Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[EvenSteven]

Did not watch past the mid second period. Just checked out the scoresheet. I hope Ando had some reason to instigate against their 16 year old first rounder. What was up with that?

To be honest, I have no explanation. Unless Belchetz got verbal, I saw no real reason for it.

 

[Buttsy]

Again, it’ll be a long season. MM has sent the message. The trading of Rehkopf and the amount of youth on this roster means that this season won’t be about wins but about development.

MM bought heavy the past couple of seasons probably when he didn’t have the team he thought he had. Committing to a complete rebuild was his only real move. I still say your coach will have a large impact on this team before year end or perhaps he to will be looking for work? Cheers hang in there ….

 

[EvenSteven]

MM bought heavy the past couple of seasons probably when he didn’t have the team he thought he had. Committing to a complete rebuild was his only real move. I still say your coach will have a large impact on this team before year end or perhaps he to will be looking for work? Cheers hang in there ….

MM buying two years ago was a mistake.

Because of that, he pretty much had to blow it up way early this season. Trading Rehkopf when he did maximized the return. I doubt he gets that haul at the deadline - especially when you’ll likely see a few other elites hit the market.

 

[Billyjack]

We all knew we were in for a rough ride this year, no pain, no gain. I'm supporting them no matter what, how about you? There will be lots of games like this ,

 

[Rangers True Blue]

I’m thinking you can attribute half the Windsor onslaught to the team dealing with the flu running through the room. When you have multiple players hitting the head every intermission the last couple games, that’s not nuthin.

I’m not saying we win the game last night otherwise. We have the youngest D in the league and flu or no flu, you won’t win many games.

Again, it’ll be a long season. MM has sent the message. The trading of Rehkopf and the amount of youth on this roster means that this season won’t be about wins but about development.

Agreed, Even. Should Erie and Windsor catch that flu, they will get to experience playing in that condition first hand.

My question is....did Windsor really need to jack up the score that high?? This isn't an international tournament where goals for can be significant in the standings. This a couple of games in for ^*&$ sake. What happened to the sportsmanship of backing off and riding out the win?

Super early in the season. We will welcome Windsor to Kitchener on November 22nd.

As for the grit that many including me were looking for, we certainly have seen that BUT now let's get back to hockey. Jussi and his coaching staff will NOT take these past two games lightly....flu or no flu.......and the boys had better step up and work their tails off in prep for next Friday.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

1. $500 to London
2. This is a continuation of exhibition. A lot of players are still in pro camps
3. Even in a season where we aren't competing for the same turf as London they are rent free in our heads

Yup.........I was surprised that a team can buy their player out of a suspension. I didn't realize that could be done and frankly, don't agree with it. You do the crime...you pay the crime.

 

[EvenSteven]

Agreed, Even. Should Erie and Windsor catch that flu, they will get to experience playing in that condition first hand.

My question is....did Windsor really need to jack up the score that high?? This isn't an international tournament where goals for can be significant in the standings. This a couple of games in for ^*&$ sake. What happened to the sportsmanship of backing off and riding out the win?

Super early in the season. We will welcome Windsor to Kitchener on November 22nd.

As for the grit that many including me were looking for, we certainly have seen that BUT now let's get back to hockey. Jussi and his coaching staff will NOT take these past two games lightly....flu or no flu.......and the boys had better step up and work their tails off in prep for next Friday.

The way we played last night, sick and all, Windsor would have had a hard time not scoring.

 

[ohloutsider]

Agreed, Even. Should Erie and Windsor catch that flu, they will get to experience playing in that condition first hand.

My question is....did Windsor really need to jack up the score that high?? This isn't an international tournament where goals for can be significant in the standings. This a couple of games in for ^*&$ sake. What happened to the sportsmanship of backing off and riding out the win?

Super early in the season. We will welcome Windsor to Kitchener on November 22nd.

As for the grit that many including me were looking for, we certainly have seen that BUT now let's get back to hockey. Jussi and his coaching staff will NOT take these past two games lightly....flu or no flu.......and the boys had better step up and work their tails off in prep for next Friday.

Sunday Oct 15 2023. Maybe check the score of that game and ask the same question?

 

[Coaches Coroner]

You cannot demand grit and then scold them on occasions where they do things a way you don't particularly agree with IMO. He may have gone after a 16 y/o first rounder...who is 6'5" 225 (bigger than Ando), so it's not exactly like a big veteran defenseman doing it to one of our guys like Headrick (5'7").

Get ready because there is going to be a lot of this this season. Can always tune out if it gets too ugly, but this is how it's going to be and we all knew it would be a rebuild year. You'll have to find enjoyment, not from winning, but from seeing our 2nd year players (hopefully) really develop individually.

 

[EvenSteven]

You cannot demand grit and then scold them on occasions where they do things a way you don't particularly agree with IMO. He may have gone after a 16 y/o first rounder...who is 6'5" 225 (bigger than Ando), so it's not exactly like a big veteran defenseman doing it to one of our guys like Headrick (5'7").

Get ready because there is going to be a lot of this this season. Can always tune out if it gets too ugly, but this is how it's going to be and we all knew it would be a rebuild year. You'll have to find enjoyment, not from winning, but from seeing our 2nd year players (hopefully) really develop individually.

This year won’t be about winning. It’ll be about the development of the young players and what we get for our vets in trade.

On a vet instigating with a rookie:

After a clean Bilecki hit, the much bigger (6’6” 226lbs) and older (‘05 born) Winegard was in the process of jumping the much smaller (6’1” 165lbs) and younger (‘08 born) if not for Bottineau intercepting him.

So there’s that.

 

[digicamo]

This year won’t be about winning. It’ll be about the development of the young players and what we get for our vets in trade.

On a vet instigating with a rookie:

After a clean Bilecki hit, the much bigger (6’6” 226lbs) and older (‘05 born) Winegard was in the process of jumping the much smaller (6’1” 165lbs) and younger (‘08 born) if not for Bottineau intercepting him.

So there’s that.

There was a lot of funny interactions like this last night. My personal favourite was Cristoforo punching Dirracolo in the face after he fought and then turtling when Ellinas jumped in. That was an ugly game but it was good to the guys sticking up for each other.

 

[GeoBlue]

I agree that you can't pin a game like that on the goaltending, but the Rangers need more than 6 saves on 11 shots from Parsons.

I agree with this line. When other teams coming looking for goaltending help towards the end of the year, they will know that Parsons is playing behind a green defence. But they are going to look at 6 saves out of 11 and go........."What the?" A quality goalie has got to steal some of those. Maybe not steal a game, in this case, but you have to stop some tough ones.

 

[bobber]

QUOTE="Rangers True Blue, post: 196853800, member: 289253"]
Yup.........I was surprised that a team can buy their player out of a suspension. I didn't realize that could be done and frankly, don't agree with it. You do the crime...you pay the crime.
[/QUOTE]
Elon Hunter has the cash. Money talks.

 

[Slowpace]

Hey bobber, glad to see you came out of hibernation! All it took was a post about the Knights to wake you up Enjoy the season.

QUOTE="Rangers True Blue, post: 196853800, member: 289253"]
Yup.........I was surprised that a team can buy their player out of a suspension. I didn't realize that could be done and frankly, don't agree with it. You do the crime...you pay the crim

 

[frontsfan67]

Did not watch past the mid second period. Just checked out the scoresheet. I hope Ando had some reason to instigate against their 16 year old first rounder. What was up with that?

My interpretation of that (which is probably wrong but you never know) is he wanted to start something, get kicked out and not play the rest of the game of a big time blowout.

Or maybe he got pissed off at belchetz because belchetz was filling the net on his team? Nothing about it made sense

 

[EvenSteven]

My interpretation of that (which is probably wrong but you never know) is he wanted to start something, get kicked out and not play the rest of the game of a big time blowout.

Or maybe he got pissed off at belchetz because belchetz was filling the net on his team? Nothing about it made sense

Might have simply been chirping in a blowout. The kid could have said the wrong thing. Andonovski sends a message.

I mean, when you have the Windsor players in the box doing the YMCA, yucking it up, tempers will flare.

 

[ohloutsider]

Might have simply been chirping in a blowout. The kid could have said the wrong thing. Andonovski sends a message.

I mean, when you have the Windsor players in the box doing the YMCA, yucking it up, tempers will flare.

There were no Angel's on either team. I'm sure it will be different in the round 2 game.

 

[bobber]

QUOTE="Slowpace, post: 196854893, member: 297157"]
Hey bobber, glad to see you came out of hibernation! All it took was a post about the Knights to wake you up Enjoy the season.

Still in hibernation waiting for the perch to start biting again. Just threw something out there to get a rise on the boards.

 

[EvenSteven]

There were no Angel's on either team. I'm sure it will be different in the round 2 game.

Never said there was.

As far as the next game goes, we’ll likely see a tame one or two minors a side type game.

 

[All the Answers]

Agreed, Even. Should Erie and Windsor catch that flu, they will get to experience playing in that condition first hand.

My question is....did Windsor really need to jack up the score that high?? This isn't an international tournament where goals for can be significant in the standings. This a couple of games in for ^*&$ sake. What happened to the sportsmanship of backing off and riding out the win?

Super early in the season. We will welcome Windsor to Kitchener on November 22nd.

As for the grit that many including me were looking for, we certainly have seen that BUT now let's get back to hockey. Jussi and his coaching staff will NOT take these past two games lightly....flu or no flu.......and the boys had better step up and work their tails off in prep for next Friday.

Nothing wrong with Windsor scoring 12 goals and running it up. If the other team can't stop you, keep filling the net.

What I did have a problem with was from about goal 8 onwards is everyone (literally every goal) doing a skate by the bench for high fives. That's poor sportsmanship.

 

[rangersblues]

The one part of the fighting didn't care for was that Andonoski and Dirracolo each wasted one of their 3 allowable fights in meaningless situations. Undisciplined by vets.

 

[K2]

I still say your coach will have a large impact on this team before year end or perhaps he to will be looking for work?

I hope that MM has already handed Jussi a juicy offer to sweeten his 2 year mutual extension option

 

[ohloutsider]

Nothing wrong with Windsor scoring 12 goals and running it up. If the other team can't stop you, keep filling the net.

What I did have a problem with was from about goal 8 onwards is everyone (literally every goal) doing a skate by the bench for high fives. That's poor sportsmanship.

Don't disagree just have to remember that a lot of those goals ( not all) were being scored by 16 yr old rookies and teams are going to celebrate those goals no matter the score win or lose.
Anyway good fans in Kitchener so l will move on. Be safe.

 

[EvenSteven]

The one part of the fighting didn't care for was that Andonoski and Dirracolo each wasted one of their 3 allowable fights in meaningless situations. Undisciplined by vets.

If I’m the Rangers, I appeal the Dirracolo fight.

Without the benefit of replay, I’d make the argument he was instigated upon. If memory serves, it wasn’t a jumping, but Lemieux tried to get the jump on him. I’d argue Dirracolo didn’t have a choice.

I don’t know how far it would go. But having Lemieux deemed the instigator would have this fight not count against Dirracolo’s three and keep him from being suspended (automatic two games - 2nd fight same stoppage).

 

[RB76]

I agree that you can't pin a game like that on the goaltending, but the Rangers need more than 6 saves on 11 shots from Parsons.

Stark and Bilecki each -6. A bunch of those likely came at the end when everyone else was kicked out, but they need to figure that out fairly quickly. A healthy Macneil would help.

Get healthy and get the effort level up where it should be, and then see what the team looks like.

Stark looked really good playing forward the other night!