Match-up preview: Kitchener Rangers vs Erie Otters
The Kitchener Rangers and the Erie Otters meet for the fifth time this season tonight at The Aud. The Rangers are in a Midwest division race with a 17-6-0-1 record, while the Otters are a game below .500 at 13-14-1-0.
The Otters had a winning weekend, coming out on top in all three of their contests, which included defeating the Rangers 7-3 at Tullio Arena Saturday, November 27. That victory snapped an 11-game losing streak dating back to 2009.
Erie got off to a quick start scoring three goals in just over five minutes of play. Phil Varone netted a hat trick in the win – the third consecutive Otter to do so in the last three games. Rangers’ defenceman Cody Sol scored his first goal in the loss.
Erie’s Greg McKegg – also a Leafs prospect – was named the OHL Player of the Week for the second time this season, when he tallied nine points in those three games. Russian-born Ramis Sadikov has started 18-straight games for the Otters and has a .915 save percentage with a 10-6 record.
Meanwhile, the Rangers have only lost twice at home all season and look to build on the success of their home-ice advantage in tonight’s game.
The blueshirts have reloaded their front lines this week, acquiring centre Ryan Lopes from the Sudbury Wolves. The 5’10, 181 lb Brampton native comes in exchange for an 8th round pick in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.
Three of the Rangers top players have also earned an opportunity to represent their country at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships in Buffalo, New York. Ryan Murphy has been named to the 39-man selection camp roster for Team Canada, while Gabriel Landeskog will represent Team Sweden, and Tobias Rieder Team Germany.
Landeskog, Rieder, and Murphy were ranked 1st, 6th, and 8th respectively by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau for this year’s NHL Entry Draft.
“It’s exciting to represent your country,” said Rieder. “These are the top teams and the best players in the world, and we have the chance to play against them.”
While Rieder and Landeskog were selected for their teams without having to attend camp overseas, Murphy will be vying for his spot on an elite Canadian squad – a team that has medalled 12 consecutive times in the tournament. “It’s really exciting and big news to both my family and I,” said Murphy. “This is something I’ve wanted my whole life, so it’s great to have that opportunity.” When asked what would mean more: a gold medal or a Memorial Cup, the responses were unanimous.
“Obviously winning a tournament with your country would be huge. But at the same time, Memorial Cup is with the team you play with everyday and practice with everyday, so both of those tournaments would be huge to win,” said Landeskog.
“Winning a gold medal would be something not many players get to do, but then again that’s only one tournament and the Kitchener Rangers are my club team – they’ve been with me everyday. I have really good friends on the team, so winning a Memorial Cup will be the ultimate goal this year,” added Murphy.
Rieder agreed, “I play with Germany for only two weeks and I spend the whole year here in Kitchener, so I think it’s more important we win Memorial Cup or go as far as we can in the play-offs.”
All eyes will be on these three draft eligible players while they finish out their time in Kitchener before heading to camp.
“There’s going to be a lot of scouts watching but I can’t really think of that,” said Landeskog. “With team success, individual success comes with that too. I’m just trying to focus on the Kitchener Rangers right now, and doing as good as I can.”
