Weekend Grind Teaches Rangers Important Lesson, News, Minor Bantam Blue, 2018-2019, MD (Kitchener Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2018-2019 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Mar 05, 2019 | Dave Horne | 475 views
Weekend Grind Teaches Rangers Important Lesson
The Kitchener Jr. Rangers Minor Bantam MD Blue had a hard fought weekend facing off against two gritty and hard working teams in the Brantford 99ers and Hamilton Huskies MD Red. The Rangers had many bright spots as a team and also learned a key lesson in effort, something no team should ever take for granted, especially in the playoffs.

Rangers Battle to End for Win (Saturday)

The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Blue team started slow but got progressively better as the game wore on in a 6 to 3 win over the Brantford 99ers Saturday night at the Wayne Gretzky Centre.

The win leap frogged the team over Waterloo White and set the stage for the Rangers to widen the gap with another win in Hamilton Sunday.

It was a battle of a game and the players had to fight for every inch of ice which was why Noah Park took Player of the Game. Park is a smaller but feistier player for the team who is a captain and plays with a lot of pride. His efforts help spark his team to play tough.

Jacob Reid-Brant continued to score at a rabid pace notching another hattrick and adding an assist. Connor Coughlin continued his scoring streak as well and added a pair of assists as Coughlin continues to show how important he is to the team.

It was Coughlin who opened the scoring from Reid-Brant before Reid-Brant scored three times in a row for the Rangers. His first goal was set up by Coughlin and Connor Pinos, his second from Jake Masters and his third from Masters and Park. Kailum Belanic scored a beauty from Keenan Hack and Evan Peori on the power play late in the third and the final goal was a nice one by Carter Schade from Coughlin and Kodi Blackshaw. Schade drove the net hard and was rewarded for his hard fought efforts.

Aiden Radatus found himself being hung out to dry a little in the early stages but rebounded well and helped kick start the turn around with some clutch saves and a couple nice gloves. Radatus kept his focus and battled hard for loose puck in the third especially.

Defensively the Rangers were short handed when Andrew Bishop had to leave the game with a pulled muscle.

However, the forwards made a point of backchecking to help the defense out and guys like Aydan Costello, Noah Roden, Ethan Lafleur and Spencer Bulyaki chipped in to help shut down the 99ers.   

It will be a hard-fought match Sunday in Hamilton with a lot on the line standing wise, but the Rangers will need to remain calm and not let the emotions get to them. The team has a plan in place to reach their goal of home ice in the play downs and their coaches are confident the team will follow through and succeed.

Rangers Stumble Cost them Opportunity (Sunday)

The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Blue team lost an opportunity to jump into second place in the playoffs with a 4 to 3 loss to the Hamilton Huskies Red.

The two Waterloo teams played as well with Waterloo White winning which caused the two teams to be tied, one point up on Rangers Blue however the Blue team has a game in hand.

Aydan Costello had a beautiful dangle to get the Rangers first goal from Connor Pinos and Keenan Hack. Connor Coughlin displayed sheer will to score from Kailum Belanic and Jacob Reid-Brant. Carter Schade scored in back to back games for the Rangers third goal from Pinos and Evan Peori.

Pinos added a shared Player of the Game award to his two-point night with Hack and the pair played some quality minutes for the team.

Hayden Smith battled hard for the Rangers and put in a great third period for the team standing his ground when the team needed him. He sparked his team to keep playing hard to get him the draw.

Andrew Bishop returned to action and added some nice physical plays as did Kodi Blackshaw. Noah Park played a smart simple game and was also effective.

Despite the score the Rangers had some strong play from forwards Ethan Lafleur, Spencer Bulyaki, Noah Roden and Jack Masters.

The Rangers will be set for a tough week of practices to prepare to face the rival Rangers Red for the final time in this season’s playoffs. With both team looking to make playdowns the game is guaranteed to be an entertaining contest.

Go Rangers!