sounds like a best case scenario has him back in two weeks.

Meanwhile, Connor Bunnaman and Nick McHugh are back at full speed and ready to go tomorrow against London. Bunnaman missed Sunday's win over Guelph after blocking a shot Saturday against Owen Sound. McHugh has been sick and missed the past three games.

Kyle Gentles is been reassessed after leaving Sunday's game in Guelph and was not at practice Tuesday. Blueliner Connor Hall took part in the workout but wore a white "no contact" jersey. He's day-to-day.

Bracco the best

Four games.

Four goals.

Nine assists.

OHL player of the week.

Enough said.

Teammate Adam Mascherin - 12 points in four games - was also considered.

Justin Bailey was the last Ranger to win the weekly award back in November of 2014.  Before that Tobias Rieder and Ryan Murphy took the title in 2012.

Rangers win amid Storm of emotions

Guelph Storm players had payback on their minds.

And while they may have sent a physical message to the Rangers Sunday it was Kitchener that left the Sleeman Centre with a 3-2 victory.

There is no doubt that the Storm were cheesed off over Jeremy Bracco's animated goal celebration from an 8-4 drubbing on Thanksgiving Day and that moment lingered with his Highway 7 foes in the rematch.

Guelph delivered big hits, head checks and a blind side hit in a game that felt more like a playoff match.

Bracco was a target and to his credit handled it well, even when he was checked in the head and run into the boards. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect added two helpers in the win.

Kitchener 3, Guelph 2

Kitchener looks to rebound after a close one up in Owen Sound last night.

The Attack handed the Rangers their second regulation loss with a 5-3 victory. Backup Chris McGonigle took the loss and he's had a tough go as the Rangers have been outshot 97-42 in his two starts.

Every time the Blueshirts need a pick-me-up they get a date with the Guelph Storm. Kitchener won 8-4 (and is 8-1 vs. the Storm in the past nine meetings) when these two clubs this past Monday.

Kitchener:

Adam Mascherin-Mason Kohn-Jeremy Bracco
Eric Guest-Greg Meireles-Joseph Garreffa
Darby Llewellyn-Jacob Cascagnette-Jake Henderson
Dylan Seitz-Riley Damiani-Cedric Schiemenz

Doug Blaisdell-Dylan Di Perna
Connor Hall-Kyle Gentles
Giovanni Vallati-Elijah Roberts

Dawson Carty (5-0-0-1) starts.

Guelph:

Luke Burghardt-Nate Schnarr-Givani Smith
Isaac Ratcliffe-James McEwan-Matt Hotchkiss
Liam Stevens-Barret Kirwin-Al Michnac
Levi Tetrault-Cedric Ralph-Quinn Hanna

Garrett McFadden-Austin Hall
Ryan Merkley-Noah Carroll
Kyle Rhodes-Dmitri Samorukov

Liam Herbst (2-3-0-1) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Rookie Eric Guest returned after serving a five game suspension for making an inappropriate comment to another player. Guest had two points in his first three games.

- Connor Bunnaman is out with a lower body injury.

- Eligible Rangers OA defenceman Frank Hora picked up his first AHL point - an assist - in his second game with the Cleveland Monsters Saturday.

- There is a noticeable increase in confidence with every game that Dylan Seitz plays.

- Elijah Roberts stood out in the first period especially when, at the end of a long shift, he poked the puck away from Guelph's Isaac Ratcliffe on a one-on-one rush.

- Mason Kohn usually plays a physical game but kicked it up a notch in this one. The natural rivalry between the two foes probably helped.

- Darby Llewellyn looked a bit woozy after being hit in the head by Guelph's Nate Schnarr. Llewellyn went right to the dressing room but did return. Cedric Schiemenz also exited after a blindside hit by Givani Smith in the second. The German also returned.

- The Rangers had one shot on net during their five minute power play in the second. A bit too casual on that particular PP.

- Rangers D Kyle Gentles left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury and did not return.

- A big win for the Rangers especially since it was the third game in 2.5 days against an inspired foe.

- Guelph's Ryan Merkley is a special player. He's just another in a line of talented Storm defencemen that seem to work their way through the Sleeman Centre. Scary to think what he'll be like in a year or two.

- I think I mention this every year but it's time for Spyke to retire the Cotton Eyed Joe routine and hit shuffle on his Ipod.

- Jeremy Bracco had 13 points this week and Adam Mascherin had a dozen. Both should be battling it out for OHL player of the week honours.

JB's top three Rangers: Adam Mascherin, Darby Llewellyn, Mason Kohn

Hall gives blue line a boost

Kitchener rebounded from a slow start to down Saginaw 6-2 last night to win its second straight game.

And there was a familiar face in the back end as Connor Hall returned to make his season debut.

The Cambridge native had been sidelined with a shoulder injury for the past month or so and was a welcome addition on the blue line.

As coach Jay McKee said - it's nice to see the team get back to icing a full (ish) lineup.

Kitchener 6, Saginaw 2

Don't sleep on the Saginaw Spirit.

Yes the team owns an OHL worst 1-5-0-1 record. But the team has rebounded from a slow start to put up three points in their past three games.

Goalie Evan Cormier is back and stopping pucks. Leader Mitchell Stephens has also been returned to the club from his NHL camp and is a threat to score.

And don't forget Mike Davies, a former Kitchener first round draft pick, now in his fourth year in the OHL. Ex-Rangers always seem to thrive when they return to the Aud.

Davies has missed the past four games with an upper body injury but is expected to skate tonight.

Kitchener:

Adam Mascherin-Mason Kohn-Jeremy Bracco
Connor Bunnaman-Greg Meireles-Joseph Garreffa
Darby Llewellyn-Jacob Cascagnette-Jake Henderson
Dylan Seitz-Riley Damiani-Cedric Schiemenz

Doug Blaisdell-Dylan Di Perna
Connor Hall-Kyle Gentles
Giovanni Vallati-Elijah Roberts

Dawson Carty (4-0-0-1) starts.

Saginaw:

Tye Felhaber-Mitchell Stephens-Matt Kreis
Brady Gilmour-Kris Bennett-Hayden Hodgson
Jesse Barwell-Damien Giroux-Kirill Maksimov
Mike Davies-Max Grondin-Cole Coskey

C.J. Garcia-Filip Hronek
Markus Niemelainen-Keaton Middleton
Rob Proner-Brock Hill

Evan Cormier (1-1-0-1) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Connor Hall is hoping to return sometime this weekend. The veteran defenceman has been dealing with an upper body injury and has yet to play a game this season. UPDATE: Hall will debut tonight.

- Jeremy Bracco heads into the match with nine points in three games. Talk about a hot start.

- F Nick McHugh is sick and will sit this one out.

- Frank Hora made his AHL debut with the Cleveland Monsters tonight. Hora is on a 25-game contract and could still be sent back to Kitchener at any time.

- Tonight's first period was proof that two penalties in the first five minutes can take the flow out of a game. Luckily things perked up.

- Kitchener's Connor Bunnaman and Dylan Seitz scored 13 seconds apart in the second period for a 2-0 lead, though Bunnaman's marker looked like an own goal by Saginaw.

- Jeremy Bracco had three more points to keep his insane average (3 PPG) in tact.

- I'm sure the coaching staff is happy to see some depth lines sparking the team after the top trio didn't hit the mark in the first period.

- Evan Cormier allowed six goals for Saginaw but looked solid early on. The Spirit defence did not help much.

- Some nice PK work by the Rangers especially in the second period with Seitz in the box. Textbook stuff.

- A rare off night for the music at the Aud. Something was up with the volume. Blistering loud. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

JB's top three Rangers: Greg Meireles, Connor Bunnaman, Joseph Garreffa

Trio of Rangers crack Canada's U17 squad

Three Kitchener Rangers will represent Canada at the upcoming World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Rookie forwards Eric Guest and Riley Damiani and defenceman Giovanni Vallati were among 66 players named to Team Canada Wednesday for the event running in Sault Ste. Marie Oct. 27 to Nov. 5.

Canada auditioned 111 players during a week long camp this summer before selecting the finalists which will be divided on to three squads in the eight team tournament that also includes the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States.

Menawhile, the Rangers dropped from seventh to honourable mention in this week’s Canadian Hockey League top ten rankings after going 1-1-0-1 this past long weekend.

Defending Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champions the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies took over top spot from the Western Hockey League’s Prince George Cougars.

The Windsor Spitfires moved into third spot and are the top ranked Ontario Hockey League squad while London is seventh, Hamilton eighth and Sarnia tenth.

He shoots and scores and scores and ...

Stock in fog horn companies must be soaring.

Restaurants offering grub for goals at Ontario Hockey League rinks should be rethinking their promotions.

And goal judges need to start stocking up on callus cream before it sells out.

That's because OHL scoring is up, way up.

Member clubs have combined to score 477 times through the first three weeks of this season. That's a 54-goal increase from this time last year.

Continue reading this week's OHL column.