OHL training camps are starting up and there’s more news every day regarding teams adding or subtracting players from their rosters. Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News OHL site to stay updated on all news and training camp roster breakdowns.
During our training camp series on the site, we will analyze the Import players, overage players (2004-born), first-year draft-eligible players to keep an eye on, and each team’s representation from their 2024 draft class, as well as any other storylines.
Today we are looking at the Kitchener Rangers’ training camp roster. The PDF link to their roster can be found here.
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Kitchener had another strong season in 2023-24, posting a 41-23-4-0 record, finishing fourth in the Western Conference. They made it to the second round of the playoffs but were swept by the eventual OHL champs and rivals, the London Knights.
The team has lost a plethora of players who were core members of the organization over the last few years. Hunter Brzustewicz, Matthew Sop, Simon Motew, Filip Mesar, and Carson Rehkopf have all moved on and the team will look for a few of their 2006 and 2007-born forwards to leap forward in their offensive development to pick up the slack.
Kitchener has no Import players listed on their roster for the upcoming season, but Seattle Kraken prospect Eduard Sale was acquired by the team halfway through last season and I would expect he returns. He is currently at the U20 Five Nations Tournament in Zug, Switzerland representing Czechia.
Related: OHL Training Camp Roster Breakdown: Guelph Storm
Overage Players
Kitchener has five overage players including two goaltenders — Jackson Parsons and Tristan Malboeuf. Parsons will be the team’s starter considering he played 51 games last year, meaning Malboeuf may have to find a new home since there isn’t a reason to carry two overage goaltenders.
The three overage forwards at training camp are Vegas Golden Knights prospect Trent Swick, Adrian Misaljevic, and Antonino Pugliese.
After playing less than 40 games in his first two years in the league, Pugliese solidified a full-time spot with Kitchener in 2023-24, playing 64 games, recording 15 goals and 24 points.
Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Misaljevic increased his production by a whopping 47 points (11 to 58) last year and will play an even bigger part in Kitchener’s offense in 2024-25 with the absences of Rehkopf, Sop, and Mesar. He was a free agent signing by…