Kitchener Rangers ready for action in triple-header OHL weekend
Posted Sep 25, 2026 02:49:31 PM.
After a pair of dominant defensive performances against their division rival Owen Sound Attack, the Kitchener Rangers face a trifecta of games in their second weekend of the OHL season.
The Rangers’ opening weekend showcased the prowess of their partially returning Memorial Cup defense, as the Blueshirts held the Attack to just 22 shots per game in the home-and-home series.
The offensive unit faced a tough task however, as Owen Sound’s fifth year goaltender Ryerson Leenders stopped 57 of 59 shots he faced throughout the weekend, resulting in a ‘first star of the game’ award in both contests.
The Rangers’ netminder was in form as well, as third-year goalie Jason Schaubel stopped 42 of the 44 shots he faced in the opening weekend.
Returning Kitchener forward Tanner Lam leads the team in goals through 2 games with a pair of markers in Saturday’s 4-1 win in Owen Sound.
OHL rookie Ryder Roberson scored his first career OHL goal to open that contest, to put a Kitchener goal past Leenders for the first time on the weekend.
The Rangers now turn their attention to another home-and-home series against another division rival, the Erie Otters.
Kitchener vs. Erie
The Otters enter Friday’s action having played just a single game so far in the 2026-27 season. Erie won a dominant road contest against the Guelph Storm on September 18, winning 5-1 over a Guelph squad missing a number of top stars at NHL training camps.
The star of the show was Erie’s 2nd overall pick in the 2026 OHL Entry Draft, Colin Kennedy, who scored twice in the first game of his OHL career.
Erie’s starting goaltender, David Egorov, was similarly dominant as he stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced in his first start of the season. The 4-year-veteran of the Brantford Bulldogs will likely start both contests against the Rangers this weekend, which will be his first time facing Kitchener since December 2023.
The Kitchener Rangers have played the Erie Otters well in the prior two OHL seasons, with the Blueshirts having won 11 of their last 12 against the Otters dating back to 2024. Erie’s last win over Kitchener came on September 27, 2024.
Kitchener will first host Erie on Friday night at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Puck drop for the Rangers’ third game of the season will go at 7 p.m.
Erie will then host the Rangers at Erie Insurance Arena on Saturday in an early evening contest. The puck will drop at 6 p.m.
Kitchener’s final opponent of the triple-header will be the Kingston Frontenacs, as the Rangers’ host their second contest of the weekend.
Kitchener vs. Kingston
Kingston sports a 2-0 record after opening the OHL league calendar with a 6-3 win against Peterborough on September 17. The Frontenacs then beat the Ottawa 67s in a 3-2 overtime contest at home on September 20.
Kingston’s 2026-27 squad is led by a trio of second and third year forwards who all scored three or more points on the opening weekend. Former Guelph Storm centre Alex McLean and wingers Nolan Snyder and Robin Kuzma will present the greatest challenge for the Kitchener Rangers defense.
Kingston goaltender Royden Smith won first star on September 17, after stopping 44 of a gargantuan 47 shots faced in his first start of the season.
The Frontenacs have given the Blueshirts a challenge in the last 3 years, as Kitchener has won in regulation against the Frontenacs just once in their last 6 matchups dating back to 2024.
The Rangers will host the final game of the weekend against Kingston at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Sunday September 27. Puck drop in Kitchener will go at 6 p.m.
Tickets to all Kitchener Rangers home games can be found here.
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