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 the team and his turned out to be one heck of a find by the scouting staff.
Just like Misaljevic, Trent Swick put himself on the map with his play last season in Kitchener and will also lead the Rangers’ attack in the upcoming season. The 6-foot-7 giant will be relied upon as a leader.
Position Change
Here’s something you don’t see every day. 2025 NHL draft-eligible prospect Matheas Stark is making the full-time change to defense. Stark moved back and assisted the team on defense when their blueline got battered with injuries late in the season and the playoffs.
Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Stark was drafted in the third round, 47th overall in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection and was a coveted two-way forward with leadership qualities in his U16 season in the GTHL. It wasn’t a surprise when he put his hand up as a volunteer to play defense to help the team out. But, a position change in your draft year will be an interesting storyline to follow.
NHL Draft-Eligible Players
As mentioned above, Stark is one of the first-year draft-eligible players on Kitchener to keep an eye on. But, a few other names will have the attention of NHL scouts.
Luca Romano, Cameron Reid, and Tanner Lam (now listed at 5-foot-10) played and excelled with the Rangers in their rookie campaigns. Reid and Romano captured gold with Canada at the recent Hlinka Gretzky Cup and Lam’s 31 points were third-most amongst 2007-born players in the league last year.
Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Romano impressed at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and is a strong candidate for a breakout season. Kitchener will need his offense to pick up and he will have all the opportunities to play a top-six role and PP1 this year. His skating and puckhandling skills will create issues for OHL defenders. A 60-point season should be in the cards for Luca.
Reid was incredibly steady for Canada in the summer tournament. He’s not a flashy rearguard by any means. He’s the type who makes very few mistakes and seems to always be in the right spots without the puck. I was most impressed by his puck-moving skills and ability to consistently hit his target with his breakout passes. He’s a very smooth puck distributor.
Free Agent Invite
Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Former Niagara IceDog and London Knight, Juan Copeland, is attempting a return to the OHL. Copeland is listed on Kitchener’s training camp roster as a free agent invite.
Copeland started the season with the London Knights but only played four games for them before he headed south of the border to play for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL. Over in America, he struggled offensively there as well (20 points in 52 games), and racked up the penalty minutes with 76. Juan scored 22 goals and 43 points in 115 games with the Niagara IceDogs in his first two years in the league from 2021 to 2023.
The Rangers have four other free agent invites listed on their training camp roster — Aidan Zimmerman (2007), Cooper Drennan (2007), Brendan George (2007), and Mikayil Kahriman (2006).
2024 OHL Draft Class
Here are the players from Kitchener’s 2024 draft class who will be attending their first OHL training camp:
C, Evan Headrick – 1st round, 15th overall (was drafted at 5-foot-6.5, now listed at 5-foot-8)
LHD, Alexander Bilecki – 2nd round, 31st overall
C, Weston Cameron – 3rd round, 49th overall
RHD, Nathan Gaitens – 4th round, 77th overall
G, Jason Schaubel – 5th round, 97th overall
RW, Avry Anstis – 11th round, 217th overall
LHD, Ryker Young – 12th round, 237th overall
RHD, Dylan Orr – 14th round, 277th overall
Kitchener’s Matt Souter (6th round), Jacob Xu (8th round), Jude Bray (10th round), Nolan Carriere (12th round), Jack Hextall (13th round), and Ryder Robertson (15th round) are not listed on their training camp roster.
All three members from the organization’s U18 Priority Selection — goaltender Erik Maki and forwards Josh Giordano and Jack LaBrash — will attempt to crack their opening night lineup and showcase the value of the U18 OHL Draft.
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