Kitchener native gets call from Rangers
KITCHENER — Jacob Cascagnette has had his eyes on the Kitchener Rangers for a long time.
“I’m a huge fan,” said the Kitchener native. “I have season’s tickets. I sit two rows up from the guest bench.”
So imagine the 16-year-old forward’s excitement when the hometown club selected him in Saturday’s Ontario Hockey League draft.
“Oh man . . . it’s big,” he said. “It’s a dream come true.”
Taken in the fourth round, the winger led a banner crop of local hockey players taken in this past weekend’s 15-round entry draft.
Five of Cascagnette’s Kitchener Jr. Rangers teammates were also drafted: goalie David Lobsinger (fifth round, Peterborough), blueliners Alex Black (sixth round Sarnia) and Stephen Gibson (seventh round, Mississauga), centre Nathan Bastien (seventh round, Mississauga) and winger Francis Prevel (14th round, Oshawa).
Waterloo Wolves rearguard Scott Pedersen is also Aud-bound after Kitchener selected him in the eighth round. Pedersen’s older brother Brent is a former Rangers’ first-round draft pick and currently in his second year with the club.
Cascagnette was at home refreshing his computer during the online draft when the phone rang Saturday morning.
“My mom called me up and I knew it must be big news,” he said.
Rangers’ assistant coach Mike McKenzie was on the other end with a welcome message to the club.
“He just said congratulations and my heart sunk,” said Cascagnette. “I was very happy and honoured.”
And the day only got more eventful as Jr. Rangers teammates started to go to other OHL clubs throughout the draft.
“My phone blew up,” said Cascagnette, who was coached by Nathan Herrington this season. “I’m as happy as they are. This is a really good showing for Kitchener.”
Now, the attention turns to making the Rangers. A fourth round selection doesn’t come with a guaranteed roster spot. But Cascagnette is eager to show the club that it made the right choice by taking him so high.
“He has a skill set and he’s a character kid,” said Rangers’ head coach and general manager Steve Spott.
“It’s good having a local boy and we’re excited about the prospects of him coming in and trying to earn a job with the team.”
All the draft picks will get a chance to make an impression later this month during a two-day rookie camp, likely at the Aud. (Knights lead series 2-0) First period No scoring. Penalties: Sterk, Kit (roughing), Broadhurst, Lon (roughing) 2:30, Mermis, Lon (interference) 4:35, Elie, Lon (high sticking) 8:24, Pedersen, Kit (holding) 13:09, Griffith, Lon (goaltender interference) 19:08 Second period No scoring. Penalties: Ferry, Lon (holding) 2:15, Marcantuoni, Kit (goaltender interference) 7:27, Meighan, Kit (holding) 11:07, M. Rupert, Lon