Rangers Take Top of Division After Round Robin, News, Major Bantam Red, 2019-2020, MD (Kitchener Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2019-2020 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Nov 10, 2019 | Dave Horne | 189 views
Rangers Take Top of Division After Round Robin
Cambridge MD Festival – Day 1

The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Red team tried sleep walking through game 1 of the tournament and had a rude awakening from the host Cambridge Hawks with a 4 to 4 tie.

The Rangers had troubles getting anything going and were far too passive in the game.

Jake Fisher had the hot hand for the Rangers with a pair of goals. Both of the Fisher goals were set up by Stephen Peppas and Chad Morris. Logan Duke scored from Kodi Blackshaw and Evan Peori and Jacob Reid-Brant had a penalty shot goal.



Aiden Radatus saw the most rubber he has this season and did all he could to keep the Rangers in the game. Radatus had to be sharp several times and did a great job at kicking shots away from dangerous areas.

One area the Rangers had to clean up was the defensive zone. Matt Gallant and Noah Park had strong games for the Rangers, but the forwards didn’t support them as well as you would expect. Caleb Cumming was a huge help on the back check.

In Game 2, the Rangers focus on improving their play in the defensive zone was evident with a much stronger showing in a 3 to 1 win over the Brampton 45s.

Duke tied the game for the Rangers from Peppas and Josh McDonald. Toby Pryce had the winner on a nice wrap around Duke and Owen Neomytka. Peppas added a goal from Park and Duke.

Neomytka was steady and reliable as always in nets especially late in the game when the Rangers had a couple systematic breakdowns. Neomytka was all about controlling pucks and dictated the pace of the game really well. His save on a Brampton breakaway in the final minute of play made all take notice.

Quinten Earle, Denver Heiman and Connor Coughlin all played extremely hard and smart games for the Rangers and put pressure on the 45s all game limiting their time and space. Once again Cumming was a work horse and several players stepped up and put the team first.

At the end of the day, the Rangers didn’t play their best hockey but were fortunate to finish the day in first place in the A Pool with 6.5 points earned and a .583 goal for percentage. The coaches looked for a silver lining and identified several areas to improve on and will be ready to go Day 2.


Cambridge MD Festival – Day 2

The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Red team got off to a much better start on day two, scoring just 6 seconds into the game on route to a 4 to 2 win over the Whitby Wildcats Saturday afternoon.

The Rangers captain stepped up with a hattrick. Jacob Reid-Brant had his first two goals on his first shift with Coughlin earning assists on both goals and then put the final touches on the game with an unassisted marker late in the third period. Jake Fisher continued to have a hot hand getting a stick on a Logan Duke rocket from Reid-Brant.

The game started off fast paced and entertaining but questionable penalties to both teams really killed the flow and enjoyment for long stretches. With both teams’ coaches and players scratching their heads unsure what would be called and what wouldn’t be called.  

Aiden Radatus faced several 5 on 3s and with the help from his teammates was successful killing the majority of them. Radatus showed a lot of fight and was steady all game despite a lot of action in the Rangers zone shorthanded.

Caleb Cumming at one point killed a penalty against five Wildcats by keeping his feet moving and bulldozing himself and the puck deep into their zone. It was the type of effort the Rangers needed from their players. Quinten Earle and Stephen Peppas displayed a lot of heart with tremendous back checking all game.

With Evan Peori out of the line up, Coughlin and Duke were asked to lead the charge down the middle and really put their work hats on in the defensive zone. Denver Heiman had some excellent shifts killing penalties as well.

Defensively the Rangers were tight and featured some new pairs that appeared to gel well. Matt Gallants speed was an asset alongside Josh McDonald. The reliable Toby Pryce clicked with Kodi Blackshaw and Chad Morris continued to look stellar with Noah Park.

Up next the Rangers play the second seeded team in Pool B which will be the winner of the Peterbrough Petes and Waterloo Wolves White. Regardless of who the Rangers play they will need to bring their A-game into Sunday.

Go Rangers!