Minor Midget AAA Jr. Rangers Show Well at OHL Cup
The Kitchener
Jr. Rangers Minor Midget AAA hockey club showed very well at the OHL Cup which took
place in Toronto March 12-16. The OHL
Cup tournament features the top 20 Teams from across Ontario as well as
Michigan and Pennsylvania. This was the
first time a Kitchener team had earned their way to the OHL Cup.
The Jr. Rangers earned their way to the OHL Cup by advancing to the Alliance Finals and an automatic berth. After finishing 3rd in the Alliance East Conference, 5th overall, the Jr. Rangers eliminated Hamilton Huskies (3-0), Lambton Jr. Sting 3-2 and Chatham Cyclones 3-2-1 with the 6th and deciding game going to triple overtime.
In the Finals the Jr. Rangers faced their cross-town rivals the Waterloo Wolves. The Wolves, 1st overall in the Alliance, took the finals 3-1 but by reaching the Alliance Championship the Jr. Rangers were guaranteed a spot in the prestigious OHL Cup.
A nervous Jr. Rangers met the OMHA Champions Whitby Wildcats in their first game. They battled hard the 1st half of the game but the OMHA Champions showed their depth and solid defensive core to beat the Rangers 7-3. Defenseman Nic Hague was named Kitchener’s player of the game.
In the 2nd game the Jr. Rangers faced off against the Northwest Champions Thunder Bay Kings. The nerves were gone but the team game that allowed the Rangers to earn their way to the OHL Cup was just off. The Jr. Rangers battled hard till the end but lost 2-1. Center Bobby Young was Kitchener’s player of the game.
In their 3rd game the Jr. Rangers were facing a must win scenario if they had any hope of advancing when they played TPH Thunder from the USA. The work ethic was there and players stayed with the fast skating, high pressure Thunder for the entire game and came out on top 3-2. Left winger Tyler Kleine was the Ranger player of the game.
In their 4th game of the tournament and facing a must win situation to go to a tie breaker format for advancement the Jr. Rangers faced off against the Vaughan Kings of the GTHL. The Kings featured GTHL player of the year and leading scorer Adam Masherin (130 points). The Rangers battled hard, frustrated the Kings top player into taking penalties and received outstanding goaltending from Alex Knispel but fell short losing 2-1 and being eliminated from the tournament. Defenseman Ben Allen was the Ranger player of the game.
If success was based on winning a championship than only 1 team would be considered to have a successful season at the end of each hockey season. The 2013-2014 Kitchener Jr. Rangers Minor Midget AAA hockey club’s coaching staff beg to differ and feel this year’s team of young men showed that hard work can provide opportunities for success. Things that seem out of reach can be attained if you put your mind to it and play as a team. The Jr. Rangers Minor Midget AAA hockey club have a number of things to be proud of this season including:
Brantford Minor Midget Showcase Tournament Champions
Alliance Finalists
OHL Cup Berth
Congratulations boys on a tremendous season of hockey!