Rangers overpower Colts, now two wins from championship
Posted May 9, 2026 06:19:01 AM.
Last Updated May 11, 2026 11:22:25 AM.
It took a full-team performance and a stressful 80 minutes, but the Kitchener Rangers defended home ice over the Barrie Colts in Game 2 of the OHL finals at the Aud.
For the third time in the Blueshirts’ last four games, they allowed the opening goal, with Barrie’s Brad Gardiner scoring his 7th of the playoffs on a rebound at the doorstep.
Gabe Chiarot would repeat that trick halfway through the second, depositing a rebound from Luke Ellinas past the Colts’ Ben Hrebek to tie the game up 1-1. Barrie would steal back the lead, as the hot-handed Emil Hemming lasers a shot past Christian Kirsch on a rush for his 13th goal of the playoffs.
The Colts began the third period with a power play thanks to a Kitchener unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but it wouldn’t be the road side scoring on that man advantage. Carson Campbell picks off a cross pass, plays tic-tac-toe with Sam O’Reilly on the rush, and beats Hrebek shorthanded to tie the game with his third goal of the playoffs.
Late in the third, with Barrie captain Kashawn Aithcheson in the box after a roughing minor, Christian Humphreys unleashes a wrist-shot on the power play to give the East Avenue Blue their first lead of the game with just two and a half minutes to play. But Aitcheson would get his revenge, as with just three seconds left in regulation, he slaps home a puck on the doorstep, shocking the over 7,500 fans in attendance at the Aud.
The Rangers led the shot column 39 to 26 after three periods, and that dominance would not change in overtime. The home side tallied 20 shots in the extra period, with Colts’ goaltender Hrebek making his 55th save of the game in the latest stages of the overtime period.
Kitchener’s first 19 shots did not find their way in, but the 20th would, as Cameron Reid sets up Matthew Andonovski at the blueline for the game-winning slapshot. His clutch heroics would reward Andonovski with the first star of the game, being joined by defensive partner Reid as the second star. For his workhorse night of puck-stopping with 55 saves on 59 shots, Barrie’s Ben Hrebek was awarded the third star.
The win gives Kitchener a 2-0 win in the OHL finals, with the series now shifting to Barrie for games 3 and 4. Barrie will need to win one of games 5 and 7 at the Aud to win the championship, as the Rangers successfully sweep their opening home stand. The 7,533 fans in attendance at the Aud for game 2 sets Kitchener’s season-high attendance mark once again.
Both teams will be back in action for game 3 Sunday night in Barrie. 570 News Radio will have full live coverage starting at 5:30 p.m. with the pre-game show hosted by Mike Farwell and Josh Piercey. Puck drops shortly after 6 p.m.
