Kitchener Rangers lose home opener to Erie Otters
Posted Sep 28, 2024 06:23:12 AM.
Last Updated Sep 28, 2024 06:25:14 AM.
The Kitchener Rangers came up short during their home opener on Friday night, losing 5-2 against the Erie Otters.
Erie opened the scoring in the first with a short handed goal by Sam Alfanoe 10 minutes into the first period, before Martin Misiak doubled their lead with a power play goal before the end of the period. A fluke goal by Carey Terrance in the third period extended their lead to 3-0.
Right winger Cameron Arquette scored the Rangers first goal of the season at 8:35 in the third and left winger Luke Ellinas tacked on another goal a few minutes later at 12:12 to make it 3-2. The comeback would end there as Erie scored two more goals before the end of the third by Martin Misiak and an empty netter by Sam Alfanoe.
Rangers goaltender Jackson parson stopped 29 of 33 shots and Arquette would finish with the third star of the game.
570 colour commentator Paul Fixter said Arquette and Ellinas will be a big part of the Rangers offense this year, and the team will need to score “by committee” if they want to get on the scoresheet.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of nights where we’re going to see different guys on the scoresheet each and every night,” said Fixter. He added that the Rangers have a strong goaltender in Jackson Parsons, but they have to clean up their play in their own end of the ice.
“I think the defence, the core four, are a real staple for this club,” said Fixter. “I think the coaches will stress defence first, and then seize opportunities.
The Rangers will look to get back in the win column on Saturday when they travel to Windsor to take on the Spitfires. Their next home game is October 4 against the Flint Firebirds.
