The Kitchener Rangers have cut 22 players from training camp as the club finalizes a 26-man group for its early preseason slate, the team announced Friday night. The moves come after the club’s final blue-and-white intrasquad game and ahead of the Rangers’ first exhibition contest against the Sarnia Sting on Sunday, Aug. 30.
Camp cuts and current roster
Club officials reassigned 11 forwards, 6 defencemen and 5 goaltenders as they reduced the training-camp roster. The organisation will open exhibitions carrying 16 forwards, 8 defencemen and 2 goaltenders into game action.
- Reassigned: 22 players (11 forwards, 6 defencemen, 5 goaltenders)
- Roster for first exhibition: 26 players (16 forwards, 8 defencemen, 2 goaltenders)
- First exhibition: vs. Sarnia Sting, Sunday, Aug. 30 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
Who remains in camp
The Rangers’ current, unofficial roster list for the upcoming exhibition schedule includes forwards, defencemen and two goaltenders who will wear the checkerboard at The Aud. The forward group expected to be available for exhibition duty features players such as Roman Andreev, Avry Anstis, Cam Arquette and Weston Cameron, among others. The defensive corps is projected at eight, with names that include Alexander Bilecki, Alex Forrest and Jiří Gombár. Mason Hriczov and Jason Schaubel are the two goaltenders listed to start the preseason.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Forwards (carried) | 16 |
| Defencemen (carried) | 8 |
| Goaltenders (carried) | 2 |
Preseason showcase at The Aud and charity tie-in
As part of its preseason plans, the Rangers will stage a multi-team showcase at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium from Sept. 4 to Sept. 6. The three-day event will feature the Erie Otters, Oshawa Generals, Saginaw Spirit and Kitchener.
"Tickets are $5.00 (General Admission, one ticket price for all ages, children under 2 are free) and can be purchased at the door on the day of the games. Net proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Make-A-Wish Canada."
The modest admission fee and the pledge to donate net proceeds to Make‑A‑Wish Canada provide a community-oriented emphasis to the showcase, linking junior hockey activity at The Aud to local charitable giving. For many families that attend, the low cost and family-friendly pricing may make the showcase more accessible than regular-season games.
Fan Fest and remaining exhibition dates
On the final day of the showcase, Fan Fest presented by Longo’s will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fans will have the opportunity to interact with players and team staff, participate in game-day activations and attend meet-and-greet activities before the preseason schedule resumes on the road.
Following the home showcase, the Rangers play two additional exhibitions away from Kitchener. Labour Day Monday will see an Elmira appearance as the Rangers host the Saginaw Spirit at the Woolwich Memorial Centre. The team’s preseason schedule concludes with a trip to Barrie.
For Kitchener residents, the early slate of games and events provides a first look at a roster that blends returning names and prospects hoping to break into the regular-season lineup. The cuts signal where depth decisions have landed for now, but with exhibition games and a preseason showcase still to come, coaching staff will have further opportunities to evaluate players ahead of the regular season.
Local hockey followers can expect more roster updates as the team finalises its official roster closer to the start of the Ontario Hockey League season.
