Match-up preview: Kitchener Rangers vs Belleville Bulls
The Rangers are back at home tonight after a two-game set further North last weekend. The boys in blue were upset by the Barrie Colts on Thursday by a final score of 8-3, but redeemed themselves Friday in Sudbury beating the Wolves 3-1. Last night they reinforced their winning ways by beating the London Knights at the John Labatt Center 8-2.
The Barrie Colts were the last placed team in the Eastern Conference when they stunned the Rangers at home. “We played really bad and just had no luck,” rookie Tobias Rieder commented. “It seemed every puck they put on net went in.”
Continuing their road trip, the Rangers travelled to Sudbury to round-off the weekend. In a much more successful campaign, they defeated the Wolves 3-1. Jason Akeson was responsible for the game-winner, while Ryan Murphy and Tobias Rieder also chipped in goals. Rieder was named the first star of the game - his second star this season after earning third-star in the Rangers’ home opener against the Saginaw Spirit.
The 17-year old from Landshut, Germany is one of the top rookies in the league, averaging a point and a half per game. In 15 games, the 5-foot-10, 172-pound winger has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points.
“I love it here,” said Rieder when asked how he is enjoying his new life in Kitchener. “The hockey, the culture, everyone is very friendly – it’s perfect.”
Going into tonight’s game against the Belleville Bulls the Rangers have a 10-5-0-0 overall record on the season, while their opponent sits at 5-11-0-0. That formulates into a .667 win percentage for Kitchener and a .312 percentage for Belleville.
The Bulls have a sharp shooter of their own to look out for - Richard Panik. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound Panik has 21 points in 16 games with 11 goals and 10 assists.
Blueliner Murphy still leads the way for Kitchener, and in several scoring categories. He has consistently remained among the top 10 in the league in points – he currently has 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points.
He is also second overall in the league in power play goals with seven, and third in the league with insurance goals. Favoured to be a high-end NHL draft pick, Murphy was the single Ranger player chosen to represent Team OHL in the Subway Super Series game vs Team Russia.
For the Bulls, left-winger Michael Curtis and net-minder Tyson Teichmann have international playing experience, having suited up at the U18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament. The duo also participated in the 2010 NHL Research, Development and Orientation Camp with the top managers, coaches, and scouts in the National League.
So far this season, Teichmann has served in net 11 games for the Bulls and is averaging 3.93 goals against with a 0.893 save percentage. He has collected three wins and eight losses.
Tonight’s game is the first of two at home this weekend for the Rangers. The Aud will also host a Remembrance Day match-up versus the London Knights on Sunday afternoon, with game-worn Rangers jerseys up for auction afterward. “It’s definitely much better to play at home,” said Rieder. “I like it here – our fans have our back.”
