Rangers hope third’s a charm in 2012
By Terry Doyle
While many teams in the Ontario Hockey League are jockeying for playoff positions, there are some who have been settled into the same spot for a while.
The Kitchener Rangers are among those teams – sitting third in the OHL Western Conference where they have finished the last two seasons. The Rangers have clinched a playoff berth and hope to keep their distance above the teams below them in the standings until the OHL playoffs begin in three weeks.
“It’s come quick but we have a good team,” said Rangers captain Michael Catenacci on the upcoming post-season. “Most likely we’ll get the third seed here hopefully and go into the playoffs with home ice advantage in the first round for sure and we’ll go from there.”
The Rangers have been looking for some consistency of late, hovering around the .500 mark over their past 10 games is not where a team in the top-half of the standings wants to be heading into the post-season.
“You always want to go into the playoffs hot,” added Catenacci. “Last year we lost our last ten games and we know how the season ended there in the first round (to the Plymouth Whalers). So hopefully we go in on a streak into the playoffs and continue it.”
Like many teams, the Rangers have been forced to deal with their share of adversity during the season. NHL Draft prospect Matia Marcantuoni had his season cut short by a shoulder injury while goaltender John Gibson is set to return after having surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids.
“Most people are down and out but I rebounded pretty good,” said Gibson to the Kitchener Waterloo Record. “It was probably one of the worst throat pains I’ve ever had, I haven’t gained much weight back but I feel better.”
The latest hiccup for the Rangers sees their time at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium limited due to renovations to upgrade the facility. The team’s permanent dressing room, medical facilities and administration have been relocated until September.
“We’ve pulled through adversity all year with a lot of injuries through pretty much our whole lineup,” explained Catenacci, the team’s overage captain. “We’re good when we have to face adversity and the renovations shouldn’t be too big of a deal.”
Catenacci comes into this week’s action second in Rangers scoring behind Edmonton Oilers draft choice Tobias Rieder. Those two along with teammate Radek Faksa have combined for 13 of the club’s 17 shorthanded goals this season – which is tied for the OHL lead. Rieder tops the club with seven shorthanded goals while Catenacci has added three goals along with four assists, mostly setting up Rieder, while the club has been down a player on the ice.
“We’ve got a lot of skill (and) we’ve got good anticipation. (We) have great chemistry and Radek is just a great player overall and it’s just getting lucky bounces and capitalizing on our chances.”
