The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Red team opened the Alliance
Championships with a 2 to 2 tie against the defending Alliance Champions the
West London Hawks.
Braxton Mathews was exceptional for the Rangers and made key saves in the final minutes of the game to not only help keep his team in the game but allow the Rangers to come back from behind and score a late goal for the tie.
Jacob Fisher opened the scoring for the Rangers with a nice goal in tight around the crease. Fishers goal was unassisted. However, the Hawks rallied and went up a goal before Ryan McConnell showed amazing patience and smarts on his goal from Connor Coughlin and Nicholas Zammit.
The Rangers played a solid game and at times dominated puck possession. Ayden Costello and Daniel Gubbels worked hard all game and provided the team with some great back checking. The Ranger wingers were ready for battle and Carter Niall, Jacob Reid-Brant and Logan Hock all won key battles along the boards for the Rangers. The Hawks played a tight game and really pinched the Rangers in their zone well.
All the pinching made life difficult for the Rangers defenders, but they responded well and played smart positional hockey. Kodi Blackshaw, Kailum Belainc, Keenan Hack, Yianni Peppas and Noah Park were dominate and reliable.
Despite all the good things in the game the team felt they had some rust from a couple weeks off and were not as crisp passing as there are accustomed to playing. The Rangers vow to tighten up and play their game moving forward.
The coaches are confident the team will respond as they have seen all season the players are capable and determined with heart and desire.
Go Rangers!