First-round pick Evan Headrick signs with Kitchener along with Alexander Bilecki and Weston Cameron. The Rangers also signed 2006-born free agent Matthew Hlacar

The Kitchener Rangers have made a quartet of signings this week, including their first-round pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection Evan Headrick. 

"We feel his character, work ethic, speed, hockey sense, and skill will give him a chance to be a special player here," said Rangers GM Mike McKenzie.

Our OHL Site Editor Joely Stockl has watched Headrick play live in person all season. "He's a little undersized right now, but has elite hockey sense and vision. He's a play creator and can drive offence at the next level. He has a very high ceiling in this league, and will be a player that Kitchener fans can get excited about" said Joely. 

Evan's older brother Owen played in the OHL for two seasons and won an OHL Championship with the Erie Otters in 2017. Owen was voted the ECHL Defenseman of the Year in 2022-23 when playing for the Idaho Steelheads.

Evan is quite familiar with the logo of his OHL team having played for the U16 Oakville Rangers AAA Hockey Club this past season. Oakville won the OHL Cup in March with Evan leading his team in goals with six and tied with Windsor Spitfires first overall pick Ethan Belchetz in points with 11. Headrick will wear No. 81 for the Kitchener Rangers. 

Next in line to ink an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with Kitchener was their second-round pick, left-shot defenseman Alexander Bilecki.

Bilecki is a product of the U16 Mississauga Rebels AAA Hockey Club out of the GTHL. He recorded six points in five games at the OHL Cup. He comes in at 6-foot-1 and 155 pounds. 

"Alex had a good draft year and was a player that we really coveted leading up to the draft and we're excited that he was available with our second pick and even more excited now that he is committed to our team," said Mike McKenzie. Bilecki will wear No. 89 for the Rangers.

"Bilecki's a smooth-skating, two-way defender who moves the puck extremely well. He's not going to give up much on either end of the ice, just a really smart player" said Joely Stockl.

2024 OHL Priority Selection third-rounder Weston Cameron signed his OHL Scholarship and contract with Kitchener on May 1. He'll be wearing No. 17 for Kitchener next season. 

Cameron played for the prestigious Toronto Marlboros organization in his minor hockey career. Notably, he served as captain for the U16 Marlboros this past season. The big 6-foot-2 centerman recorded five points in five games at the OHL Cup to help his team advance to the quarterfinals. 

He also played at the Brick Invitational in 2018, a very exclusive event for the best 10-year-old hockey players from North America that has seen the likes of Connor Bedard, Auston Matthews, and former OHL exceptional status recipient Michael Misa.

"With his size, skill, and shooting ability, he will be an important player for us moving forward and add to our young core of forwards," said Mike McKenzie.

"Cameron's a bigger power center who drives the puck hard, can get tough shots off in tight, and is also reliable in his own zone," said Joely Stockl. 

Earlier today, Kitchener announced the signing of free agent, 2006-born forward Matthew Hlacar. "Matthew showed well at the camps he has attended for us and had a solid season in the GOJHL. He uses his size and strength well on the ice and plays a hard game," said Mike McKenzie. 

Representing the St. Catharines Falcons of the GOJHL, he put together a standout season with 16 goals and 38 points in 48 games. He stands at a hulking 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds. He plays as a modern-day power forward who likes to punish his opponents physically and scores his fair share of goals around the net, as per Joely Stockl. 

The Kitchener Rangers have seen recent success from their free agent signings over the years in the likes of Arber Xhekaj and Adrian Misaljevic. Can Hlacar add himself to that list?

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