Kitchener Rangers 2015-16 Season Thread
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rangersblues
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- Mar 21, 2010
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I think we'll make the playoffs. Guelph is really bad and we should be able to beat out one other team. Lots of teams seem to have trouble finding the scoresheet this year. Most teams are around the 3 goal per game mark. Some are as low as 2. We haven't been lit up yet. I'd say once you get by Erie it's a very mediocre league so far.
bobber
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Looking at the OHL stat sheet the Rangers are doing exactly what they have done in past year's. I know it's early but there is a trend developing. I just don't see the talent level improving. To me Roberts a rookie has played as well or better than the vet D men. As Brown said in his blog the Rangers are missing "that guy". The one who takes the team on its back. I just want to watch a game with some grit and character in it where fans get involved and we come away satisfied that we got our money's worth win or lose. We have a few vets that have less than ten points total in the years they have played here. I would rather see rookies play and let these guys move on. Just my opinion. Tired of boring hockey.
bobber
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Good point Duke. They are also the oldest team in the league but still struggle to play 60 minutes. There is definitely something missing still. Teams need a consistent top line. Hopefully when Robinson comes back and Magyar is healthy they can get some kind of chemistry going that is a threat. Certainly haven't seen it yet.
Ward Cornell
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- Dec 22, 2007
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The most entertaining year of hockey we had since Deboer left was the non-playoff yr of 08-09. The team was hard hitting with never die play thru the full 60 minutes for the entire 68 game season.
Then IMHO (others can dispute this) this boring non-aggressive hockey started the night Steve Spott called "the worst night of his life" that was Oct 2009 when Ben Fanelli was injured. Spott and his coaching staff seemed to really rein in the team from delivering hard hits and aggressive fore-checks and heaven forbid....fights, Spott from that point on preached "playing the game the right way" with soft play and never ever competing hard.
For me, when a coaching staff does this to hockey players it almost takes away their will to compete and it sends the message to the other teams that when push comes to shove the the Rangers will fold like cheap suitcases!
Hopefully with the coaching remnants gone and an entirely new staffing place I was hoping this "non-compete" attitude is replaced. Hopefully it's just a matter of time that
this gets replaced a more typical winning attitude.
Flame away!
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bobber
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Not sure Duke. Just listening to media talk about the Rangers being older. Niagara probably has more skill. You could possibly be right. I think as mentioned above we as Canadians like seeing character and willingness in players that back each other up. Especially in their own barn. Since the arrival of Spotter as head coach and GM we haven't seen a team with a real edge. He liked college type hockey. He also did poorly at high end draft picks. As mentioned I hope this new management team can inspire these guys to a new level. Guess I have far too much Irish in me. It's not how big the dog is in the fight its how much fight is in the dog. Whiskey helps also
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With all experience at forward we should be rolling 4 lines.After the 1st line the 9 remaining are relatively close in talent make up 3 lines with youth in mind and roll 4 lines.Different lines will be better at different times.However it will be better for the team to reward the guys who are playing well and developing the team for a long ride.
bobber
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We enjoyed that game today. Lots of effort and some great hockey from a lot of players. Miereles and Roberts were amazing today. Roberts doesn't shy away for a small guy. MacInnis has to find a way to get it going. Threw a couple of nice hits but held off the sheet. I am having roast crow for Thanksgiving again.
make sure you tell the guy who called Meireles a "checking centre" at best. he is for real.
Haha, Bobber is a stand up guy who willingly eats crow if he's wrong, we'll see if this other poster does too.
bobber
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No one has eaten more crow than me over the years
We have to give credit to the team when they perform well. Good post Mach85
rangersblues
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- Mar 21, 2010
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EvenSteven
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- Sep 3, 2009
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Actually, to be honest, I don't really know who our first line actually is. Today, for me, it was the Mascarin line. They were flying out there and were dangerous on every shift. The other two were close seconds.
So far, our top 3 lines play pretty good but it's the fourth line, though experienced (Davies, Cascagnette, Bzowey), that is a distant fourth to the other three. They provide very little offense but when they get out there they do provide grit. But that isn't enough to get equal minutes to the other three.
What'll be interesting is what Hiebert will do once Hall, Robinson, and later Magyar are back in the lineup. I feel we'll have 8 D that are and should be OHL players. I can't see sending either rookie to JrB so something will have to give if Hiebert wants to go with 7. Who'll be the odd man out? And up front we have about 11 guys who should be on our top three lines. If Meireles was available all year, there'd be 12.
Decisions will have to be made.
Ward Cornell
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- Dec 22, 2007
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Even though Meireles has only played in the OHL this weekend he is now tied for 3rd overall in OHL scoring.
Can't wait for him to get away from the checking role
and work on his offensive abilities (if he does have any?) 
In all honesty...Meireles may never get 5 points in an OHL again but his brief playing time in the OHL this weekend shows that he does belong
and will be an integral part of the team when he does play fulltime.
Question: Is all the Rangers need to do to get him playing fulltime is to sign him to a "A" card or whatever you call it?
Even though Meireles got those 5 points I thought by far the best forward was Adam Mascherin with Connor Bunnaman right there with him.
Nice to see the 16 and 17 yr olds starting to grab some of premium icetime (ie: Nick McHugh getting some prime PK time)
Meanwhile Roberts right now may be the 3rd best defenceman on the team. I'm sure being 16 yrs old and playing D his play will drop off somewhat
but this kid will be a real treat to watch for the next 4 yrs.
Having said all that I need to place an asterick * on this post considering it was against Sudbury playing 3 games in 4 days.
Edited to add:
Rangers PP is now second overall in the OHL with 26.3% efficenecy
Rangers PK is 13th overall at 82.1%.
After being in the OHL special teams hinterlands the last number of yrs this is nice to see.
Even though it's early and a good game or bad game can swing the results either way
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bobber
Registered User
Today's Record says Meireles has signed as an affiliate which allows him to play 10 games. If he chooses to play here later in the season he "can" drop his designation and come to Kitchener. He said he felt comfortable here after a couple of games. Guess we have to temper expectations. Yesterday was an exception. They were playing against a shell shocked rookie goalie they could not pull because the number one guy is injured.
I believe Kitchener can use him for as many games as they want during the WJC, as those games don't count towards an affiliated players 10 game limit.
Back in 2012-13 Darren Raddysh was an affiliated player with the Otters but ended up playing over 20 games, he played a lot during the WJC.
Back in 2012-13 Darren Raddysh was an affiliated player with the Otters but ended up playing over 20 games, he played a lot during the WJC.
I will admit to questioning the offensive upside for Meireless. But, will have to wait to eat crow as I have to undergo some minor tests later today that doesn't allow me to eat (including yesterday! Do you know how much the Aud smells like food??).
A good showing by the whole team I thought. Saw some good puck movement and a lot of north-south play. Only dissappontment may have been the Hora-Sergeev combination on D. They don;t read off of one another and make some brain dead plays. They should be a dominant shut down pair, but I think they make our goalie nervous whenever they are out there.
Will let you know how the crow tasted - tomorrow!
No one has eaten more crow than me over the years
Agreed - it's important to be objective and criticize the team when it's warranted, but I also have no problem admitting when that criticism proves to be wrong. After all, we all should want the guys to succeed.
bobber
Registered User
Apparently there was a forth line player named Harper at Mondays game. Plays "right wing". Guess he is on the bubble. No ice. Nice hair though!...... Probably will be sent to junior B in a few days.
Probably will be sent to junior B in a few days.It seems Brosnan has picked it up. His pairing with DiPerna is starting to put up some numbers.
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