Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part II

[digicamo]

Ellis made a couple good plays and could have had a point or two. Give him 10 games and I think he will become a good addition. Give him 2 years to get ready for mem cup season and I think he is going to be a big part of the team.

Parsons…I don’t know but I can’t see there being many better goalie options than him right now in the O. He is playing so solid and giving the team a chance every night to win in games they shouldn’t have a have to win.

Ando with a screw up that cost the tie….ah well.

Anyone know when Stark and Antsis are expected to play? I know Headrick is still months away.

Antsis is ready to go. I would consider Stark week-to-week but that could change to be day-to-day at any point

 

[Ward Cornell]

I agree on Ellis. Give him time and he’ll warrant more ice - maybe top six.

Unless Lam builds some mass, I don’t see him being able to succeed against heavy checking in this league. Still weighs in at 140lbs on the OHL website. He’s having a hard time navigating traffic against bigger players in the league. He stuck out like a sore thumb over the last two games versus London and Windsor, being an afterthought on the second line. He’s trying to do too much, and becoming predictable, only to lose the puck and be brushed aside in the o-zone.

How long until guys like Ellis and when healthy, Stark get auditions in his spot?

Parsons is in the zone. He deserved better outcomes the last two games. Turning into a money goalie.

Agree 100% on Lam, but what is another concern is add in Ellis and Headrick sizes. These players are super talented but can the team succeed with this lack of size?

 

[EvenSteven]

Agree 100% on Lam, but what is another concern is add in Ellis and Headrick sizes. These players are super talented but can the team succeed with this lack of size?

At least Ellis’ dad weighed in at 212lbs at his NHL playing weight so I suppose we can expect / assume in a year or two he can get up to 180 from his current 160 while gaining a couple inches in height.

And they say they expect Headrick to sprout based on everyone else in the family. We’ll see but he looks no bigger than most 13 year olds.

But for the time being we have multiple F’s who are on the undersized on this team.

 

[Ward Cornell]

At least Ellis’ dad weighed in at 212lbs at his NHL playing weight so I suppose we can expect / assume in a year or two he can get up to 180 from his current 160 while gaining a couple inches in height.

And they say they expect Headrick to sprout based on everyone else in the family. We’ll see but he looks no bigger than most 13 year olds.

But for the time being we have multiple F’s who are on the undersized on this team.

Good barometer is referring to the dad's size. Usually holds true but didn't for Elijah Robert's. God Gawd his dad was built like Arnold Schwarzteneggar and over 6' tall!

What I did see in Ellis last night, I definitely have a lot of hope for him. Did you notice that Jussi had him out on the PK?

 

[EvenSteven]

Good barometer is referring to the dad's size. Usually holds true but didn't for Elijah Robert's. God Gawd his dad was built like Arnold Schwarzteneggar and over 6' tall!

What I did see in Ellis last night, I definitely have a lot of hope for him. Did you notice that Jussi had him out on the PK?

Yes you’re right about Elijah’s dad. Dude was a monster.

Yes Ellis on the PK and also in the 3rd period on PP2 after Ellinas moved up into Romano’s spot on PP1.

Haven’t heard anything on Romano’s injury or if he’ll play tonight.

 

[Matttheleaf]

If Parsons keeps playing like this he may get some calls about and AHL deal or 2, instead of going to the NCAA. Unless he thinks he should focus more on school at this stage of his career I guess too.

 

[bobber]

Getting back to last night's game. Rangers caught the Spits off guard in the first. 2nd period the ice was titled in the Spits favour. Parsons actually stood on his head and made incredible saves. Spits have some big skilled players on their squad. Spits have the makings of a great team. Seems to me if the opposing squad's vets are more skilled than the Rangers it's a battle to get a win. Rangers have been adding new players recently. Putting them into the mix immediately throws a wrench into the system until these new players get up to parr with the rest of the squad. It is a rebuild and each of the younger players are still learning what it takes to play at a high level. Both from our vets and by watching skilled opponents.

 

[EvenSteven]

If Parsons keeps playing like this he may get some calls about and AHL deal or 2, instead of going to the NCAA. Unless he thinks he should focus more on school at this stage of his career I guess too.

He can get a high-end education at Clarkson. Be done school by the age of 24. Then explore Pro hockey. If he does play Pro, goaltenders usually skew towards older start and finish times in pro.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Getting back to last night's game. Rangers caught the Spits off guard in the first. 2nd period the ice was titled in the Spits favour. Parsons actually stood on his head and made incredible saves. Spits have some big skilled players on their squad. Spits have the makings of a great team. Seems to me if the opposing squad's vets are more skilled than the Rangers it's a battle to get a win. Rangers have been adding new players recently. Putting them into the mix immediately throws a wrench into the system until these new players get up to parr with the rest of the squad. It is a rebuild and each of the younger players are still learning what it takes to play at a high level. Both from our vets and by watching skilled opponents.

This issue hopefully will be resolved in the next cpl weeks. Having 5 or 6 idle players lurking around doesn't do anyone any good and usually leads to locker room issues.

 

[ohloutsider]

Just curious. Who was the "colour" announcer last night? He was really good. You could tell right away that he was very knowledgeable. Knows hockey like a former player or coach would. I was impressed. Not sure where they are hiding him but he needs to be a regular. Really upped the broadcast. He would bring the Kitchener games back up to where they use to be. Be safe.

 

[Jives]

This issue hopefully will be resolved in the next cpl weeks. Having 5 or 6 idle players lurking around doesn't do anyone any good and usually leads to locker room issues.

Trades / releases have to be coming soon. Your right…as a rookie you can expect to sit a game here and there when everyone is healthy. Once Stark is ready we would have 6 healthy players watching a game…way too many. We currently have 5 watching which I think is too many.

Make a trade MM.

 

[Matttheleaf]

How do we live in a world where the top 5 goalies for Wins, GAA, SV% and Shutouts are all in the the Western conference? I know that you have to beat the best to be the best, but one year it would be nice if the eastern conference was stacked instead of the Midwest/West.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

This issue hopefully will be resolved in the next cpl weeks. Having 5 or 6 idle players lurking around doesn't do anyone any good and usually leads to locker room issues.

Not to mention shake up the chemistry of the team. Lots of uncertainty for a few of the players that have already been mentioned. The sooner MM figures this all out...the sooner the team can settle in and get back to playing Jussi....er....Rangers hockey.

 

[bobber]

Would be interesting to know the number of healthy players other OHL squads have sitting out games. In reality I think the OHL frowns on teams having players not being active when they have opportunities to play elsewhere be it in Jr. B , Tier 2 or where ever else. MM knows he has to make some type of arrangement to accommodate these players in order to keep things copasetic.

 

[bobber]

Just curious. Who was the "colour" announcer last night? He was really good. You could tell right away that he was very knowledgeable. Knows hockey like a former player or coach would. I was impressed. Not sure where they are hiding him but he needs to be a regular. Really upped the broadcast. He would bring the Kitchener games back up to where they use to be. Be safe.

Adam MCGuire. Content designer.He does the Waterloo Warrior games. UW alum. Quite knowledgeable.