The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Red team shutout the rival Blue team 1 to 0 Saturday night in what was perhaps the teams weakest outing on the season.
The Rangers appeared to be suffering a tournament “hangover” and displayed very little emotion or energy in the game. In fact, the Rangers mustered less shots on goal then they have all season in a game and actually finished the game with less then their average per period.
Even more frustrating for the Ranger coaches was the shot quality with very few shots from dangerous areas on the ice.
However, good teams find ways to win and that is exactly what the Rangers did with their league leading 10th win of the season. This one you can thank Owen Neomytka for shutting the door with several highlight reel saves and a cool calm presence in nets.
Jacob Reid-Brant streaked in from Stephen Peppas and just softly slide the puck in the Blue net for the games lone goal.
Some of the fatigue could be attributed to Evan Peori and Jake Fisher being out of the line up. Noah Park, a true warrior and team first guy, was willing to play forward for the team. This left a lot of ice for Chad Morris, Kodi Blackshaw, Matt Gallant, Josh McDonald and Toby Pryce and the players did exceptional.
Up front, the Rangers leaned on Logan Duke and Connor Coughlin down the middle and had to double shift them. When the team needed legs and extra effort Quinten Earle and Denver Heiman gave them the pep the team needed. Caleb Cumming, as always, played his heart out for the team and showed team first play when he ate the clock opposed to selfishly trying for an empty net in the dying seconds of the game.
The Rangers play again tomorrow, this time against a hot Waterloo Wolves Black team, at RIM Park on Sunday afternoon.
Go Rangers!