North York Knights Challenge 2020 – Day 2
The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Red team picked up from where they left off with a huge 9 to 0 over the Toronto Royals before suffering their first defeat, a 1 to 0 loss, from the North York Knights.
Owen Neomytka earned his 8th shutout of the season beating the Royals. Neomytka did a great job remaining focused in a Rangers dominated game and made sure he was ready when the Royal attacked stopping all 18 shots he faced. Neomytka showed some fight late in the game to preserve his shutout with an unbelievable toe save, something worthy of TSN's "Highlight of the Night".
Scoring Summary: Jacob Reid-Brant scored from Noah Park and Chad Morris. Evan Peori had a hattrick with his first goal being set up by Morris and Reid-Brant, his second goal being set up by Stephen Peppas and Morris and his third goal being set up by Reid-Brant and Peppas. Caleb Cumming scored from Jake Fisher. Connor Coughlin scored from Denver Heiman. Reid-Brant had his second in the game from Peori and Peppas. Quinten Earle scored from Morris and Heiman and Peppas finished off the scoring from Peori and Reid-Brant.
In the second game of the day, the Rangers found themselves in unfamiliar territory suffering their first loos of the season to the eventual Silver medal winners the North York Knights. Aiden Radatus deserved a better result after playing a terrific game against the Knights stopping 23/24 shots faced. With the Rangers serving 36 minutes in penalties in a 36-minute game, Radatus needed to be the best penalty killer on the ice and he was just that for his team. Radatus made several big saves and saw more pucks then he has in any other game this year.
The Rangers defenders helped their goalie with Kodi Blackshaw, Toby Pryce, Josh McDonald and Matt Gallant rising to the occasion along with another solid performance by Morris and Park. Another standout in the game was Logan Duke who won puck battle after puck battle and gave all he had for his teammates.
The loss set up a semi final meeting with the only remaining undefeated team in Ontario, the Leaside Flames on Sunday morning.
North York Knights Challenge 2020 – Semi Finals
The Kitchener Jr Rangers MD Red team came up just short, losing 3 to 2, in an entertaining hockey game against the Leaside Flames Super Bowl Sunday morning.
The defeat was hard to swallow with some questionable calls and disallowed goal but in the end the Rangers fell just short and finished the game leaving it all on the ice. It was a tough battle and the team had chances but just appeared a bounce away from taking the game.
Owen Neomytka stood tall for the Rangers making 35 saves in the loss. Neomytka kept his calm and steady composure through the game and showed mental toughness late in the game while the Rangers were pressing. Neomytka, as always, did great limiting any second chances and made key saves when his team needed him most in the third.
On the powerplay, the Rangers got on the board late in the second with a rocket of a goal from Jacob Reid-Brant with Matt Gallant and Connor Coughlin picking up assists. The Rangers thought they closed the gap when Coughlin had a goal that was disallowed early in the third. However the team never gave up and Coughlin got some redemption scoring from Chad Morris and Caleb Cumming. Cumming was an absolute work horse and warrior for his team all game, taking plenty of abuse in the corners to no avail.
In fact, several Rangers had highlight worthy games. Stephen Peppas was perhaps the best player on either team putting in a great performance with and without the puck. Logan Duke and Quinten Earle frustrated the Flames all game with a relentless attack. Denver Heiman and Jake Fisher traded off at centre and were willing to give up offense to chip in defensively, and the always energetic Evan Peori was a back-checking machine all game and held his emotions in check putting team first.
Josh McDonald saved his best for the championship rounds and was a general on the blueline. Kodi Blackshaw gave the team some much needed muscle and kept the Flames honest around the net. Noah Park continued his strong play and his shifty moves gave fits to the Flames. Morris made a huge shot block to give the Rangers a fighting chance with the goalie pulled before the team scored their second. Toby Pryce was fantastic and showed leadership on and off the ice and rushed the puck very well.
Credit to the players for never giving up and making their coaches believe they had a chance to win right up to the final buzzer. The tournament was another excellent tool to prepare the team for the upcoming challenges they will face as they continue their pursuit of a triple banner season.
It is the coaches hopes the players will learn from the lessons and use the experience to help them achieve their goals. Thank you to all the players and families for yet another amazing experience as a team.
Go Rangers!