Preview: Rangers Begin Home-and-Home Weekend with Erie Friday at the Aud
October 27, 2022 – Ontario Hockey League (OHL) – Kitchener Rangers News Release
Kitchener, Ont. – The Kitchener Rangers have won their last four games and look to continue their winning streak when the club hosts the Erie Otters Friday night to begin a home-and-home weekend. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at The Aud Friday before facing the Otters in Pennsylvania this Sunday at 2 p.m.
Promotions:
Friday is the Rangers’ Halloween Game. Get spooky at The Aud! Wear your best costume, trick-or-treat with Rangers’ mascot Tex, grab some candy at the rink and participate in video board games and features. The Rangers Vision Halloween Scare video returns! Check out a sneak peek, as we introduce Tomas Hamara to our spooky tradition. The full video will premiere on the video board during the game!
Ticket Information:
Tickets to the Rangers’ home games are $21 for children and $25 for adults and can be purchased online now. Additionally, fans can purchase tickets via the phone by calling the Centre In The Square Box Office at (519) 578-1570. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Activa Box Office at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium at 400 East Ave. Kitchener, ON N2H 1Z6 or at the Centre In The Square Box Office at 101 Queen St N, Kitchener, ON N2H 6P7.
Head-to-head:
These two western conference teams have played a lot over the last two seasons. In eleven meetings the Rangers hold the advantage with a 6-2-1-2 record since the 2019-20 regular season. Six of the eleven meeting between these two clubs have been played right here at The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. In those six games, Kitchener owns an impressive 4-1-0-1 record thanks to a three-game home sweep of Erie during the 2019-20 regular season.
The last meeting at The Aud was held on March 18th, 2022. The Rangers fell behind by two goals after 20 minutes of play. Kitchener responded with three unanswered goals which saw them take the lead heading into the third period. Erie tied the game short-handed midway through the third period, but on that same Kitchener power-play they would score and hold on for the narrow 4-3-win victory. Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) and Mitchell Martin both recorded two assists in that game and forward Joseph Serpa recorded one goal and two assists earning the games second star.
Most recently, Erie hosted Owen Sound at The Erie Insurance Arena. Erie came away with a 3-1 regulation victory in which Brett Bressette scored the game-winning goal late in the third period. Colby Saganiuk recorded three assists for his most productive game of the season thus far. Christian Kyrou (1G, 1A) and Liam Gilmartin (2A) both recorded a two-point night. Kitchener hosted Guelph making it four-straight consecutive wins. Kitchener routed Guelph by a score of 7-1. Forward Mitchell Martin recorded his second career OHL hat-trick leading the way offensively for the Rangers.
Scouting the Rangers:
Defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz has been highlighted a lot recently and for a good reason. Hunter extended his points streak to eight straight games on Tuesday and remains tied for the team lead in points with 11 points (0G, 11A) in nine games. Captain Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) is back on fine form adding two goals of his own Tuesday bringing him to 11 points (8G, 3A) on the year.
Forward Mitchell Martin recorded his second career OHL hat-trick to complete a four-point night making him tied with three other teammates for second on the team in goals. It also makes it back-to-back hat-tricks at The Aud after Francesco Pinelli recorded a hat-trick in Kitchener’s win over Sudbury.
Tomas Hamara (Ottawa Senators), Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens), Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) and Roman Schmidt (Tampa Bay Lightning) are four Kitchener skaters that are both drafted and signed by their NHL clubs respectively.
Scouting the Otters:
A couple of skaters are coming in hot to Kitchener Friday following Erie’s last game on Saturday October 22nd. Forward Colby Saganiuk recorded three assists joining in on every Erie goal Saturday. That raised the players point total to five this season (5A). Liam Gilmartin and Christian Kyrou both recorded two goals in their winning efforts Saturday as well.
Brett Bressette returns to Erie recording the third most points from a season ago from all returning skaters. Brett recorded 48 points (21G, 27A) in 66 games and is currently second on the team in scoring this season with eight points (4G, 4A) in 10 games so far. Standout defenceman Christian Kyrou leads all defencemen as well as the team in points this season. Christian has tallied 10 points (2G, 8A) across 10 games this season averaging a point per game as a defenceman. Christian currently ranks 4th amongst all defencemen in points this season and also ranked 4th in defenceman points last season with 60 points (18G, 42A) in 68 games.
Liam Gilmartin (San Jose Sharks), Christian Kyrou (Dallas Stars), and Nolan Lalonde (Columbus Blue Jackets) are the three Erie skaters drafted by their NHL clubs respectively.
Broadcast Coverage:
Friday night’s contest vs. the Erie Otters 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. Jason Hagholm (play-by-play), Dan Polischuk (colour commentary) and Sean Furfaro (host) will call the game on television. The game will be streamed live online on OHL Live on CHL TV. Additionally, fans can listen to the game on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL. Mike Farwell (play-by-play) and Chris Pope (colour commentary) will call the game on the radio. For more information on Kitchener Rangers broadcast coverage, click here.
Rangers Reach: Win BIG Tonight!
The Kitchener Rangers Community Fund, Ranchers Reach, is continuing the tradition of awarding big CA$H prizes. Don’t miss out on your chance at tonight’s huge prize plus two consolation prizes. PLAY NOW and you could be the next big winner! Click here to purchase your 50/50 Raffle tickets for tonight’s game. Next up for the Rangers Reach Authentics Game Worn Jersey is a Paval Cajan #30 blue jersey. Click here to get in on the action for the jersey.
Next up:
The Rangers complete the home-and-home series with Erie Sunday when the club makes a trip across the border to Pennsylvania. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. against the Otters at the Erie Insurance Arena.
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