Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 2)

[Coaches Coroner]

Hi Purple. Great post. Really like the way London's defense plays. One of the best in the league. Hunter knows his stuff. London could be buyers and throw a wrench into a lot of other contender's plans. Presently hanging at the top of the west. In Kitchener we love the video coaches. Fixter was a great one too! Wonder where that guy is now?

I don't disagree but you should read the London board every now and then; it's not all sunshine and roses in Hunterland the way it used to be. Still take it over the gong show we're running in Kitchener, but we should be aspiring to 2004-2016 London/Hunter when looking at the London model.

I think one big thing is London seems to be involved in training and development of their players off the ice and when with OJHL teams. Kitchener it seems pretty clear they barely teach them anything at the rink and then away from the rink they are all hands off from a development perspective.

 

[sbpointer]

I'm gonna lighten the mood in here a bit for you guys
Last year I called Rehkopf correctly for the teddy goal.
This year I'm going with Antonino Pugliese to make it rain teddies.

 

[GeoBlue]

Looking at goalie stats Vandenberg has better numbers than Constantini. Smaller sample size for the rookie. Do the Rangers play more desperate in front of Vandenberg?

From the games I have seen, I personally think that Vandenberg has been playing better. Small sample size might have a bit to do with it but they seem to be pretty close with regard to save percentage and average. So even though Vandenberg has stepped in a few times to replace Constantini, the team may have played a bit more "desperate", but Vandenberg still faced the same number of shots that Constantini would have. Also consider illness factors as Vandenberg came back from mono (though unclear how "recovered" he was though he did not show signs of illness) and Constantini had the flu. (though quite clear that he probably should not have rushed back)

 

[OMG67]

Just a glimmer of positive hope here. It has been said on these boards that there are only a few "beasts" in the league and almost anyone (especially in the West) can make some noise in the playoffs with the right moves. I noticed that the Team Canada junior roster only has 5 players from the OHL. Perhaps this speaks of the "talent" in the league as compared to the rest of the CHL.

Wright and Clarke join that team to make 7?

 

[GeoBlue]

Wright and Clarke join that team to make 7?

What I am trying to point out is the current talent in the OHL does not seem to match up and therefore there is a better chance for an underdog team to make a run in the playoffs. True, Wright and Clarke might end up in the tournament but they are currently in the pros as well as some others. And true, these 2 might end up back in the OHL after the World Juniors which would further change the dynamic of the league.

 

[bobber]

I don't disagree but you should read the London board every now and then; it's not all sunshine and roses in Hunterland the way it used to be. Still take it over the gong show we're running in Kitchener, but we should be aspiring to 2004-2016 London/Hunter when looking at the London model.

I think one big thing is London seems to be involved in training and development of their players off the ice and when with OJHL teams. Kitchener it seems pretty clear they barely teach them anything at the rink and then away from the rink they are all hands off from a development perspective.

Your correct CC. I do peruse the Knights board and a few others. Knight fans are probably as surprised as us at the position they are in at this point in time. Just at opposite ends of the spectrum. I always think the Rangers should build a team that can consistently compete with the Knights. Fans may seem half dead in Kitchener on a lot of game nights, but London can put a burr under the old saddle and wake up the crowd.
A few questionable infractions and old Dale up on the bench yelling at a ref gets the crowd barking.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

I wont be attending the teddy bear toss tonight. If anyone is looking for two tickets, shoot me a message. They are my season seats in Gold Section 9. (someone claimed at 3:50pm)


I am not sure what to expect tonight. Guelph is having a rough year but its been fairly back and forth between these two teams. I'd like to see Guelph extend their points lead on Kitchener. Hate saying that but this team is so far gone that I just want to be in the best drafting position possible while also working towards a sell to bring in assets for a run in a few seasons.

I'll call Andonovski for the Teddy Goal. Would love to see one of the teams hardest workers get rewarded.

 

[nelli27]

TBT goal: Serpa

 

[bobber]

Constantini out with lower body injury according to Brown. Rangers signed 2006 draftee G Luca DiFelice. He is the back up tonight. Rangers had him in rookie camp. Best rookie goalie there. TBG goal: Pinelli.

 

[RichieRice]

Fishman did it a few years back, I pick him for a repeat.

 

[EvenSteven]

TBG. Pinelli. Hot hand.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Constantini out with lower body injury according to Brown. Rangers signed 2006 draftee G Luca DiFelice. He is the back up tonight. Rangers had him in rookie camp. Best rookie goalie there. TBG goal: Pinelli.

He missed time a few weeks back. Clearly it was more than just an illness. I don't understand the rush to bring him back. It made no sense and now he's injured again.

 

[bobber]

He missed time a few weeks back. Clearly it was more than just an illness. I don't understand the rush to bring him back. It made no sense and now he's injured again.

There must be more going on with Constantini. Best goalie in the league last year. He must have had some sort of nagging injury. Vandenberg is the man now. See how he handles the load going forward.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

There must be more going on with Constantini. Best goalie in the league last year. He must have had some sort of nagging injury. Vandenberg is the man now. See how he handles the load going forward.

He has looked shaky for sure. You can see it when he is in the butterfly.

Could just be a confidence issue as well. This team in front of him isn't very good. I'd be he'd do better on a contender but that's an easy gamble but yeah I am with you bobber.

 

[bobber]

He has looked shaky for sure. You can see it when he is in the butterfly.

Could just be a confidence issue as well. This team in front of him isn't very good. I'd be he'd do better on a contender but that's an easy gamble but yeah I am with you bobber.

There have been a couple of goals Constantini let in lately where he had full view of the shooter and seemed like he hardly flinched when the puck went passed him. Not much help from the D who constantly leave opposing forwards open around him. They just seem unaware that players are open sometimes. That's on the coaches.

 

[GeoBlue]

Sop with the bear goal. No Zidlicky?

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Constantini out with lower body injury according to Brown. Rangers signed 2006 draftee G Luca DiFelice. He is the back up tonight. Rangers had him in rookie camp. Best rookie goalie there. TBG goal: Pinelli.

Nice to see DiFelice signed. Constantini's looked like he's had something nagging, whether illness or minor injury, for a bit now...ever since he was out a game and rushed back before 100%.

 

[StormWatcher]

Hats off to Mesar for checking on Oster, classy.

 

[GeoBlue]

TBG. Pinelli. Hot hand.

Congrats!

 

[GeoBlue]

Something so wrong about seeing Zidlicky on the 4th line............

Kitchener at Peterborough:
Sop-Pinelli-Mesar
Swick-Rehkopf-Valade
Misaljevic-Serpa-Fishman
Zidlicky-Mercer-Pugliese

Hamara-Brzustewicz
Motew-Schmidt
Andonovski-Hollett

Vandenberg

 

[GeoBlue]

3 - 0 Kitchener after one. Who IS this team?

 

[Generalsupdates]

Only watched the 3rd but when KIT backed into a shell trying to hold the lead, Vandenberg looked really good I thought

 

[Tim Wallach]

Vandenberg has been the MVP in the last several games.

Kitchener looked good early but boy were they ever poor trying to hold the lead. Brain cramp after brain cramp. Again, it feels like the ability is there, but so have no faith in the coaching staff to maximize that ability.

 

[Gondrex]

CD mentioned once again pre-game the importance of puck possession. To his credit, and the team's credit it worked out great in the first half of the game. After that either the Petes found their game, or the Rangers lost theirs' or some combination of that, but it sure reminded me of the win over the Battalion.

If someone told me that Vandenberg would be the a difference-maker after that first game when returning from mono I would not have believed it....and he has been very consistent ever since.

I didn't recall this, but apparently back in 1989-90 a 17 year-old Mike Torchia suddenly became THE guy in the crease about half way through the season after a couple less-than-stellar performances by the veteran. Of course the rest is history (eventually, painfully losing out to Oshawa in OT in the Memorial Cup final game). Not saying that the same will happen here but he's been impressive. Good goaltending is so important in the playoffs. It's good to know that you have a solid veteran in Costantini and what seems to be quite a reliable back-up.

Looking to next year, a Vandenberg-Parsons combination looks promising, although I'm never crazy about having two 19 year-old puck-stoppers...unless you were going for it all. Way, way too early to predict, but there always is that possibility of a Vandenberg-DiFelice tandem. If that were to ever happen, who would have predicted that at the beginning of this season?

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Vandenburg is the real deal. And for those who did not see 16 year old DeFelice at camp but watched to the end of the Pete's game, you would have seen him out to congratulate Vandenberg. Big boy...6'3" and 172 lbs.

Ok....4 wins out of 5....and hopefully learned that you can not sit on a 4-0 lead and take your foot off the gas in the 3rd. Need to buckle down for Niagara and take them seriously.

PS Amazing pass from Mesar to Sop.