The Kitchener Rangers began the 2023-2024 campaign as rebuilders. Now they sit near the top of the standings and will be top contenders heading into the postseason.
The Kitchener Rangers began the 2023-2024 campaign as a rebuilding team.
Now, Kitchener sits 2nd in the Western Conference, though they have been 1st for the majority of the season.
The Rangers have overcome expectations heading into this season, and are set to be serious contenders for the OHL Playoffs in the coming months.
Last season, the Kitchener Rangers finished eighth in the Western Conference, but came to play in the postseason. They beat out the first-placed Windsor Spitfires, but lost in the second round to London.
This past offseason, the Rangers lost a large chunk of their talent. Francesco Pinelli, Francesco Arcuri, Danny Zhilkin, Reid Valade, and Lleyton Moore all moved on from the OHL. Kitchener got a significant amount of their offence from this core, and were expected to struggle this season.
Kitchener found quite the opposite, as some new faces stepped up to the plate.
Carson Rehkopf and Hunter Brzustewicz have taken the OHL by the horns this season, both having phenomenal seasons for Kitchener.
Brzustewicz was drafted in the third round by the Vancouver Canucks back in June, and has clearly used that to his motivation. He leads all OHL defencemen in scoring, and plays huge minutes for the Rangers. On the power play, penalty kill, and at even strength, Brzustewicz is the man in Kitchener.
He is the cornerstone on their blue line, and his vision, hockey sense, and passing ability has been at the forefront this season. He is a breakout catalyst, and never fails to create a successful zone exit.
Carson Rehkopf was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the second round, and he has certainly found a groove in his consistency this season. Last season, Rehkopf would have nights where he looked invisible, and nights where he looked unstoppable. He has been unstoppable all season long. He has been able to continue his goal-per-game pace, as he leads the OHL in goals.
Rehkopf's shot is what highlights his game. He can score from everywhere, and his strong release allows him to score from far out.
Looking down the lineup, Jackson Parsons has been strong in goal, Matthew Sop has had a breakout overage season, and Tanner Lam has been one of the best rookies in the OHL points-wise.
The additions of Eduard Sale and Olivier Savard at the OHL Trade Deadline will also serve as assets for the Rangers. Sale is coming off of a successful performance for Czechia at the World Juniors, and Savard will be able to eat some minutes in the defensive end.
Though the majority of their success comes at the hands of Brzustewicz and Rehkopf, no team has been able to stop Kitchener this season. They are currently in a small slump with an abundance of injuries, but there is no reason to believe that the Rangers can't be serious contenders in the postseason.