Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[RangerNation]

That's another 3rd period I know Jussi wishes never happened. Have to clean that up. Big game tomorrow.

 

[bobber]

Two points in the bank. Butler's teams can be boring to watch. Erie has some talented players for sure. They beat the Knights recently. Rangers let their foot off the gas in this one. Jussi wasn't too happy with the game as a whole despite the OT win. I like him. He doesn't just accept a win and walk away. Always has criticism or something they have to do better. Good to see Mesar get to points. Made his night. Reid got his first. Sop sure is a level headed kid when they interview him. Good candidate for captain.

 

[Ranger77]

Boring game but a wins a win .Swick shouldn’t be on in OT let alone starting

Uhh! Much more exciting than almost every game that we had to sit through last year.

 

[Krangers08]

Uhh! Much more exciting than almost every game that we had to sit through last year.

More to do with Butlers systems and the trap. Honestly forgot he came back to the league

 

[EvenSteven]

More to do with Butlers systems and the trap. Honestly forgot he came back to the league

I always said back in the day, that they should have handed out pillows to everyone when Butler’s Brampton Battalion team visited the Aud.

 

[Krangers08]

I always said back in the day, that they should have handed out pillows to everyone when Butler’s Brampton Battalion team visited the Aud.

Should go back to the eastern conference. Don’t know how I’m going to deal with it watching 2 more games.

 

[Krangers08]

I’m a big fan of that third line. Lam was controlling the play, Stark had a good first game back, was good on the rush and defensive zone. Ellinas was using his speed and throwing the body.
I think Romano will be similar to Rehkopf in his first year where he came back from u17 and really got it going.

 

[Gondrex]

Draft pick News

I got out to See both Arquette and Edwards this week and they both look very impressive.

Arquette had a dominate game where he had 4 points (1 goal) multiple hits, and was the best player on the ice as you noticed him every shift. He has sky rocketed up the lineup and is playing 2nd line plus power play time as a 16 year old. Zsolt and Murray Hiebert were both at the game along with some NCAA recruiters. He’s listed at 5,8 but doesn’t fear anything and had guys bouncing off him.

Edwards just look steady and comfortable in the net. Stop 31/33 shots adding on the his 6-0 record this year as the backup. I think he’ll be the starter in the second half.

Thanks for the info KR.

With regards to the very promising potential of the currently signed '07 group on this team - including MacNeil - I was curious as to whether or not a team would typically carry many players from one group with a given DOB (referring to next year). I checked the Mississauga roster as a kind of a blueprint that I hope MM follows. I knew that they had a similar numbers situtation with their '06's, but was surprised to see that they actually had eleven of them on their team.....and of course, we're already seeing the positive results of that team. So I would say the answer is a yes. Now it's a matter of convincing Arquette to (hopefully) go the OHL route as opposed to the NCAA route, if that is an option for him. Sounds like he might be hitting the steep part of the learning curve, which is great.

Edwards is also doing well, and I like the fact that he's in Elmira.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

I like the fact that the Rangers come flying out onto the ice rather than mosey on out like they did last season. They all stand up at the bench for the opening period faceoffs and it's great to see them celebrate their fellow team mates accomplishments (ie. Reid's first goal). They also stick up for each other out there and don't take any BS from the opposition. Albeit, Ando does take it to another level. : )

So glad to see Stark back and a pretty good game for him considering how long he was out. That 3rd line will be a great one once they get used to each other. Mesar looked a little lost out their at times but did well for his first time. He will adapt to the systems and expectations then look out! And Campbell continues to impress with the "OHL Save of the Night". Totally heads up play:

I didn't feel that the boys played their best game last night but perhaps that was the result of Butler's trap style play. And they experienced what happens when you cheat your system in an attempt to empty net the game. Plus, even with seconds left in the game, anything can happen (and did!). Important lessons learned and ones that Jussi won't let them forget.

They will need to be on the top of their game this afternoon!

 

[OhSheilaa]

A good first period, but Stan Butler made some adjustments to slow the Rangers down in the 2nd and 3rd. The boys seemed to take their foot off the gas in the second. Hard, relentless work has gotten them the results they've had so far, so hopefully from now on, they keep their foot on the gas when they've got a lead.

 

[Tim Wallach]

I have to say I’ve been very pleasantly surprised with the two 06s McKenzie added. Both Ellinas and Campbell have been very solid.

This is what happens when you plug the leak in your organization. A GM can keep adding assets, but if the coaching isn’t there, it never progresses. Plug the leak and this is what we’re seeing.

Related note - again on accountability - Misaljevic had a costly shift leading to Erie’s third goal and Ahokas didn’t put him out again. That’s why we saw Swick in OT. Players get the message that if they slack off, someone else will play.

 

[bobber]

Mesar being injected into the line up also changes the dynamic somewhat. Lines get juggled and the apple cart gets upset a bit until things settle out again. Mesar even though he put up a couple of points struggled at times in this game. It just shows us how skilled this league is. Tim's point on the coach sitting players is reminiscent of Deboer. Despite two points being on the line Jussi demands players not waiver from the system being put in place here.

 

[Ranger77]

I have to say I’ve been very pleasantly surprised with the two 06s McKenzie added. Both Ellinas and Campbell have been very solid.

This is what happens when you plug the leak in your organization. A GM can keep adding assets, but if the coaching isn’t there, it never progresses. Plug the leak and this is what we’re seeing.

Related note - again on accountability - Misaljevic had a costly shift leading to Erie’s third goal and Ahokas didn’t put him out again. That’s why we saw Swick in OT. Players get the message that if they slack off, someone else will play.

Then Swick should have been benched after the 2nd goal. Ranger players were changing and Swick turned the puck over at the Erie blue line with a two goal lead, rather than doing the simple play and dumping it in. Erie went the other way and scored.

 

[Matttheleaf]

I'm surprised by the attendance numbers this year for the team. Average of only 5805 which would be the lowest in 15+ years. I know that the team hasn't won something something since 08 and that they were projected to be bad this year but an average under 6k is a little wild to me.

 

[robertmac43]

I'm surprised by the attendance numbers this year for the team. Average of only 5805 which would be the lowest in 15+ years. I know that the team hasn't won something something since 08 and that they were projected to be bad this year but an average under 6k is a little wild to me.

Makes sense to me. The reasons you listed are spot on, plus many have a little less in terms of disposable income due to the current state of the economy. It's an expensive time to be alive!

 

[Tim Wallach]

Then Swick should have been benched after the 2nd goal. Ranger players were changing and Swick turned the puck over at the Erie blue line with a two goal lead, rather than doing the simple play and dumping it in. Erie went the other way and scored.

Obviously I’m not saying every mistake should lead to benching. That one was bad, but just one physical mistake at a less crucial time. Misaljevic had a series of mental and physical mistakes including laziness at a critical time. My guess is the coach has a hierarchy of seriousness of offence, as he should.

 

[bobber]

I'm surprised by the attendance numbers this year for the team. Average of only 5805 which would be the lowest in 15+ years. I know that the team hasn't won something something since 08 and that they were projected to be bad this year but an average under 6k is a little wild to me.

I think the play at the Aud was getting a little stale and boring leading up to Covid and both took a toll on attendance. Things seem more exciting at this moment in time down at the Aud. Also guessing the economy has people making financial decisions that weren't considered before prices and interest shot through the roof.

 

[Matttheleaf]

Makes sense to me. The reasons you listed are spot on, plus many have a little less in terms of disposable income due to the current state of the economy. It's an expensive time to be alive!

Very true. Don't know why the last part didn't click with me while I was typing it out. Sad to see The Aud not full every Friday night, but as long as the team keeps playing great ill be happy no matter the attendance.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Makes sense to me. The reasons you listed are spot on, plus many have a little less in terms of disposable income due to the current state of the economy. It's an expensive time to be alive!

That and a drop off in STH after last yrs display of hockey or whatever it was.

 

[robertmac43]

That and a drop off in STH after last yrs display of hockey or whatever it was.

Very true as well. I know many long time STH's who dropped their seats after last year.

 

[Krangers08]

Don’t know if this is 100% accurate, but I overheard the lady that runs the Outpost say that they are getting ready to announce the leadership group.Martin and Sop will be named assistants but didn’t catch the captain part. I’m assuming Rehkopf.

 

[EvenSteven]

Very true as well. I know many long time STH's who dropped their seats after last year.

The 7pm starts on Friday nights may have an effect on attendance too. Tough to get to games when you come from out of town, with work and all.

It’s limited me to two Friday games so far this year.

 

[GeoBlue]

The 7pm starts on Friday nights may have an effect on attendance too. Tough to get to games when you come from out of town, with work and all.

It’s limited me to two Friday games so far this year.

Why do I have the feeling that the 7:00 PM was made to accommodate the extra ice scraping per period. What is up with that? Is it a league mandate?

 

[Bombshell11]

I hope the coach tells Mesar to wake the .... UP.

He's too confortable out there... Bronsinsky.... lets go, move those legs

 

[TheBlueMonster]

I hope the coach tells Mesar to wake the .... UP.

He's too confortable out there... Bronsinsky.... lets go, move those legs

I thought outside of 2 shifts last night and 2 shifts today he was excellent. Uses his speed in the neutral zone. Fantastic vision in the Ozone.

I have more issues with the 1st line trying to break out of their own end way to early. Making stupid passes late in the game while down a goal.

Mesar is far down the worry list imo