Rangers Win Against League Champs But Go Down To Attack

Rangers wrap successful weekend with win against reigning league champs

Anthony Dumont-Bouchard kept his Ontario Hockey League record pristine as the Kitchener Rangers dropped the Erie Otters, 3-2, in front of 4,725 fans at the Erie Insurance Arena on Saturday night.

Since coming to the Rangers (3-1-1-0) via Barrie, by way of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the 20-year-old veteran has been a reliable last line of defence for the Blueshirts; tonight making 25 saves to spoil the home opener for the defending OHL champion Otters (1-3-1-0).

Dumont-Bouchard improved his record to 3-0-0-0 on the season, while his counterpart Troy Timpano saw his line dip to 1-2-1-0 after allowing three goals on 16 shots in the loss.

The win rounds out a 3-in-3 weekend for the Rangers, who captured five of a possible six points against the Otters tonight, Windsor on Thursday (W), and last night versus Owen Sound (OTL).

Joseph Garreffa gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 7:11 of the opening frame, a power play goal, assisted by Adam Mascherin and Logan Stanley.

Just under three minutes later they extended their lead to 2-0 after Connor Hall, down low, found Jake Henderson near the hash marks who buried his second of the season. Nick McHugh earned the second assist on the goal, coming at 9:53.

Before the period was out the Otters would etch the scoresheet, as Gera Poddubnyi cut the Rangers lead to 2-1 at 16:36, from Maxim Golod and Ryan Martin, to round out first period scoring.

Shots on goal in the first period of play favoured Erie, 12-7.

After a scoreless second, Mascherin tallied his third of the season with a beautiful, highlight-reel snipe from behind the goal line, giving Kitchener a 3-1 lead at 3:54, from Greg Meireles and Garreffa.

Christian Girhiny would answer back for the Otters, cutting the Rangers lead to 3-2 after banking a pass from Patrick Fellows into a gaping net. Joseph Mack earned the second assist on the goal at 5:50 of the third.

The Otters pulled Timpano in the closing minutes of the frame, but failed to tally the equalizer.

Shots on goal in the second period were 5-5, and 11-5 Erie in the third period for a game total of 27-16, Otters.

Kitchener finished the game making half of their opportunities on the man advantage count, going 1-for-2. Erie was 0-for-3 in their power play chances.

The two teams meet again on Friday, as the Otters visit The Aud to take on the Rangers on October 6^th for a 7:30pm start.

Stanley, Mascherin, and Henderson each wore an “A” and skated as alternates. Captain Connor Bunnaman missed the game to flu-like symptoms.

Regular season tickets to all Kitchener Rangers home games are $23.00 each for adults, $19.00 for children 12 and under including HST, and are available in person or by calling the Activa Box Office at The Aud, from Centre in the Square (519) 578-1570 -or- 1-800-265-8977, or by purchasing online.

Rangers muster point, but fall to Attack in OT

The Kitchener Rangers (2-1-1-0) managed to erase a two-goal, third period deficit, but it was the Owen Sound Attack (1-0-0-1) who left town with the extra point as the visitors skated to a 4-3 OT win in front of 6,833 fans at The Aud on Friday night.

The fact the Rangers were able to battle back from the late deficit was the good news; the bad news, the fact they were held scoreless on the power play, which went 0-for-7.

Logan Stanley added a pair of points to the scoresheet for the second consecutive night, while Adam Mascherin found the back of the net for the second time this season. Joseph Garreffa chipped in with his first goal, rounding out the offense for the Rangers who look to cap off their 3-in-3 weekend on a high note against divisional opponent, the Erie Otters, tomorrow night at 7pm.

Luke Richardson (0-1-1-0) got the call between the pipes for the Rangers but was saddled with the loss, making 36 saves on 40 shots.

Zack Bowman (1-0-0-1) earned his first win of the season, turning aside 33 of 36 shots he faced.

The first period finished in a scoreless tie despite the fact the Rangers were awarded four power play opportunities in the opening 20 minutes, including a 1:30, 5-on-3 edge past the midway point of the period.

Nearly eight minutes into the first period shots favoured Kitchener 5-4 before the Blueshirts sailed 10 consecutive shots at Bowman, leading 15-4 on the shot clock. At the end of 20 minutes the Rangers led 15-9.

Mascherin opened the game’s scoring just 2:49 into the second period to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Rickard Hugg found Stanley, who set up Mascherin with a pretty feed for the winger’s second goal of the season.

The Attack answered back quickly to tie the game 1-1 though, as Zachary Roberts notched his first of the season, from Chase Campbell and Matthew Struthers, at 3:15.

Nearly ten minutes later it was the Attack’s turn to skate with a pair of extra men, as the Rangers were whistled for roughing and high sticking, giving Owen Sound 1:41 of 5-on-3 time.

They would only need 37 seconds, as they took a 2-1 lead on a power play goal by Sean Durzi, his first of the season, from Kevin Hancock and Alan Lysczcarczyk at 13:49 to close out second period scoring.

Shots on goal after 40 minutes of play were 28-23 in favour of Kitchener.

Jonah Gadjovich extended the Owen Sound lead to 3-1 at the 8:20 mark of the third period, as his shot from the slot forced the puck to squeak through the pads of Richardson and find the back of the net. Hancock and Durzi picked up the assists.

But the Rangers weren’t ready to roll over, and they began their surge for the equalizer with a goal by Stanley – his second in a Rangers uniform, and second point of the game – at 12:06, assisted by Jake Henderson. Nick McHugh was originally credited with an assist, as the winger won a battle for the puck below the goal line to get the play started, fed it to Henderson, who then found Stanley, cutting the Owen Sound lead to 3-2.

Just 1:33 later the Rangers fully erased the deficit, making it a 3-3 game on a goal originally appearing to come from a slapshot from the point by Connor Hall, but in fact tipped in off of winger Joseph Garreffa for his first of the season. Hall would pick up the primary assist, with Vallati earning the secondary helper on the goal at 13:39.

Regulation ended with shots favouring the Attack 37-36. Ethan Szypula ended the game just 1:26 into the 3-on-3 overtime period, from Maksim Sushko and Jacob Friend to give the Attack their first victory of the season.

Final shots on goal were 40-36, Owen Sound.

The Rangers would finish the night going 0-for-7 on the power play, while the Attack were 1-for-5 with the man advantage.

Stanley, Mascherin, and Hall each wore an “A” and skated as alternates. Captain Connor Bunnaman missed the game to flu-like symptoms.

Prior to the game the Rangers welcomed back to The Aud former Blueshirt Darcy Harris (1996-98) to partake in the ceremonial faceoff.

The Rangers close out the 3-on-3 weekend back on the road when they visit the Erie Otters for a 7pm start tomorrow, Saturday, September 30^th.

Regular season tickets to all Kitchener Rangers home games are $23.00 each for adults, $19.00 for children 12 and under including HST, and are available in person or by calling the Activa Box Office at The Aud, from Centre in the Square (519) 578-1570 -or- 1-800-265-8977, or by purchasing online.