Kitchener, Ont. – The Kitchener Rangers announced today changes to staffing within the hockey operations department. Current goaltending coach Jordan DeKort has been promoted to Director of Goaltending and Video Coach for the Rangers and Matthew Hitzig has been added as Hockey Operations Assistant and Scout.
DeKort, 27, spent four seasons as a netminder in the OHL, played for the Rangers during the 2013-14 campaign, and has been the club’s goaltending coach for the past two years.
“Jordan has been a huge part of our goaltenders’ success over the last two seasons,” said Kitchener Rangers General Manager Mike McKenzie. “This newly made position will allow him to control and operate anything goaltender related in our organization from prospect development, to scouting, to the coaching of the goalies on our roster. Having our goaltenders have access to Jordan every single day will be hugely important to their development and success on the ice. It provides a unique opportunity that is rare in junior hockey to have our goaltenders have access to a personal coach every single day throughout the season.”
The Toronto, Ont. native will now oversee all goaltending aspects within the club ranging from scouting, coaching and prospect development and will be in charge of team video operations for all home and away games moving forward. DeKort holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Business Administration from the University of Windsor and plans to move to Kitchener this summer.
“I would like to thank Mike McKenzie, Joe Birch and the Kitchener Rangers for the opportunity to continue to expand my role within the organization,” said DeKort. “With the new role, I am thrilled to be able to work not only with our signed goalies, but also our prospects to help them reach their full potential.”
Hitzig, 22, started with the Rangers during the 2020-21 season as a data tracker. He then became a junior developer during the 2021-22 campaign, before being promoted as a developer in the analytics department this past year. Hitzig writes reports for coaches and management and specialized in building tools for the hockey operations department to easily integrate data into the day-to-day operation.
“Matt has worked hard and done valuable work for our team in a number of areas and it was only a matter of time before he moved up and earned more work and opportunity within our organization,” added McKenzie. “We are excited for Matt’s role to expand this coming season.”
This year, Hitzig, a native of Toronto, Ont. will have a larger role in the analytics department, will be utilized as a scout for the OHL Priority Selection and also expand his responsibilities in other areas of hockey operations. Hitzig holds a Bachelor of Sport Management (BSM) Degree with a minor in Philosophy from Brock University.
“I am very grateful for my new role with the Rangers,” said Hitzig. This organization has provided me with tremendous opportunities for growth and I’m very excited to get started in this new position.”
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