Rangers part ways with Schiemenz
Club to choose two players in CHL import draft
KITCHENER — Cedric Schiemenz will not be back with the Kitchener Rangers.
The Ontario Hockey League club has decided to move on from the German import after one season in which the forward scored three goals and added six assists in 49 games.
“It just wasn’t the right fit,” said Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie.
“He wasn’t playing in our top six group and wasn’t on the power play much. We have a lot of the same guys back, so next year it doesn’t look like there will be a lot of difference there.”
The club also placed forward Lias Andersson on a special reserve list and will now have two picks in Wednesday’s Canadian Hockey League import draft.
Schiemenz had a strong training camp and showed flashes of potential as a rookie but lacked consistency. He was primarily used on the team’s fourth line and was a healthy scratch at times this past season.
The 18-year-old, who turned down a scholarship offer from the University of Maine to come to Kitchener, was eager to return but can now latch on with another CHL team or pursue his career elsewhere.
“Cedric is obviously a skilled player,” said McKenzie. “We thought it would be better for us and him to kind of part ways and he can find a spot where he can be more effective and be used in the right situations.”
Andersson was the Rangers’ second round pick in last year’s import draft but spent this past season playing pro in Sweden.
The New York Rangers selected the elite forward seventh overall in Friday night’s NHL draft and now control the fate of his hockey career.
“I’d be very shocked if he’s playing junior hockey next year,” said McKenzie. “He’s a guy that you could stick on your third or fourth line (right now in the NHL) and he’d be just fine playing against men.”
Kitchener has the 34th and 94th selections in Wednesday’s draft but could move up since teams that have already filled their two player import quota will be forced to pass.
McKenzie said the club isn’t focusing on a particular position, age or nationality heading into the draft though you would expect the Rangers to lean on newly hired assistant coach Andreas Karlsson for advice since he hails from Sweden.
“It’s a bit of a different animal,” the GM said. “There are a lot of moving pieces from agents to NHL teams on who is available to come over and who’s not. It can be tricky sometimes to navigate through that.
“We’re just looking for guys that can come in and make an impact on our team. We want guys that can fit into our style of play and our team.” NHL CAMP INVITES: Four players have been invited to NHL development camps (so far) — goalie Luke Richardson (Boston), defenceman Connor Hall (Pittsburgh) and forwards Joseph Garreffa (Toronto) and Greg Meireles (St. Louis). Meanwhile, ex-captain Frank Hora is off to camp with the Columbus Blue Jackets.