Rangers Report

Niagara 7, Kitchener 2

Kitchener: 12-12-2-0, fourth in Midwest Division

Niagara: 14-7-4-0, tied for first in the Central Division.

Head to head: This is the first meeting this season. Kitchener won both clashes last season.

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Skinny: Kitchener is coming off its worst performance this season – an uninspired 5-1 loss to Erie. It was so bad that coach Jay McKee made the guys hit the bikes right after the game. The club has had a week off to think about that stinker and should come out motivated against Niagara.

The IceDogs made their position known in the east by acquiring Jason Robertson and Jacob Paquette from Kingston in a mega swap about two weeks back. The club has battled injuries all season and is coming in after a convincing 6-1 win over Owen Sound last night.

Keep an eye on: Niagara newcomer F Jason Robertson has eight points in three games since joining Niagara and boasts one of the deadliest shots in the OHL.

Local connections: Niagara captain Ben Jones hails from Waterloo and defenceman Elijah Roberts is a former Ranger. Niagara associate coach Jody Hull grew up in Cambridge. Rangers coach Jay McKee spent two seasons with the Niagara Falls Thunder as a player.

Additional reading:

Niagara goes all in after making biggest trade in franchise history
Rangers rule OHL leaderboard

Kitchener:

Eric Guest-Greg Meireles-Jonathan Yantsis
Rickard Hugg-Alexey Lipanov-Reid Valade
Michael Petizian-Isaac Langdon-Chase Campbell
Nick McHugh-Carter Tresoor-Graham Dickerson

Michael Vukojevic-Joseph Garreffa
Justin MacPherson-Jack York
Kyle Gentles-Donovan Sebrango

Luke Richardson (8-10-1-0) starts.

Niagara:

Kirill Maksimov-Ben Jones-Ivan Lodnia
Jason Robertson-Akil Thomas-Phil Tomasino
Matt Philip-Bradey Johnson-Oliver Castleman
Andrew Bruder-Jake Uberti-Kyen Sopa

Jacob Paquette-Elijah Roberts
Drew Hunter-Johnathon Schaefer
Lleyton Moore-Daniel Bukac

Stephen Dhillon (12-4-4-0) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Niagara F Ivan Lodnia is out with a concussion while D Daniel Bukac recently returned from a knee injury. UPDATE: Lodnia has been cleared to play

- The IceDogs send D Liam Ham to Mississauga for two second round picks and a third on Tuesday.

- Rangers D Donovan Sebrango was cleared by the OHL and will not receive a suspension for his checking to the head major on Erie's Alex Gritz. So riddle me this, if the league thought it was a clean hit, why did Erie get a five minute power play?

- And even more good news for Kitchener's back end as veteran Kyle Gentles returned after missing the past 14 games with an ankle injury.

- Rangers F Nick McHugh had the wires removed from his mouth after suffering a broken jaw. He has been dealing with a lot of soreness and hasn't eaten much this week so the team is being cautious and that's why he's on the fourth line.

- It was all Niagara early. Kitchener barely touched the puck and didn’t get its first shot on net until 7:14. Just four shots total for the Rangers in the first. But just seven for Niagara.

- Niagara’s PP reminds me of Kitchener’s last season. Great puck movement and lots of confidence.

- Maybe it’s because this is my first in-season viewing of the ‘Dogs, but their speed and transition game was impressive and a bit surprising.

- Jason Robertson set up both first period goals for the visitors and then added his league-high 26^th in the second and another helper.

- Kitchener’s first marker came shorthanded. Greg Meireles scored but give some credit to Chase Campbell who hustle up ice to play the decoy on a two-on-one. Meireles also scored on the PP. Give him a dozen.

- Six goals on 22 shots for Luke Richardson. Lucas Pfeil started the third and stopped 11 of 12.

- Kyle Gentles was even on the plus-minus in his first game back. Not bad considering the Rangers coughed up seven goals. Coach Jay McKee pointed out before the game that Gentles is the team’s most responsible rearguard in that he’s on the ice for the fewest quality chances against. Rang true tonight.

- Gentles picked up two for a bench minor. It looked like he grabbed an IceDog from the bench during a third period melee. Niagara staff say they have video and that a suspension could be on its way.

- 17 penalties called in the third period. All came after Niagara’s Kirill Maksimov ran Lucas Pfeil and was called for goalie interference.

- The Rangers have been outscored 12-3 in the last two home games.

JB’s top three Rangers: Greg Meireles, Chase Campbell, Kyle Gentles

Niagara goes all in

Niagara IceDogs general manager Joey Burke planted the seeds for the biggest trade in franchise history last season.

The Kingston Frontenacs were loading up for a run at the Ontario Hockey League championship and Burke knew they'd be in rebuild mode this season so he dropped Jason Robertson's name in conversation to his counterpart Darren Keily.

"We just wanted him to know that we had a ton of interest in him," said Burke, of the Dallas Stars second-round draft pick.

Fast forward to this season and the Fronts are toiling in last place in the Eastern Conference. The team's draft pick stock is low after its failed bid to go for it, but the club still boasted a few gems in Robertson and shutdown defenceman Jacob Paquette.

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Cambridge goalie hit by beer can in Sudbury

It was a day Tristan Lennox had been waiting for his entire life.

The Cambridge goalie was called up by the Saginaw Spirit to make his first start in the Ontario Hockey League against the Sudbury Wolves last Friday.

The in-game portion was memorable.

The recently turned 16-year-old made 24 saves and helped the Spirit snag a point in a 3-2 shootout loss at the Sudbury Community Arena.

But as he was walking back to the team's dressing room a Wolves fan took aim and threw a beer can, which was about half full, at his face.

"I was skating off the ice and I took off my helmet and I took a can right off the eye," said Lennox. "We were in the tunnel and I was just looking straight ahead and heading to the room. It came from the top. I looked up and there was this old lady looking down and yelling at me."

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Rangers rule leaderboard

It's a killer quintet.

Five Kitchener Rangers rank among the top 35 in Ontario Hockey League scoring which, if they keep it up, would put the crew in some heady company.

Forward Rickard Hugg is 18th overall with 31 points, ahead of teammates Joseph Garreffa (25), Jonathan Yantsis (26), Riley Damiani (31) and Greg Meireles (34).

"It doesn't really surprise me," said Yantsis, whose 20 goals are fifth most in the league. "The guys here are really skilled and finding ways to score points. Everyone is working and clicking."

The OHL leaderboard hasn't been drenched in this much red, white and blue, since the 1989-90 season.

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A 'garbage' game

Don't sleep on the Erie Otters.

It's a message the Kitchener Rangers would be wise to remember.

For the second time this month, the rebuilding Otters had their way with the Blueshirts, this time by downing the home side 5-1 at the Aud on Friday.

Ten days back, the Otters trailed the Rangers 4-3 in the third period but battled back for a 6-4 win at the Erie Insurance Arena.

"It was a garbage game by a lot of our older players," said Kitchener coach Jay McKee. "That's something that on a Friday night in Kitchener, in front of unbelievable fans is beyond unacceptable."

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Erie 5, Kitchener 1

Kitchener: 12-11-2-0, fourth in Midwest Division

Erie: 9-13-1-0, fifth in Midwest Division

Head to head: Erie beat Kitchener 6-4 about a week back in the only meeting between the clubs this season.

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Skinny: This is a revenge game for the Rangers. Kitchener had a 4-3 lead on Erie in the third period in a road game earlier this month but lost 6-4. The Blueshirts are coming off a one-sided 7-2 win against Flint and have won three of their past four.

Erie has one win in its past six games – that 6-4 victory against Kitchener and is 3-7 on the road. The Otters power play ranks 14^th out of 20 teams in the OHL while the penalty kill is 19^th.

Keep an eye on: Erie G Daniel Murphy has started 17 of the team’s last 18 games. He’s top five in the OHL in games played (20) and minutes (1,154).

Additional reading: Rangers feast on Firebirds

Kitchener:

Rickard Hugg-Greg Meireles-Jonathan Yantsis
Michael Petizian-Alexey Lipanov-Nick McHugh
Eric Guest-Isaac Langdon-Chase Campbell
Reid Valade-Carter Tresoor-Graham Dickerson

Michael Vukojevic-Joseph Garreffa
Justin MacPherson-Donovan Sebrango
Arber Xhekaj-Jack York

Lucas Pfeil (4-1-1-0) starts.

Erie:

Kyle Maksimovich-Petr Cajka-Danial Singer
Emmett Sproule-Chad Yetman-Gera Poddubnyi
Daniel D'Amato-Joseph Mack-Brendan Hoffmann
Maxim Golod-Alex Gritz-Brendan Sellan

Ryan Martin-Jamie Drysdale
Jack Duff-Kurtis Henry
Luke Beamish-Brendan Kischnick

Noah Battaglia (0-3-0-0) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Surprising stat 1: London has the second worst power play in the OHL at 13.2 per cent. That’s scary because when it gets going, and you know it will, the Knights will only be tougher to beat.

- Surprising stat 2: Alexey Lipanov has the second highest shooting percentage on the Rangers at 18.2 per cent. The surprising part? He has only taken 22 shots this season.

- Lucas Pfeil started in two straight games for the first time this season. But there is no goalie controversy according to coach Jay McKee, who said that Pfeil got the call on merit. “There is no denying his numbers,” the bench boss added.

- Just five shots on the clock for the Rangers in the first period. Lots of hit glass, blocked shots by the Otters and shots from the perimeter.

- Eric Guest skated off early in the first and did not return until the second. Jonathan Yantsis also headed to the bench in the final minute of the opening frame in pain but also returned for the second.

- No shots by the Rangers on their first two power plays.

- Rangers rookie Donovan Sebrango got into his first OHL fight with Erie rookie Brendan Sellan. Decision: Sebrango. But the d-man also took a major for checking to the head (on Alex Gritz) and was tossed from the game. He’ll likely get suspended once the league reviews the play. Gritz returned in the third. McKee said the hit was good, in his opinion.

- I said it after the 6-4 loss in Erie. These Otters just don’t stop working. They played a sound game tonight and nailed their chances.

- McKee was fired up after the loss. Not sure I've ever seen him so upset. He said he was sending the guys to the weight room to ride the bikes after the game.

- How about the Kingston Fronts? They have given up 16 goals in two games since trading F Jason Robertson and D Jacob Paquette. Yikes.

JB’s top three Rangers: Nick McHugh, Donovan Sebrango, Isaac Langdon

Rangers feast on Firebirds

Like two Aspirins after a night on the town, facing the Flint Firebirds can help make you feel better.

And the Kitchener Rangers were in definite need of a pick-me-up after an uninspiring 7-4 loss to the Sarnia Sting Tuesday night at the Aud.

So, there they were, on the team bus Wednesday afternoon riding across the border for a chance to rebound from the poor result against the Ontario Hockey League's worst team.

The two-win Firebirds didn't disappoint.

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Kitchener 7, Flint 2

Kitchener: 11-11-2-0, fourth in Midwest Division.

Flint: 2-20-1-0, last in West Division.

Head to head: Kitchener is 2-0 in the season series.

Game time: 7 p.m.

Skinny: It’s a rare midweek back-to-back duo for the Rangers. At least the second tilt is against the league’s worst team. That said, Kitchener better not overlook Flint since the Firebirds are rested and did not have to travel. Could be a prime upset game.

Flint ended an ugly 17-game winless skid by stringing together a pair of victories earlier this month. But since then, it has been back to business. The Firebirds have dropped their past four games and been outscored 22-10 over that span.

Keep an eye on: Rangers F Greg Meireles, who has six points in two games against Flint this season.

Additional reading: Rangers lose game and leader

Kitchener:

Rickard Hugg-Greg Meireles-Jonathan Yantsis
Michael Petizian-Alexey Lipanov-Nick McHugh
Eric Guest-Isaac Langdon-Chase Campbell
Reid Valade-Carter Tresoor-Graham Dickerson

Michael Vukojevic-Joseph Garreffa
Justin MacPherson-Donovan Sebrango
Arber Xhekaj-Jack York

Lucas Pfeil (3-1-1-0) starts.

Flint:

Hunter Holmes-Evan Vierling-Jake Durham
Ethan Keppen-Kyle Harris-Eric Uba
Jacob Winterton-Jack Phibbs-C.J. Clarke
Jack Wismer-X-X

Vlad Kolyachonok-Riley McCourt
Fedor Gordeev-Ryan Bangs
Mike Bianconi-Hakon Nilsen

Luke Cavallin (2-8-1-0) starts. 

Game summary

Brownie points:

- It’s not too often you see two starting goalies with a combined five wins on Nov. 21. You know it’s been a bad year in Flint when Kitchener’s backup has more wins than Flint’s co-starter.

- I know it’s midweek and Flint is awful but sweet Jesus the crowd looked sparse at the Dort.

- Nick McHugh has seven points in three games since coming back from a broken jaw last Friday.

- Jonathan Yantsis potted his 20^th goal, in 25 games nonetheless. Pretty amazing considering he was a fourth line grinder last season and had a career high five goals coming into this season. Only Ottawa’s Tye Felhaber (24) and Niagara’s Jason Robertson (23) have more goals than Yantsis.

- Joseph Garreffa extended his point scoring streak to eight games with a goal and two assists.

- The Rangers and Firebirds were certainly consistent through 40. Kitchener had 11 shots and Flint had 14 shots in each of the first two frames.

- Nothing wrong with Kitchener’s top lines. Again, the top six carried the offensive load. When those guys are on they are sure fun to watch. Just gotta get more from the bottom six now.

- Draws 36-27 Flint.

- A nice game by d-man Justin MacPherson, who had an assist and was plus-three.

- Rookie forwards Carter Tresoor, Reid Valade and Isaac Langdon got a shift on the power play in the third but didn’t convert. All three were scoreless at the time but Langdon notched his first career OHL goal with about five minutes to go in the third.

- Greg Meireles with a goal and three assists. He has nine points in his past three tilts.

JB’s top three Rangers: Greg Meireles, Nick McHugh, Justin MacPherson

Rangers dealt a double blow

Riley Damiani was playing like a captain.

The Kitchener Rangers have yet to anoint the "C" this season but the third year centre was making a strong case.

Damiani has a dozen points in his past five games, seven points in his past five periods and was in on seven of the past eight Rangers goals.

Then, this past Saturday in Barrie, he got hurt.

The Dallas Stars draft pick left the game after getting hit on a second period power play and did not return.

Full story

Sarnia 7, Kitchener 4

Kitchener: 11-10-2-0, fourth in Midwest Division

Sarnia: 8-10-2-2, fourth in West Division

Head to head: Kitchener is 2-0 in the season series.

Game time: 7 p.m.

Skinny: The Rangers are hot and going for their first three-game winning streak since they opened the season with three straight victories. The odds are good as the Blueshirts have home ice advantage and have yet to lose to the Sting in two tries this season.

Sarnia beat Peterborough 7-3 on Saturday to snap a seven-game winless skid. The team did snag three points in that stretch by pushing a trio of tilts to overtime or a shootout. The Sting has allowed three or more goals in the past 10 games.

Keep an eye on: Rangers F Rickard Hugg is a Sting killer. The Swede had a hat trick in Kitchener’s 4-3 win earlier this season. He also scored the game-tying goal and shootout winner in the team’s 6-5 shootout victory at the Aud. And last season, he had an OT winner against the Sting in the playoffs.

Additional reading: Rangers GM preaches patience

Kitchener:

Rickard Hugg-Greg Meireles-Nick McHugh
Michael Petizian-Alexey Lipanov-Jonathan Yantsis
Eric Guest-Isaac Langdon-Chase Campbell
Reid Valade-Carter Tresoor-Graham Dickerson

Michael Vukojevic-Joseph Garreffa
Justin MacPherson-Jack York
Arber Xhekaj-Donovan Sebrango

Luke Richardson (8-9-1-0) starts.

Sarnia:

Anthony Salinitri-Franco Sproviero-Sean Josling
Hugo Leufvenius-Ryan McGregor-Jacob Perreault
Calvin Martin-Adam Ruzicka-Brayden Guy
Curtis Egert-Theo Hill-Alexandre Hogue

Kelton Hatcher-Mitch Eliot
Marko Jakovlijevic-Colton Kammerer
Ashton Reesor-Nick Grima

Aidan Hughes (4-3-1-2) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Count me as surprised that Saginaw fired ex-Rangers bench boss Troy Smith. GM Dave Drinkill's rationale, in a nutshell, was that he expected the team to better and play a different style. Saginaw is fifth in the west with a record of 11-9-1-1. That's about where they should be considering they only have four forwards 19 or older. And surely the Spirit is well aware of Smith's coaching style having interviewed him at length and reviewed his 10-plus years in the OHL. The team got a look at the bench without Smith while he was coaching at the Under-17 worlds. During his absence, the club went 3-3. What a business.

- Saginaw's D.J. Busdeker got a two-game suspension for his slew foot on Rangers D Donovan Sebrango this past Friday.

- Rangers F Riley Damiani is out at least two weeks but potentially until after Christmas, according to coach Jay McKee, with an upper body injury suffered in Barrie. That's a huge blow. He has been absolutely flying of late.

- Pfeil was slated to get the start in Flint tomorrow but that was before relieving Richardson in the second period tonight.

- It’s a great stretch in the schedule for the Rangers with Saginaw, Barrie and Sarnia in the books and Flint and Erie on deck. But the team still has 18 games left against Owen Sound, London and Guelph.

- A scary moment for the Rangers late in the first when Sarnia’s Kelton Hatcher hit Michael Petizian who took the feet out from under Joseph Garreffa. The d-man stayed down for a while and a trainer came out but Garreffa was able to get up on his own and remained in the game.

- Adam Ruzicka scored his second of the game to put Sarnia up 3-2 in the second on a breakaway which came off a Rangers’ turnover at the blue line. A tough break but one that seemed like the turning point in the match.

- Richardson was yanked in the second period after allowing six goals on 28 shots.

- A wild second period with seven goals scored.

- The Rangers had lots of chances in this one but were stopped on a three-on-one, a two-on-one, a breakaway and started the third by hitting two posts.

- You can really see the toll injuries take this season. Last year, when Logan Brown was ailing, Damiani, McHugh or Meireles were ready to step up. This year that depth just isn’t there.

- Hard to blame Lucas Pfeil on his lone goal allowed in the third period. The Rangers gave up two breaks while on the PP.

- Kitchener F Eric Guest scored his first goal in 14 games.

JB’s top three Rangers: Greg Meireles, Michael Vukojevic, Joseph Garreffa

Tortora goes back to Barrie

Maybe we should start calling it the Robby Fabbri club.

That'd be guys that the Rangers acquire but never actually play for the club.

American Jacob Tortora is the latest member.

The Rangers got the rights to the one-time prized prospect in September of 2015 for a 15th round pick and three second rounders. There were a boatload of conditions attached. Basically the Rangers owed Barrie the picks if/when Tortora dressed for the club.

He never did, opting to head to Boston College instead. But he quit school recently and is expected to join the Colts soon. He had 15 points in 38 games in the NCAA.

On Sunday, the Rangers sent him back to Barrie with a conditional fifth round pick for a second and third rounder that kick in if he reports to the Colts. If he plays his OA season next year, the Rangers get an additional second round pick. Also, the Blueshirts get two second rounders sent in the original deal back.

A pretty nice haul for a guy that never played at the Aud.

The Colts originally drafted Tortora in the first round of the 2015 OHL draft.

GM McKenzie preaches patience

At times, the Kitchener Rangers look like a club that is developing into a contender.

Scoring is spread out, the team plays tight defensively and great goaltending rules the crease.

Those days give general manager Mike McKenzie hope. Now, with the team a third of the way through the season, he just wants to see more of it. 

"It has been an up-and-down year so far," he said. "It has been a tale of two different teams on a lot of nights. Finding consistency is a priority moving forward."

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Toothless McHugh chips in

Nick McHugh never saw it coming.

The Kitchener Rangers forward had just finished a shift and was sitting on the team's bench talking to the coaching staff when the puck smacked him in the face against the Guelph Storm about a month back.

"I wasn't watching the play," said the 19-year-old. "The puck came out of nowhere. It felt like a really hard punch."

McHugh's mug was covered in blood, his left front tooth was gone, several other chiclets were chipped or twisted and his jaw was broken.

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Kitchener 5, Saginaw 2

Kitchener: 9-10-2-0, fourth in Midwest Division

Saginaw: 11-7-1-1, second in West Division

Head to head: Saginaw leads the season series 2-0

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Skinny: The Rangers are back on the skids, losers of two straight. Wednesday’s day game was particularly tough as the club blew a 4-3 lead in the third period and lost 6-4 to Midwest Division basement dwellers the Erie Otters. Home ice hasn’t been as kind as the past for Kitchener as the club is 4-6 at the Aud.

Saginaw can score as evident by the team’s 78 goals for but keeping pucks out of the net has been a challenge. Only three west clubs (Erie, Sarnia and Flint) have allowed more goals than the Spirit’s 78 against. That said, the Spirit has won three of its past four games.

Keep an eye on: Spirit D Bode Wilde seemingly had his way against the Rangers the last time Saginaw came to the Aud. The New York Islanders prospect has three points in two games against Kitchener and four assists in his past three tilts.

Additional reading: Rangers get boost but lose to Erie

Kitchener:

Rickard Hugg-Riley Damiani-Reid Valade
Michael Petizian-Greg Meireles-Jonathan Yantsis
Eric Guest-Isaac Langdon-Chase Campbell
Carter Tresoor-Alexey-Lipanov-Nick McHug

Michael Vukojevic-Joseph Garreffa
Justin MacPherson-Jack York
Arber Xhekaj-Donovan Sebrango

Lucas Pfeil (2-1-1-0) starts.

Saginaw:

Al Michnac-Bardy Gilmour-Cole Coskey
Cole Perfetti-Damien Giroux-Nick Porco
Blade Jenkins-Aidan Prueter-DJ Busdeker
Danny Katic-Camaryn Baber-Jake Goldowski

Bode Wilde-Reilly Webb
Mason Millman-Reagon O'Grady
Duncan Penman-Hayden Davis

Ivan Prosvetov (9-2-1-0) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Nick McHugh made his return after missing the past 11 games after taking a puck in the face.

- Rangers F Alexey Lipanov starts the game on the fourth line. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect has just one even strength goal in his past 35 games. Coach Jay McKee says he has to work his way back up to the scoring lines.

- Kitchener F Reid Valade and D Donovan Sebrango and Saginaw coach Troy Smith, assistant coach Ryan Kuwabara, F Cole Perfetti and G Tristan Lennox were honoured before the game for their participation in the recent World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

- So McHugh gets an assist on the team's first goal and Lipanov scores the second - at even strength. Funny how these things work sometimes. McHugh finished with two helpers.

- Rangers outshot the Spirit 15-7 in the first and 19-8 in the second.

- Saginaw’s Danny Katic scored his first goal of the season in the second. He’s a big boy at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds.

- Kitchener’s Rickard Hugg has seven multi-point games this season and five points in his last two games. A nice wrister on the team’s third goal tonight.

- Spirit F D.J. Busdeker was tossed in the second with a match penalty for slew footing Rangers D Donovan Sebrango.

- Saginaw goalie Ivan Prosvetov deserved better. Woulda been worse without him. Had 30 saves through two. I thought he deserved a star.

- If there is such a thing as being “in the zone” then Kitchener’s Riley Damiani is in it. Four points tonight, including his first OHL hat trick. He has looked every bit the part of an NHL prospect of late. Though, didn’t see any chapeaus after the hatty so that’s a fan fail.

- Rangers backup Lucas Pfeil turned aside 30 shots to pick up his third victory of the season.

JB’s top three Rangers: Riley Damiani, Richard Hugg, Nick McHugh

Rangers get boost but lose in Erie

Kitchener Rangers coach Jay McKee hasn't had a full lineup in a couple of weeks.

But the bench boss got two key rookie reinforcements back on the ice during Wednesday afternoon's 6-4 loss to the Erie Otters with the return of forward Reid Valade and defenceman Donovan Sebrango.

The pair missed the past six games while participating on one of Canada's three entries at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in New Brunswick. 

"It was an unbelievable experience," said Sebrango, who played on Team Black with Valade in the eight-team tournament. "To get to play with all the top players in the world was an incredible feeling."

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The OHL 21: Time for change

It's the third annual "get off my lawn" column.

You know, the time of year where I pretend to be Ontario Hockey League Commish David Branch and revolutionize the league with my awesome ideas.

I'm not saying the mustachioed one reads my rants, but the league did adopt two of my gripes from the past — allowing goalies back into the Canadian Hockey League import draft, and restricting the number of draft picks in trades.

Here are 21 more to love, hate and debate.

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Erie 6, Kitchener 4

Kitchener: 9-9-2-0, fourth in the Midwest Division

Erie: 8-10-1-0, fifth in the Midwest Division

Head to head: This is the first game this season. The Rangers were 6-0 against the Otters last sason.

Game time: Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Skinny: There will be lots of screaming kids at this one since it’s a school day game. The Rangers roll in having won two of its past three games but is coming off a listless effort in a 5-1 loss to the London Knights on Sunday.

Hands up if you thought the Erie Otters would be three points back of the Rangers? Well they are and this isn’t a team, despite its youth, to overlook. The Otters started the season with a record of 1-7-1-0 but have since gone 7-4 with wins over Niagara, Ottawa, Mississauga and the Soo, among others.

Keep an eye on: Erie sophomore Chad Yetman is enjoying a breakout campaign. The forward had 16 points last season but already has eight goals and five assists this time around, including five power play markers.

Local connections: Rangers head coach Jay McKee used to be and assistant with the Otters.

Additional reading: The OHL 21: Time for change

Kitchener:

Rickard Hugg-Riley Damiani-Reid Valade
Michael Petizian-Greg Meireles-Jonathan Yantsis
Eric Guest-Alexey Lipanov-Chase Campbell
Carter Tresoor-Isaac Langdon Graham Dickerson

Justin MacPherson-Joseph Garreffa
Michael Vukojevic-Donovan Sebrango
Arber Xhekaj-Jack York

Luke Richardson (7-8-1-0) starts.

Erie:

Hayden Fowler-Petr Cajka-Kyle Maksimovich
Emmett Sproule-Alex Gritz-Maxim Golod
Gera Poddubnyi-Chad Yetman-Danial Singer
Brendan Sellan-Daniel D’Amato-Brendan Hoffmann

Ryan Martin-Jamie Dysdale
Jack Duff-Kurtis Henry
Marcus Gillard-Brendan Kischnick

Daniel Murphy (8-7-1-0) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Reid Valade gets a nice welcome home from the U-17 tourney by being slotted on a line with Hugg and Damiani.

- Rangers cash on the PP and it’s a good thing they did. The team was gifted three PPs in the opening 4:07, including a five-on-three for 1:23

- Interesting to follow the draws early on. Rangers led 8-1 early in the first but finished the period up 9-7.

- Make it back-to-back standout games for Michael Petizian. His line with Meireles and Yantsis was a force through two. Looks like Petizian is rounding into form after having off-season surgery and being eased back into the lineup.

- Eric Guest also had some jam. Perhaps a response to being one of a handful of players called out by coach Jay McKee after the loss to London on the weekend? Guest also had and missed a penalty shot in the second period.

- Two unlucky goals against the Rangers – an own goal by Sebrango and a weird moon shot that bounced behind Richardson.

- Erie trailed 4-3 after two and really came out hard for the win in the third and got it. Very impressive work ethic.

- The puck, yes the puck, broke in the third.

- The Rangers led 2-1 and 4-2 in the game. Joseph Garreffa was a nasty minus-five.

- The Otters are now just one point back of Kitchener in the standings for fifth in the Midwest Division.

- Might be a good time for the Rangers to fill Hall's OA spot with a forward that can score. Another veteran up front can't hurt.

JB’s top three Rangers: Jonathan Yantsis, Greg Meireles, Rickard Hugg

Opilka retires

Ex-Rangers goalie Luke Opilka is hanging up his pads.

The Effingham, Illinois native played two seasons for the Kitchener Rangers going 40-24-5-3.

Injuries, specifically hip problems, plagued Opilka and ultimately led to his decision to retire from hockey.

"I want to thank the St. Louis Blues, my hometown team, for drafting me and giving me an opportunity to pursue my dream," said Opilka, in a Blues press release. "Unfortunately, my career ended sooner than I hoped, but I'm excited to continue my education and begin a new chapter in my life."

The Rangers selected Opilka in the sixth round of the 2013 OHL draft. The Blues took him in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL draft.

St. Louis Blues press release

St. Louis Post-Dispatch story

Rangers' veterans a let down in loss

Jay McKee didn't hold back.

The normally reserved Kitchener Rangers coach wasn't impressed with the effort from his veteran players in Sunday afternoon's 5-1 loss to the London Knights and called some of them out by name.

The grievance list was long.

"(Greg) Meireles took two bad penalties," said the bench boss. "(Jonathan) Yantsis defensively wasn't good in our zone. (Alexey) Lipanov was turning over pucks. (Rickard) Hugg didn't have it.

"If your top forwards, on a team that doesn't have a lot of depth, if they're not on, it's not a recipe for success."

Full story

London 5, Kitchener 1

Kitchener: 9-8-2-0, fourth in the Midwest Division

London: 11-4-2-0, second in the Midwest Division

Head to head: London is 2-0 against the Rangers this season and has outscored the Blueshirts 9-2 in the series.

Game time: 2 p.m.

Skinny: Kitchener is riding a modest two-game win streak, which is the team’s longest since winning three straight to open the season. Luke Richardson will likely get the call in net after Lucas Pfeil played in Friday’s 6-5 shootout win over Sarnia.

Like the Rangers, the Knights come into this one after a day off. London also won in a shootout Friday, beating Sudbury 2-1. The Knights have won five straight, a run that includes a win over the Blueshirts. London hasn’t lost in regulation since Oct. 19.

Keep an eye on: Rangers F Jonathan Yantsis is back on a hot streak. The veteran winger has two points in each of his past two games and is tied for the team lead in scoring with 22 points (with Rickard Hugg). Yantsis has seven multi point games this season.

Additional reading: Rangers deliver a memorable win

Kitchener:

Isaac Langdon-Greg Meireles-Jonathan Yantsis
Rickard Hugg-Riley Damiani-Chase Campbell
Michael Petizian-Alexey Lipanov-Eric Guest
Carter Tresoor-X-Graham Dickerson

Joseph Garreffa-Michael Vukojevic
Justin MacPherson-Jack York
Arber Xhekaj-Alex Peterson

Luke Richardson (7-7-1-0) starts.

London:

Alex Formenton-Liam Foudy-Josh Nelson
Alex Turko-Billy Moskal-Cole Tymkin
Matvey Guskov-Connor McMichael-Nathan Dunkley
Antonio Stranges-X-Dalton Duhart

Alec Regula-Evan Bouchard
William Lochead-Adam Boqvist
Jacob Golden-Matt Timms

Jordan Kooy (6-1-0-0) starts.

Game summary

Brownie points:

- Still no F Reid Valade and D Donovan Sebrango for the Rangers. They’re at the World Under-17 tourney but should be back tomorrow.

- The Rangers wore their Remembrance Day sweaters for the game.

- Rangers D Joseph Garreffa thought he had one on a wraparound early in the first period. The attempt was reviewed and ruled no goal.

- A tough break on the opening London goal which was scored after it hit a Ranger in the slot and bounced right to Connor McMichael.

- It’s a two-for-two weekend for nice Remembrance Day ceremonies. Another good one here in London before today’s match.

- I thought Carter Tresoor and Isaac Langdon both had solid weekends. They look comfortable on the ice and are noticeably more involved in the play.

- Kitchener F Alexey Lipanov is a minus-14 with the Rangers. That’s tops on the team and the only player in double digits.

- London D Adam Boqvist sure likes to jump into the play. He’s almost Merkley-esque in that regard.

- Lipanov’s second period marker ended a skid that saw the Rangers go 118 minutes and 39 seconds of scoreless hockey against the Knights.

- Down 4-0 in the second and London having its way. It just felt like at time for a Ranger to change the momentum with a physical shift or scrap.  

JB’s top three Rangers: Justin MacPherson, Isaac Langdon, Michael Petizian