Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread

[GeoBlue]

Mercer is one 05 that I am hoping to see more from in the X-games....perhaps it's just me.

I did notice in the 2nd scrimmage game that they were using Mercer as the "middle man" on the PP. That is to say, he would get the pass in the high slot and then relay it back to one of the open D. I recall London doing a similar thing last year.

 

[Gondrex]

....
the Rangers have announced the reassignment of nine forwards, four defencemen and three goaltenders from Training Camp:

Forwards:
Mathieu Comeau
Matthew Fries
Jaxon Gawel
Yianni Koukouves
Kristian Lamanna
Joseph Macchione
Carson McGurn
Connor Paronuzzi
Daniel Thomakos

Defencemen:
Luka Cenanovic
Matthew Kallo
Zach Naherne
Lex Terrence

Goaltenders:
Luca DiFelice
Evan Maillet
Sebastian Monaco

 

[Rangers True Blue]

....
the Rangers have announced the reassignment of nine forwards, four defencemen and three goaltenders from Training Camp:

Forwards:
Mathieu Comeau
Matthew Fries
Jaxon Gawel
Yianni Koukouves
Kristian Lamanna
Joseph Macchione
Carson McGurn
Connor Paronuzzi
Daniel Thomakos

Defencemen:
Luka Cenanovic
Matthew Kallo
Zach Naherne
Lex Terrence

Goaltenders:
Luca DiFelice
Evan Maillet
Sebastian Monaco

So currently, last year's team plus our two new.....leaving one spot open on forward. Let's hope it's Mesar...

 

[GeoBlue]

....
the Rangers have announced the reassignment of nine forwards, four defencemen and three goaltenders from Training Camp:

Forwards:
Mathieu Comeau
Matthew Fries
Jaxon Gawel
Yianni Koukouves
Kristian Lamanna
Joseph Macchione
Carson McGurn
Connor Paronuzzi
Daniel Thomakos

Defencemen:
Luka Cenanovic
Matthew Kallo
Zach Naherne
Lex Terrence

Goaltenders:
Luca DiFelice
Evan Maillet
Sebastian Monaco

No surprise here.

 

[RangerNation]

Add in Mesar and that's a solid team to start the season.

 

[Gondrex]

No surprise here.

So currently, last year's team plus our two new.....leaving one spot open on forward. Let's hope it's Mesar...

Yeah, I don't think it is very often a team goes into the X-game schedule with basically your season-opening line-up.

 

[Gondrex]

The Mesar watch starts September 14th. That's the start of the Hab's rookie camp at the Bell Sports Complex before they head to Buffalo for the showcase event. As I think I posted a few weeks ago, the Canadiens will face the Buffalo Sabres rookies on Thursday, September 15th, the New Jersey Devils rookies on Friday, September 16th and the rookies for the Ottawa Senators on the afternoon of Sunday, September 18th. So shortly after that would likely be the earliest you would hear on any plans for Mesar. If I had to guess though, I would think it would be later in the month.

After the disappointment of not seeing either Hage or Longacre at training camp it would be nice to catch a break on Mesar.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

1st rounders often get a look in an NHL exhibition game or two. It sounds like he's got a chance to be sent to Laval's training camp to have a look before a re-assignment. I think we probably see him but maybe as late as mid-late October if his AHL camp is good.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Looking forward to seeing the exhibition game on Sunday to see how Chris Dennis sets the Rangers lines and pairings. During training camp, we saw Schmidt with Hamara and Motew with Brzustweizc. As for the forward lines, they were mixed with prospects and invitees.

How does Dennis see his top two lines? You would think that Pinelli, Valade, Sop, Serpa, Martin, and Rehkopf will get the nod. Lots of choices for 3rd and 4th lines. He may test and tinker with all his lines up to the first regular season game. Fresh eyes...new vision. And he's said that he expects everyone to work out there. No exceptions.

 

[Gondrex]

For those interested, I just got this email.

Providing a link would have been better, but couldn't find one - my apologies.
They are showing three Ranger X-games.....

Canadian Hockey League​

launches 2022-23 pre-season on CHL TV​

---

With the 2022-23 season around the corner, the Canadian Hockey League today announced that more than 25 pre-season games will be available as ‘freeviews’ via CHL TV.

Available to fans from coast to coast, CHL TV is accessible on the CHL mobile app, in addition to Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire, and online at watch.chl.ca. Each year, CHL TV offers access to more than 2,000 regular-season games covering the CHL’s 3 Member Leagues and 60 markets across Canada and the United States. Fans can download the free CHL app via the App Store and Google Play.

2022-23 CHL TV Pre-season Broadcast Schedule​

Sun., Sept. 4 – Niagara IceDogs vs. Kitchener Rangers – 2 p.m. ET
Fri., Sept. 9 – Baie-Comeau Drakkar vs. Shawinigan Cataractes – 6 p.m. ET
Fri., Sept. 9 – Swift Current Broncos vs. Moose Jaw Warriors – 7 p.m. MT
Fri., Sept. 9 – Regina Pats vs. Prince Albert Raiders – 7 p.m. MT
Sat., Sept. 10 – Val-d’Or Foreurs vs. Sherbrooke Phoenix – 4 p.m. ET
Sat., Sept. 10 – Ottawa 67’s vs. Gatineau Olympiques – 7 p.m. ET
Sat., Sept. 10 – Kitchener Rangers vs. Barrie Colts – 7:30 p.m. ET
Sat., Sept. 10 – Prince Albert Raiders vs. Regina Pats – 7 p.m. MT
Sun., Sept. 11 – Halifax Mooseheads vs. Cape Breton Eagles – 3 p.m. AT
Sun., Sept. 11 – Baie-Comeau Drakkar vs. Chicoutimi Sagueneens – 4 p.m. ET
Sun., Sept. 11 – Sherbrooke Phoenix vs. Drummondville Voltigeurs – 7 p.m. ET
Tues., Sept. 13 – Victoria Royals vs. Kelowna Rockets – 7:05 p.m. PT
Thurs., Sept. 15 – Winnipeg ICE vs. Regina Pats – 7 p.m. MT
Fri., Sept. 16 – Gatineau Olympiques vs. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada – 7 p.m. ET
Fri., Sept. 16 – Val-d’Or Foreurs vs. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies – 7 p.m. ET
Fri., Sept. 16 – Vancouver Giants vs. Kelowna Rockets – 7:05 p.m. PT
Fri., Sept. 16 – Brandon Wheat Kings vs. Moose Jaw Warriors – 7 p.m. MT
Fri., Sept. 16 – Saskatoon Blades vs. Prince Albert Raiders – 7 p.m. MT
Sat, Sept.17 – Lethbridge Hurricanes at Red Deer Rebels – 7 p.m. MT
Sun., Sept. 18 – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. Val-d’Or Foreurs – 3 p.m. ET
Sun., Sept. 18 – Saint John Sea Dogs vs. Acadie-Bathurst Titan – 4 p.m. AT
Tues., Sept. 20 – North Bay Battalion vs. Owen Sound Attack – 7 p.m. ET
Tues., Sept. 20 – Barrie Colts vs. Sudbury Wolves – 7:05 p.m. ET
Thurs., Sept. 22 – Hamilton Bulldogs vs. Niagara IceDogs – 7 p.m. ET
Fri., Sept. 23 – Erie Otters vs. London Knights – 7 p.m. ET
Fri., Sept. 23 – Mississauga Steelheads vs. Guelph Storm – 7:30 p.m. ET
Sat., Sept. 24 – Mississauga Steelheads vs. Kitchener Rangers – 4 p.m. ET
Sat., Sept. 24 – Hamilton Bulldogs vs. Oshawa Generals – 7:05 p.m. ET

 

[Rangers True Blue]

That was quite the game yesterday. Sloppy play at times and some missed opportunities (score could have been higher). New coach. New ideas, Changes in systems. Which will continue and progress I'm sure.

Lineup:

Highlights: Highlights: IceDogs vs. Rangers – Sept. 4th, 2022 – Kitchener Rangers

Rehkopf.....BOOM.....looked confident out there and two excellent goals. His PP goal was a laser shot on the inside of the post and in. Throughout, players around the net and no give up on the puck. I'd like to see that continue. No Pinelli.

DEFENSE..........Hamara and Brzz (until we learn his nickname) were the real deal. Schmidt and the rest (J.Leblanc sat out) are looking good. Should have a great backend this season. Also, got a little feisty out there especially near the end.

Didn't see the top line as much in the 3rd. Likely resting up for today's game vs Guelph at 2pm. Should be a good early test.

 

[rangersblues]

That was quite the game yesterday. Sloppy play at times and some missed opportunities (score could have been higher). New coach. New ideas, Changes in systems. Which will continue and progress I'm sure.

Lineup:
View attachment 581842

Highlights: Highlights: IceDogs vs. Rangers – Sept. 4th, 2022 – Kitchener Rangers

Rehkopf.....BOOM.....looked confident out there and two excellent goals. His PP goal was a laser shot on the inside of the post and in. Throughout, players around the net and no give up on the puck. I'd like to see that continue. No Pinelli.

DEFENSE..........Hamara and Brzz (until we learn his nickname) were the real deal. Schmidt and the rest (J.Leblanc sat out) are looking good. Should have a great backend this season. Also, got a little feisty out there especially near the end.

Didn't see the top line as much in the 3rd. Likely resting up for today's game vs Guelph at 2pm. Should be a good early test.

I only watched the first period on TV but Fishman was by far the quickest guy on the ice.

 

[Gondrex]

Agreed. At this early stage it appears that both Hamara and Brzustewicz will fit in nicely on the backend. Hoping to see J LeBlanc and Hollet today. Putting Rehkopf on the PP point was interesting.

As expected, the play was definitely scrambly at times, but good to see a game of hockey again. Hard to gauge things at this point. Not sure of the rookie-vet composition of Niagara's line-up yesterday, but they were physical at times.

Looking forward to making the trip down the road to Ayr and seeing the Ranger - Guelph game today.

 

[EvenSteven]

I only watched the third. Couple decent scraps but we obviously won’t see much of that this year.

Swick with a couple nice hits. Bullet goal by Rehkopf. Can he get 35-40 this year? Liked what I saw in our D. Brzustewicz with some wicked passes. He is for real.

20 minute mouth guard violation?? Really? Come on man it’s an ex game. Let these guys play. Unless he was verbally warned a couple times prior, that was unnecessary.

Our 04 group from last year (notice I’m not including Brzustewicz or the imports) have a lot to prove this year. Swick looked to have a good day for example. I think for us to be a top contender this year, this group really has to come around. Otherwise, MM may find himself trading our way into top contention. I’m all for giving this group a chance.

 

[HockeyPops]

20 minute mouth guard violation?? Really? Come on man it’s an ex game. Let these guys play. Unless he was verbally warned a couple times prior, that was unnecessary.

This is exactly the right time to enforce these. The refs use the preseason to set the expectations, and hope that the message gets sent before it happens in a game that matters.

 

[GeoBlue]

Agreed. At this early stage it appears that both Hamara and Brzustewicz will fit in nicely on the backend. Hoping to see J LeBlanc and Hollet today. Putting Rehkopf on the PP point was interesting.

As expected, the play was definitely scrambly at times, but good to see a game of hockey again. Hard to gauge things at this point. Not sure of the rookie-vet composition of Niagara's line-up yesterday, but they were physical at times.

Looking forward to making the trip down the road to Ayr and seeing the Ranger - Guelph game today.

How does one get tickets for the game in Ayr?

 

[Gondrex]

How does one get tickets for the game in Ayr?

The only information that I am aware of is "first come, first serve".

 

[Gondrex]

Our 04 group from last year (notice I’m not including Brzustewicz or the imports) have a lot to prove this year. Swick looked to have a good day for example. I think for us to be a top contender this year, this group really has to come around. Otherwise, MM may have to find himself trading our way into top contention. I’m all for giving this group a chance.

Agree on the 04 group. They do need to come through. I'm anxious to see Pugliese (another 04) back in the line-up.

 

[EvenSteven]

This is exactly the right time to enforce these. The refs use the preseason to set the expectations, and hope that the message gets sent before it happens in a game that matters.

I suppose. And taking the ice time away from an OA is a better message sent to the younger players. And it doesn’t cost a player fighting for a spot valuable minutes.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Here's an interesting lineup for today's exhibition game against Guelph:

Zidlicky-Sop-Swick
Rehkopf-Serpa-Valade
A. LeBlanc-Mercer-Fishman
Misaljevic-X-Bottineau

Hamara-Harper
Brzustewicz-J. LeBlanc
Motew-Hollett
Schmidt

Vandenberg/Parsons

 

[K2]

This is exactly the right time to enforce these. The refs use the preseason to set the expectations, and hope that the message gets sent before it happens in a game that matters.

100%, it's an oddball that gets called in pre-season and to start the third when ahead in games at the Bud

Fishman was by far the quickest guy on the ice.

Some standout puck possession moments too; hopefully the start of a great season.

Hard to gauge things at this point.

Yes ... it's the earliest day for sure, but:
I thought our D looked very good overall.
Multiple 'good hands' goals in close (Rehkopf, Zidlicky, Sop, Swick, Valade) was nice to see.
Martin seems stronger and looks like he's improved his skating pace a bit. He could break out nicely.
Serpa couldn't buy a face-off win at times and only Mercer? regularly won draws.
LeBlanc was invisible, not sure if he had a shot even, hope there's better days ahead.
Parsons was pretty busy after the first and the 2 GA were good shots. I think Vandenberg as BUG is our only big goaltending question if last season's lackluster GAA of 6.27 (in games where he played 40+ min) extends into 2022, esp. if he's starting 15-20 games. Hoping Vandenberg has a great start today!

 

[GeoBlue]

Here's an interesting lineup for today's exhibition game against Guelph:

Zidlicky-Sop-Swick
Rehkopf-Serpa-Valade
A. LeBlanc-Mercer-Fishman
Misaljevic-X-Bottineau

Hamara-Harper
Brzustewicz-J. LeBlanc
Motew-Hollett
Schmidt

Vandenberg/Parsons

I have not seen Pinelli for a few games now. I hope him and Martin are okay? Just resting up?

I caught the first 2 periods of today's game. Zidlicky already had a couple of goals and looked great. Brzustewicz scored a laser from the point. And Vandenberg looked pretty sharp in net. So far, so good.

 

[EvenSteven]

I have not seen Pinelli for a few games now. I hope him and Martin are okay? Just resting up?

I caught the first 2 periods of today's game. Zidlicky already had a couple of goals and looked great. Brzustewicz scored a laser from the point. And Vandenberg looked pretty sharp in net. So far, so good.

Martin and Andonovski would have had to sit a game for their fights in the last game vs Niagara. That’s the ex game rule on fighting I believe.

 

[Gondrex]

I caught the first 2 periods of today's game. Zidlicky already had a couple of goals and looked great. Brzustewicz scored a laser from the point. And Vandenberg looked pretty sharp in net. So far, so good.

Yes, despite one careless play on his part that led directly to a Guelph goal, Zidlicky once again looked very good. In my eyes at this early stage I will again say that perhaps he may deserve top-6 minutes. If Mesar ever comes maybe that thought changes.

Despite a dangerous give-away in the Ranger end in the 3rd, I felt Brzustewicz looked especially good in the first two periods. He and Hamara once again looked like they've played in this league before.

Vandenberg played solid. Not all shots he faced were scoring opportunities, but there certainly were some - especially that point-blank, cross-crease tip-in attempt in the middle of the 3rd.....great glove save. Would like to have seen that one again. Too bad he gave up a goal moments later.

Too many Ranger penalties today. I guess it gave them lots of practice on the penalty kill.

Also, in all fairness to Guelph, I believe that they had four 06's in their line-up. I'm pretty sure Guelph is going to ice a decent team this year. Should make for some entertaining hockey when they meet.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

100%, it's an oddball that gets called in pre-season and to start the third when ahead in games at the Bud


Some standout puck possession moments too; hopefully the start of a great season.


Yes ... it's the earliest day for sure, but:
I thought our D looked very good overall.
Multiple 'good hands' goals in close (Rehkopf, Zidlicky, Sop, Swick, Valade) was nice to see.
Martin seems stronger and looks like he's improved his skating pace a bit. He could break out nicely.
Serpa couldn't buy a face-off win at times and only Mercer? regularly won draws.
LeBlanc was invisible, not sure if he had a shot even, hope there's better days ahead.
Parsons was pretty busy after the first and the 2 GA were good shots. I think Vandenberg as BUG is our only big goaltending question if last season's lackluster GAA of 6.27 (in games where he played 40+ min) extends into 2022, esp. if he's starting 15-20 games. Hoping Vandenberg has a great start today!

And Vandenburg was solid in net yesterday with what I heard was a standout save in the 3rd to keep Guelph at bay. So good news so far!!

I have not seen Pinelli for a few games now. I hope him and Martin are okay? Just resting up?

I caught the first 2 periods of today's game. Zidlicky already had a couple of goals and looked great. Brzustewicz scored a laser from the point. And Vandenberg looked pretty sharp in net. So far, so good.

Did Pinelli get hurt at training camp and no one's talking about it? Anyone know?