Rangers clinch playoff berth with win against Sarnia
Posted Feb 24, 2024 07:44:53 AM.
Last Updated Feb 24, 2024 08:09:53 AM.
The Kitchener Rangers are heading to the OHL playoffs for a ninth straight year.
The Blueshirts clinched a playoff spot with a 7-3 win against Sarnia on Friday.
Kitchener still has 11 games remaining in the regular season, and Head Coach Jussi Ahokas spoke about the team’s goals for the rest of the season.
“We’re in a good spot, but still we need more points, that’s for sure,” Ahokas said. “We want to climb, we’re still fourth, so I think in the last 11 games we can get higher. The biggest thing for me is not where we are, but that our game will be in a good spot when the playoffs start.”
Carson Rehkopf had a huge night against Sarnia scoring two goals and adding four assists. Kitchener has now scored 29 goals over their last five games, winning each of those games.
“I think we’re a super offensive team, I think we went through a little cold slump not scoring too many goals,” Rekhopf said. “I think it was just about time until we broke out. We’ve been playing really well in the (offensive) zone.”
Rekhopf leads the OHL with 47 goals. Matthew Sop also scored twice giving him 37 goals on the season.
570’s Colour Commentator Paul Fixter said no team will want to face the Kitchener’s offence when the playoffs start.
“The amount of goals being scored by the Rangers must scare some of the teams in this league,” said Fixter. “They’ve been scoring at will quite honestly and when you’re talking about six and seven goals a game for a number of games, that’s pretty tough to defend against, I don’t care who you’re playing against.”
You can listen to Friday night’s Rangers Talk podcast by clicking here.
The Rangers next face the Soo Greyhounds on Sunday afternoon.
CityNews 570 will have the call with pregame coverage at 1:30 p.m.
