Mitchell Martin’s Hat-Trick Inspires Rangers to Fourth-Straight Victory Tuesday
October 25, 2022 – Ontario Hockey League (OHL) – Kitchener Rangers News Release
Kitchener, Ont. – The Kitchener Rangers have now won four-straight games and for the third consecutive home game, a Kitchener Ranger recorded a hat-trick. Mitchell Martin scored three and added an assist, Ty Hollett notched three assists, Francesco Pinelli tallied two goals and Hunter Brzustewicz extended his point-streak to eight games as the Rangers routed their highway-seven rival Guelph Storm 7-1 in front of 5,374 fans at The Aud Tuesday.
For the second time in as many games, Kitchener opened the scoring against Guelph in the first minute of the game. 51 seconds into the contest, Mitchell Martin collected the puck at the Kitchener blueline, skated down the left side of the ice, cut to the slot and fired a shot low beating the Guelph goalie on the right side. Kitchener doubled their lead at the mid-way mark of the period. A give-and-go play at the blueline as Francesco Pinelli dumped the puck to Filip Mešár who found Pinelli driving hard to the net and deflected the puck past the outstretched blocker of Jacob Oster. Francesco Pinelli added a third goal for Kitchener and his second already in the game at 18:28. Pinelli made a nice move at the blueline beating a Guelph skater, carried the puck to the top of the left circle and fired a shot across his body beating Oster over the glove.
A late power-play for Guelph saw them draw a goal back. A failed clearing attempt was blocked and kept in by Guelph. The puck was cycled to Sasha Pastujov (Anaheim Ducks) who fired a shot past the glove of Marco Costantini short side. The period ended with the Rangers up a pair 3-1 and shots favouring the Storm 14-13.
The Rangers matched their first period goal tally adding another three goals in the second period. Just over a minute into the period, a strong drive to the net by Mitchell Martin was poke checked by the Guelph defender right into the slot for Reid Valade to knock home the loose puck. That goal would chase the Guelph goaltender Jacob Oster for Dixon Grimes.
Mitchell Martin and Reid Valade would link up again at 8:14 of the middle frame. A zone entry by Valade stopping at the top of the left circle, firing a pass cross crease to the top of the right circle for Mitchell Martin to one-time a shot through the five-hole of Dixon Grimes. Just over two minutes later, Mitchell Martin completed the hat-trick. Again, from the right face-off dot, Martin had time and space to carry the puck from the middle of the ice to the right circle. Martin wired a wrist shot over the glove of the Guelph netminder to extend Kitchener’s lead to 6-1. Shots after 40 favoured the Storm 24-21.
It was a little less of a hectic third period as only one goal scored was scored in the period. Great puck retrieval by Adrian Misaljevic tied the puck up in the left corner. Matthew Sop knocked the puck free and fed a pass to Adam Zidlicky from behind the net who was able to one-time it home. The final scored ended 7-1 for Kitchener, with shots favouring the Storm 32-30.
All three stars in tonight’s game were awarded to the Kitchener Rangers. The third star of the game went to Ty Hollett who recorded three assists on the night. The second star went to Francesco Pinelli who scored two goals raising his goal total to eight on the season. The first star of the game went to Mitchell Martin. Martin recorded his first hat-trick of the season and a four-point night (3G, 1A).
Next up:
The Rangers will play their second-straight home game at The Aud this Friday night when the club hosts the Erie Otters for the Rangers’ Halloween Game. Get spooky at The Aud. Wear your best costume, grab some candy and participate in many fun and games. Puck drop is set to 7:30 p.m.
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