Ex-Rangers captain Kelly joins Dutchies’ bench
KITCHENER — Dan Kelly is coming back to the Aud.
The former Kitchener Rangers captain was named to the coaching staff of the Kitchener Dutchmen Monday afternoon.
Kelly spent parts of five seasons with the Rangers on the Dom Cardillo rink and will now go across the hall of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium to the Dutchies’ home at the Kinsmen Arena.
The Blueshirts selected Kelly in the third round of the 2005 Ontario Hockey League draft. He played four full seasons after dressing nine games during his rookie year.
He was named captain midway through the 2008-09 campaign after letterman Ben Shutron was traded to Windsor with fellow forward Scott Timmins and goalie Josh Unice. He kept the ‘C’ for his overage year the following season.
The sturdy defenceman latched on with the Albany Devils in the American Hockey League after graduating from the OHL and played six seasons with the New Jersey Devils minor league affiliate.
The 29-year-old, who hails from Morrisonville, N.Y., played his final pro season with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda last year, before retiring.
The Barracuda are the farm team of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, a team coached by Peter DeBoer and assistant Steve Spott. Both were behind the bench in Kitchener when Kelly played for the Rangers.
Meanwhile, the Dutchmen also signed five players Monday in rearguard Owen Bender, of Kitchener; forward Owen McKnight, from Stouffville; Cambridge forward Cooper Walker; Kitchener defenceman Jacob Schnittke; and Branford forward Cam Allan.
ONUSKA OFF TO U17 CAMP: Waterloo goalie Matt Onuska has been invited to Hockey Canada’s Under-17 development camp.
He’s one of 111 players — including a dozen netminders — trying out for a spot on one of three teams that will compete at the World U17 Hockey Challenge in New Brunswick in November.
Kitchener Rangers draft picks Reid Valade and Isaac Langdon (forwards) and Donovan Sebrango (defence) were also invited to audition at the camp, which is being held at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary July 21-27.
Players will continue to be evaluated throughout the early part of the season before 66 are chosen to compete at the U17 tournament.
Onuska played for the Waterloo Wolves this past season and was a seventh round selection by the Kingston Frontenacs in this year’s OHL draft.
FLINT FIRST UP: The Kitchener Rangers will face a familiar foe in their season — and home — opener. The club will host the Flint Firebirds for the third consecutive year when they kick off the 2018-19 season Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The Rangers lost 5-3 to Flint last year, but doubled the ‘Birds 4-2 two years back in their home opener. The full OHL schedule is slated to be released Tuesday.