Rangers take a stand
Kitchener hands Owen Sound its first regulation loss of the season
KITCHENER — The sparkle of Mikaila Emrich’s Miss Oktoberfest crown shone throughout the arena as she dropped the ceremonial puck Monday at the Aud.
And the glimmer never faded during the Thanksgiving Day matinee as the Kitchener Rangers delivered a strong message to the rest of the league by knocking off the Owen Sound Attack 4-1.
“You can call it a character win or a statement game,” said Rangers head coach Jay McKee. “I think these guys have a lot of belief in the room.”
There is reason to be excited eight games into the campaign.
The Rangers became the first team to hand Owen Sound — ranked second in the Canadian Hockey League’s weekly Top 10 — a regulation loss this season.
On top of that, the victory puts the Blueshirts (5-2-1-0) into a three-way tie with Sault Ste. Marie and Barrie for second overall in the Ontario Hockey League, one point back of top seeded Sarnia.
“It’s just really huge to win against another great team,” said Kitchener forward Greg Meireles. “It’s really good for our confidence. I think our team is one of the top teams in the league this year. We’re going to be really good all year.”
Meireles broke out of a seven-game funk to score his first of the season midway through the first period. And the power play marker was a beauty.
The winger was alone in front of Owen Sound keeper Zack Bowman with time when he spun around and rifled a backhander past the goalie.
“I’m going to have to use that move again because it worked so well,” said Meireles, who has four points in eight games.
Owen Sound’s Sean Durzi tied things up early in the second and it stayed that way until Kitchener erupted for a trio of tallies in the third.
Joseph Garreffa and Jake Henderson potted their fourth goals of the season while Riley Damiani also added his fourth into an empty net.
Goalie Anthony Dumont-Bouchard made 29 saves to improve to 5-0 and was named the team’s No. 1 netminder after the game by McKee. Until Monday, the Quebec native had been sharing the crease with Luke Richardson.
The win also makes up for a sluggish start in Guelph Saturday that saw the Rangers drop a 5-2 decision to the Storm at the Sleeman Centre.
“Guelph has certainly had some tough years and I think we went into their barn not giving them the respect they deserved,” said McKee. “We learned our lesson and we were more prepared here (against Owen Sound).”
The Rangers have a chance to really make an impression on the league since they head north to face the Soo Friday at the
Essar Centre as part of a road trip that also includes stops in Saginaw Saturday and Flint on Sunday.
Beat the Greyhounds and Kitchener will have knocked off two of the league’s best teams in back-to-back games.
“I think teams don’t think we’re going to be one of the top clubs,” said Meireles. “I think this win against Owen Sound is a big statement for us.”