The Kitchener Jr Rangers Select Blue team controlled almost all
the game and dominated possession as well as scoring chances, yet the score was
close in a 1 to 0 win over the Burlington Jr Cougars.
Credit the Cougars goalie for an outstanding game, however, it was Zackary Wick who skated off the ice perfect with the shutout. Wick was there when the Rangers needed him and when the Cougars pulled their goalie, he was tested several times.
Colin Starr had the eventual game winner when he was set up by Will Halter and Tyler Oude-Voshaar. The trio was strong all night and Oude-Voshaar was a puck machine with his back-checking efforts. Brett Herniman was another stand out and his line mates, Ryan McConnell and Jacob Ancich, were equally impressive in the game. There were periods of time that the line hemmed the Cougars in their zone for their whole shift. Last, but definitely not least, the line of Freddie Law, Braeden Buck and Michael Rogoz, had one of the prettiest plays of the night on a fantastic tic tac toe play the Cougar goalie sadly ruined.
It almost sounds like a broken record praising the Rangers defenders but once again they deserved the credit and this game were asked to play a lot with only four dressed. Rashaun Williamson, Logan Hock, Dezi Deneau and Evan Skipp were a way for the Rangers. Pinching in when the play called for it and frustrating the Cougars time and time again.
The coaching staff were very pleased watching their team’s performance. The lines rolled well, and players were cautious of shift length. The player won their puck battles and passed the puck unselfishly to each other and generated a lot of quality scoring chances.
If the Rangers can continue to play this style of game, which has been the case in the past couple games, the team will be tough to beat in their quest for an Alliance banner.
Go Rangers!