Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

Ward Cornell

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Dec 22, 2007
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Ranger fans watched a dominant game last night against the Soo. Basically gave them nothing all 3 periods. They are scoring some amazing goals. Not a lot of garbage goals. Jussi has them playing great positional hockey at this point. Hockey at this level is measured in wins. MM might be receiving calls from opposing GMs and listening. Not sure what the plan is going forward but I doubt he makes hasty moves unless he receives an offer he can't refuse. This is the most solid hockey we have seen in years.
While most of us on here are always talking how it takes a season for import players to learn North American hockey, it looks like Jussi who was great last season has taken a giant leap this season in learning N.A. style hockey.
 

RangerNation

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Jul 24, 2015
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London
Tidy win. Soo had maybe 3 chances the whole game. Love the 4th line. Two towering trees with a speedy Arquette.

Reid is so much fun to watch. He 'reids' the game so well!

The team is definitely playing with some swagger. They have the physical game to back it up.

Owen Sound is never easy on the road, and Oshawa will be another big test. Is it just me, or are there more 3in3s for every team this year? Crazy.
 

Jives

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Jan 6, 2018
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MM in another tough spot again this year. I’m still on board for trading Ando, Swick and Misa. Parsons valley is growing by the day but I’m find keeping him unless the return is a huge overpay. Hopefully we can get a NCAA kid to report by trade deadline. Then take 2 weaker OAs back in the OA trades. Gives us a decent chance to make a little noise this playoffs and sets us up well for mem cup year. We are not going to beat London in a 7 game series. The goal has to be playoff experience and get some assets back for mem cup year.
 

Ward Cornell

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Dec 22, 2007
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MM in another tough spot again this year. I’m still on board for trading Ando, Swick and Misa. Parsons valley is growing by the day but I’m find keeping him unless the return is a huge overpay. Hopefully we can get a NCAA kid to report by trade deadline. Then take 2 weaker OAs back in the OA trades. Gives us a decent chance to make a little noise this playoffs and sets us up well for mem cup year. We are not going to beat London in a 7 game series. The goal has to be playoff experience and get some assets back for mem cup year.
Makes me wonder with the new NCAA rule change if OA's may be eliminated from the CHL. With more players being available to go to the NCAA route the other CHL graduating players can play CIS hockey. I can also see maybe the limit of just four 16 yr old players being increased by maybe one or two maximum. I think this rule change will lift the quality of hockey in all leagues!
 
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dirty12

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Makes me wonder with the new NCAA rule change if OA's may be eliminated from the CHL. With more players being available to go to the NCAA route the other CHL graduating players can play CIS hockey. I can also see maybe the limit of just four 16 yr old players being increased by maybe one or two maximum. I think this rule change will lift the quality of hockey in all leagues!

There are players that need the OA season to accumulate four years of the education package. Maybe the change will open up more spots for some OA goalies.
 

Ref Hannah

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Jul 19, 2024
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Makes me wonder with the new NCAA rule change if OA's may be eliminated from the CHL. With more players being available to go to the NCAA route the other CHL graduating players can play CIS hockey. I can also see maybe the limit of just four 16 yr old players being increased by maybe one or two maximum. I think this rule change will lift the quality of hockey in all leagues!
Im thinking the 16s will be unlimited and the draft moving to a 15 year old. That way we get them reporting to CHL rather than anywhere else. Fully aligning CHL.
 
Mar 12, 2009
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I’m still scratching my head at Andonovski only going in round 5 in the NHL draft. I understand it was his second year of eligibility, but still.
It wasn't. It was his first year of eligibility. He was a good, solid stay at home D with bite, but looked like there was nothing there offensively at the time. His D has improved steadily, same for his physicality, and the offensive side, while I doubt he ever produces a lot at the NHL level, is coming a long so much that his ability to move the puck won't hold him back at the pro level.

He was barely considered a prospect in his draft year, I predicted a late round selection because he seemed like a fairly 'safe' pick to me.
 

Ref Hannah

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Jul 19, 2024
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I think we maybe over hyping Jussi and not giving enough credit to the rest of the staff. Communication to the players is a huge gap, this is his second language and it is pretty terrible. Ever heard him speak when he gets passionate?
 
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Ward Cornell

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Dec 22, 2007
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I think we maybe over hyping Jussi and not giving enough credit to the rest of the staff. Communication to the players is a huge gap, this is his second language and it is pretty terrible. Ever heard him speak when he gets passionate?
Competent and secure coaches are not afraid to hire assistant coaches with those same attributes. Those same assistant coaches are also attracted to head coaches for their own development. BUT YES, your main point is bang on about good assistant coaches!
 
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Jives

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Jan 6, 2018
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Well…I’ll throw a guess and say one of Jude Bray or Cristian Giancola are the first to commit to Rangers. Bray not off to a great start in BCHL. Giancola might be good friends with Lam as they played together in Halton. He averaged the same amount of PPG as Lam in Halton. Struggling a little in OJHL and might be looking for a change. LJ Mooney would be an exciting player to get but he is probably the last player that would come…he would be 2nd on my wish list behind Valentini. Cmon MM….get some of these guys locked up.
 

EvenSteven

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Sep 3, 2009
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How about Cole Longacre. Formerly highly touted that was passed over in the last NHL draft.

May want a change of scenery in a tougher league.
 

Jives

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How about Cole Longacre. Formerly highly touted that was passed over in the last NHL draft.

May want a change of scenery in a tougher league.
Wasn’t there an issue? He said he was coming. MM stated that and he seemed a little pissed. With him being a 2006 and eligible for NCAA next year I’d be shocked if he comes. Do we really even want a player that only comes for half a season? Maybe to fill the Ando spot but that’s about it.
 
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OnlyUpFromHere49

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Jun 6, 2023
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How about Cole Longacre. Formerly highly touted that was passed over in the last NHL draft.

May want a change of scenery in a tougher league.
I think that ship has sailed personally. Likely stick it out in the USHL and then off to college.

Watching some video, not sure that’s a worthwhile body to bring in with the current list of defensemen already available to the team.
 
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EvenSteven

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Wasn’t there an issue? He said he was coming. MM stated that and he seemed a little pissed. With him being a 2006 and eligible for NCAA next year I’d be shocked if he comes. Do we really even want a player that only comes for half a season? Maybe to fill the Ando spot but that’s about it.
I think you entertain anyone really. But he’d be the last of the group I posted early I’d expect to report I’d think. He and Mooney.
 

EvenSteven

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Wasn’t there an issue? He said he was coming. MM stated that and he seemed a little pissed. With him being a 2006 and eligible for NCAA next year I’d be shocked if he comes. Do we really even want a player that only comes for half a season? Maybe to fill the Ando spot but that’s about it.
Yes, there was an issue. He was locked up to report and changed his mind at the last minute basically catching MM off guard. MM said at a time that he was no longer in our plans. At the time, there was definitely a big difference in the way he spoke of Longacre than the way he spoke of Hage when it was clear neither were reporting.

I don’t know if he is on our 50 player protected list or not. I would imagine he would be for no other reason than to prevent someone else to pick him up for free as a free agent.

Considering all that, I wouldn’t expect him to report, but you never know. Players have changes of heart. GM’s do too. Two years is a long time. At the end of the day, he is an asset.
 
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OnlyUpFromHere49

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I get my info off of elite prospects. Tells you where the player is. Commitments, etc.

Not sure if you do it, but you can actually make a free EP account and “bookmark” players and have them all listed on one page with their current team(s) and stats for the season.
 
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Krangers08

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Sep 11, 2023
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Weston Cameron 8 points in 9 games

Gaitens 5 points in 15 games

Xu 10 points in 19 games

Bray 2 points in 15 games

Hextal 8 points in 11 games

Orr 10 points in 11 games

Roberson 4 points in 13 games

Edwards no wins 5 losses

Giancola 3 points in 8 games

Ellis 2 points in 11 games

Mclennan 10 points in 20 games

LJ Mooney 9 points in 10 games (NTDP)

Benson 3 points in 11 games

Grimes 0 points in 11 games
 
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