Achi news desk-
Friday was cleanup day for the Kitchener Rangers after their season came to an abrupt end the night before.
The team held its players’ exit meetings the day after its 4-3 loss to the London Knights. A four-game sweep in the second round of the OHL playoffs marked the second year in a row that the Rangers were swept by their rivals down Route 401.
“It’s sad of course,” Rangers forward Carson Rakoff said. “[We’re a] A very close group, so it’s hard to see it end.”
London took a 4-1 lead in the second period after Kasper Heltonen tipped a point shot past Jackson Parsons. The Rangers answered with back-to-back goals by Trent Swick, but eventually time ran out on their comeback and season.
“All the games were close,” Rangers head coach Jossey Ashokas told CTV News. “There were little things, mistakes, special teams where we should have been better.”
The Knights have yet to lose a game in these playoffs, going a perfect 8-0 through the first two rounds.
“We had an okay year. If we had [beaten] In London we had a great year,” said Ashokas. “If you lose a series 4-0, you had no chance.”
General manager Mike McKenzie drew some positives from this season, noting the low expectations the team had throughout the year and their ability to exceed them. Despite advancing to the second round of the OHL playoffs each of the past three years, McKenzie said the way this season ended left a sour taste.
“Every time you get swept, you want to fight a little harder,” McKenzie said. “Only one team can win in the end. 19 teams go home disappointed and we are one of them.”
Thursday marked the final OHL game for Rangers Mitchell Martin, Simon Motto and Matthew Sopp as each player’s OHL eligibility officially ends.
“There was definitely a tear or two last night,” said Kitchener native Matthew Sopp, who has played his entire career with his hometown team. “It’s really sad, but in moments like this I try to really appreciate everything that Kitchener has done for me. I’m really grateful to be a Ranger all my life.”
Teammates Carson Rahkopf and Hunter Bezostevich are both coming off career seasons. Rehkopf became the first Ranger to score 50 goals in a season since 2019 en route to Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship, while Bezostevich’s 92 points tied him with Jason Gladney for the single-season scoring lead by a defenseman in franchise history.
Both Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken) and Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames) are eligible to return to the Rangers this fall after getting a chance to crack an NHL roster next season.
“Just trying to do everything I can in the summer and prepare myself for whatever happens,” Rakoff said.
Looking ahead to next season McKenzie hopes to see internal growth and improvement in order to succeed.
“We need a lot of these players to step up, get stronger and come back and get bigger roles for us. That’s what junior hockey is all about,” McKenzie said.
The Rangers listed 14 players in last week’s OHL Priority Selection:
– Round 1: Owen Hedrick (C)
– Round 2: Alexander Biletsky (LD)
– Round 3: Weston Cameron (C)
– Round 4: Nathan Gaitans (RD)
– Round 5: Jason Schaubel (G)
– Round 6: Matt Sutter (RW)
– Round 8: Jacob Shaw (LD)
– Round 10: Jude Bray (LD)
– Round 11: Avri Anastis (RW)
– Round 12: Nolan Carriere (G)
– Round 12: Ryker Young (LD)
– Round 13: Jack Hextell (C)
– Round 14: Dylan Orr (RD)
– Round 15: Ryder Robertson
Heading into the summer, McKenzie says he will explore all options to improve the team for next season.
“We will look at everything and leave no stone unturned in the offseason to help improve our team internally and externally,” McKenzie said.
Returning players are scheduled to report to training camp for the 2024-25 season at the end of August.
