Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[Ward Cornell]

Great 'big hits & big goals' game for Hlacar!


We do and all our OAs and Ando should be of interest to contenders looking to upgrade their OAs for a run. I hope all the GMs saw Misaljevic's 'play of the night' goal!

we do need to do a real and deep rebuild, let's get off this mediocrity treadmill. Just bite the bullet and none of this reload, the fans expect playoff rounds BS.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

I particularly enjoy Jussi's comments at the end of the game. Fixter notes the 3 goal lead in the 1st. Jussi likes that of course but says the scoring was good but their play was not.

And he was genuinely pleased for Hlacar and his first TWO goals in the OHL. Noted how hard he works both in games and in practice. He was complimentary of his 4th line.

Missile..........what....a....goal !! No wonder it was picked for the highlight of the night. Wound his way through Erie's defense, forced himself to the net, and backhanded a sweet goal bar down.

For those not at the game and not to name names, earlier in the first Rangers player loses glove. Erie player picks it up and holds it out. When Rangers player goes to take it, Erie player drops the glove on the ice. Later in the game, Erie player loses stick. Rangers player picks it up and offers it to Erie player but drops it just as the Erie player goes to take it. Message sent and I will name the player who sent it.....the Captain himself, Ando.

But tonight is a whole new game and I would imagine Erie will come out of the gate quickly. Let's see how the Rangers handle it.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Great game tonight. Jump out to an early lead, let Erie back in and then push back to win this one going away.
Listening to the post game show make me nervous. The F and F brothers are talking about going for it. Let’s remember we were in first in the west later into the season just last year and look how that worked out.
Let’s enjoy the way these kids are gelling, and appreciate what the coaching staff is doing with a young lineup, but make no mistake….we HAVE to sell if we still have a run in the target 2 years down the road. IMHO.

Personally, I think Farwell and Fixter know the route the team will take come trade deadline time and sell off, however, as broadcasters (and almost employees of the team), they have to consider the casual listener; and to that casual listener, continuing to yell "SELL, SELL, SELL" for the team that's 1st in their division and 2nd in the entire league sure would leave that person puzzled and pretty confused.

As the season plays out and the team levels off, their message will change and the true one will come out. They're aware of the situation the team is in, in terms of the junior hockey cycle and their draft/asset cupboard.

Every Rangers fan isn't as invested (and delusional at times) as some of us on here

 

[bobber]

Rangers played an intertaining game last night. Every team has their ups and downs. Erie started to apply pressure in the second and made it a one goal game. Rangers managed to score some timely goals and came away with a win. The radio guys might have gotten ahead of themselves if they did mention going for it this season. London as an example started out slow last season and barreled to the top. Also MM came up with the plan of hosting the next Mem Cup in Ontario. Nothing wrong with setting goals but there are no guarentees you actually become the host. The Soo fans thought they would last season and were let down. Still to be able to build a team with that in mind is exciting. Lots of things have to fall into place plus a well placed horse shoe might be required here and there.

 

[LostRangers]

Rangers played an intertaining game last night. Every team has their ups and downs. Erie started to apply pressure in the second and made it a one goal game. Rangers managed to score some timely goals and came away with a win. The radio guys might have gotten ahead of themselves if they did mention going for it this season. London as an example started out slow last season and barreled to the top. Also MM came up with the plan of hosting the next Mem Cup in Ontario. Nothing wrong with setting goals but there are no guarentees you actually become the host. The Soo fans thought they would last season and were let down. Still to be able to build a team with that in mind is exciting. Lots of things have to fall into place plus a well placed horse shoe might be required here and there.

I would say the Soo lost out on hosting as they weren’t seen as having a competitive enough team. We won’t either if we keep trying to add every time we have a 10 game point streak. (Exaggerating a bit about the 10 gamer, but think you get my point).
Think the Rekhopf trade pretty much ties MM’s hands to rebuild from here.

 

[East Avenue Bully]

From Friday night's game vs Erie:
Schaefer is on Andonovski going into the Ranger zone in the 2nd period and knocks him over. Schaefer yells out a who-hoo which is a immediately cut short as a couple of Rangers come over and give the business. (Ellinas?)

I liked that response. Can't hit our C with no consequence and can't showboat in our rink.

 

[Matttheleaf]

Matthew Sop has started off great with the Heartlanders in the ECHL, 2 goals and 5 points to lead the team through 3 games. Would be nice to see him get called up to the AHL as that is where he originally signed his contract.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

From Friday night's game vs Erie:
Schaefer is on Andonovski going into the Ranger zone in the 2nd period and knocks him over. Schaefer yells out a who-hoo which is a immediately cut short as a couple of Rangers come over and give the business. (Ellinas?)

I liked that response. Can't hit our C with no consequence and can't showboat in our rink.

This after being the defender who got walked by Misaljevic on his Play of the Night too

 

[All the Answers]

I particularly enjoy Jussi's comments at the end of the game. Fixter notes the 3 goal lead in the 1st. Jussi likes that of course but says the scoring was good but their play was not.

And he was genuinely pleased for Hlacar and his first TWO goals in the OHL. Noted how hard he works both in games and in practice. He was complimentary of his 4th line.

Missile..........what....a....goal !! No wonder it was picked for the highlight of the night. Wound his way through Erie's defense, forced himself to the net, and backhanded a sweet goal bar down.

For those not at the game and not to name names, earlier in the first Rangers player loses glove. Erie player picks it up and holds it out. When Rangers player goes to take it, Erie player drops the glove on the ice. Later in the game, Erie player loses stick. Rangers player picks it up and offers it to Erie player but drops it just as the Erie player goes to take it. Message sent and I will name the player who sent it.....the Captain himself, Ando.

But tonight is a whole new game and I would imagine Erie will come out of the gate quickly. Let's see how the Rangers handle it.

Other way around. Ranger stick, Erie glove.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

So,

When do we start the conversation that the Rangers might actually be good?

 

[All the Answers]

So,

When do we start the conversation that the Rangers might actually be good?

Please no. Not good enough.

 

[Ranger77]

Rangers keep it going with an impressive road victory! Bad news though with Bottineau and
LaBrash both getting majors for checks to the head.

 

[LostRangers]

Rangers keep it going with an impressive road victory! Bad news though with Bottineau and
LaBrash both getting majors for checks to the head.

Streaming not the best for this game. Thought Bottineau hit the shoulder and the head snaps back and hits the glass. Why are our head checks 5 minutes while Henry only gets 2?
Another display of resilience by this group. Kudos all around.

 

[OttersFan]

Streaming not the best for this game. Thought Bottineau hit the shoulder and the head snaps back and hits the glass. Why are our head checks 5 minutes while Henry only gets 2?
Another display of resilience by this group. Kudos all around.

Because both of their head checks had our trainer on the ice and our guys stayed down for a good 2 mins.

 

[All the Answers]

Better to "milk it" for all it's worth. Henry right back out there.

 

[RangerNation]

A low expectation winning streak is a great feeling. I'm all for this team peaking early, but MM better trade those vets or its gonna be another agonizing decade of mediocrity.

 

[Squirrel88]

So,

When do we start the conversation that the Rangers might actually be good?

I think partly it is a product of good coaching. Team is playing in a mid-season form and working hard, but has less room to improve than some teams do. Once the season rolls along and games get tighter, there may be fewer wins. Similar to last year.

Thats not a bad thing. Points count now, same as in February.

 

[Krangers08]

Was the LaBrash one obvious or a size difference headshot

 

[All the Answers]

Was the LaBrash one obvious or a size difference headshot

Not sure of either. Would need to see a better slow motion replay before I'd pass judgement. Was not shown well on TV.

 

[Guy In Burlington]

Who did Bottineau hit?

 

[OttersFan]

Who did Bottineau hit?

Holomego

 

[rangersblues]

Please no. Not good enough.

Not good enough to win a championship. But the trade value of our vets has to be going up significantly .

 

[Guy In Burlington]

Holomego

Thanks. Bottineau’s not that type of player so I wondered if it was a kid he had a minor hockey history with.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Thanks. Bottineau’s not that type of player so I wondered if it was a kid he had a minor hockey history with.

Listened a bit to the game on the Erie broadcast, both announcers thought that it was a margainal call. I wasn't listening for the Labrash major.

 

[Billyjack]

So,

When do we start the conversation that the Rangers might actually be good?

we don't, they need to sell and stay the course