Kitchener natives help rip Rangers
Posted Jan 6, 2018 06:51:27 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Kitchener Rangers had a slow start against the Mississauga Steelheads.
“No team is going to win if you’re not engaged enough at the drop of the puck,” said head coach Jay McKee after the Fish flipped the Rangers 6-2 at the Aud.
Mississauga was sure to be engaged with five players from Waterloo Region, including four from Kitchener (Cole Schwindt (KIT), Keean Washkurak (WAT), Stephen Gibson (KIT), Mason Hardy (KIT) and Nicolas Hague (KIT)).
It was Hague, a Vegas Golden Knights second-rounder, who scored his career-high 21st on the team’s first shot. Minutes later, he earned an assist on Washkurak’s fifth of his rookie campaign.
LISTEN: 570’s Colour Commentator Chris Pope speaks with Kitchener’s Nick Hague before Friday’s game
The Steelheads would add one more before the game was even eight minutes old.
“We didn’t have a good start. It’s something we’ve been preaching for a good 4-6 weeks now,” said McKee. “We look back on the games we’ve lost, I’m sure a good handful of them we haven’t had the right start. We need to regroup, and be much more focused and prepared for the game tomorrow.”
LISTEN: Farwell and Pope Podcast: Episode 013 – Put up your Dukes
Nick McHugh earned a goal and an assist in the loss, while Chris McGonigle made his first start in almost a month. Despite the four-goal hole heading into the first intermission, the coach wasn’t about to turn to Luke Richardson.
“It wouldn’t have mattered if they scored one goal or 15,” said McKee, while pointing out he didn’t want Richardson to play Friday night and then again Saturday afternoon. “[McGonigle] made some big saves, but I’m sure there’s also one-or-two he’d like to have back, but that’s goaltending.”
The Rangers are in Owen Sound this afternoon. Reminder, the game time has changed to 3:30 p.m. puck drop, with the Harris Law pregame beginning on 570 News at 3 p.m.
