The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Red team played with fire showing a lack of focus and effort at times but, as always, pulling it together and finished the game with a relentless attacked to win 5 to 4 over their rival Blue team Sunday afternoon.
Owen Neomytka deserved more help from his team but battled hard for his teammates and finished strong for the Rangers. Neomytka saw extra time with his partner, Aiden Radatus, out with a bad flu and rose to the challenge. His coaches were extremely proud of his calm and strong mental focus as he made several tough saves, many through traffic. The performance from Neomytka and the rest of the Rangers helped claim the teams 40th victory of the season.
With four players missing (Radatus, Matt Gallant, Logan Duke and Evan Peori) the team was short on energy, but several guys stepped up for and put it all out for the win. Kodi Blackshaw and Chad Morris were tough on defense and Quinten Earle, Stephen Peppas and Denver Heiman were dominate with puck possession and their forechecks.
Jacob Reid-Brant opened the scoring on the power play from Caleb Cumming and Noah Park. Connor Coughlin scored from Park and Cumming. Toby Pryce scored from Jake Fisher and Josh McDonald. Cumming tied the game on the power play from Coughlin and Reid-Brant. Brett Herniman, who again stepped up to AP, went hard to the net to screen the goalie and Reid-Brant fired the winner over the blue goalies shoulder from Coughlin.
The win puts the Rangers in top spot in the playoffs and keeps the squad undefeated heading into another A tournament with the potential of facing the only other undefeated team in Ontario, the Leaside Flames.
A huge thank you to Braxton Mathews and Brett Herniman for their commitment to the team this weekend. The players will need to focus and play to their abilities to be successful. The coaches are happy to see all their player available for action this weekend as well!
Go Rangers!