Latest news with #KitchenerRangers
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
The endless benefits of being a Kitchener Rangers Billet
What's a billet and how vital are they to a minor hockey team's success? CTV's Colton Wiens finds out. The Kitchener Rangers are preparing for the next Ontario Hockey League season, and have quickly received more than enough offers for new billet families. Every year the Rangers put out the call for billets. They have many families that return to it and even more that want to get involved. A handful of new billets were needed for the upcoming 2025-26 season, and the Rangers have already received ample offers. 'The only exception are local players. So, Matthew Sop stayed at home, as a recent example. And that's true, I think across all junior hockey,' explained Michael Zsolt, Assistant General Manager of the Kitchener Rangers. 'We're a major junior in the CHL (Canadian Hockey League). But then there's the Ontario Junior Hockey League, the GOJHL, the NOJHL. So across the province, there's thousands of really generous people taking in players as billets,' Zsolt said billet families are a major part of the entire league, as many players are moving away from home at 16 years old and living in a place they've never been before. But Rangers officials say they are lucky to not have to struggle finding billet families. 'That's part of why it's so great to have the interest we do. We're really lucky in Kitchener. I think not every team has the support that we have,' Zsolt said. The Billet experience Cailin and Brian Daub have been billets for the Rangers for 27 years now, welcoming 24 different players into their home. This upcoming season, the Daubs are welcoming Slovakian Jakub Chromiak back into their home. 'We treat them as like Jakub, the young man, not Jakub, the Kitchener Ranger - trying to make them realize they're important outside of their hockey role,' Cailin said. 'All the players are so different. sometimes they love to talk about the game afterwards, sometimes some guys don't want to talk about the game at all. So, you kind of have to get to know where they're at,' Brian added. It started when they both saw an ad in the newspaper and liked the idea. 'They needed an emergency home. At that time, we lived close to the Auditorium. So that's how we called to inquire. There were some boys who needed a place in an emergency situation. So they came three days later and they've never left,' Cailin said. The Daubs had a two-year-old and a five-year-old at the time, but say their kids looked at the players as a brother. Their daughter started including her billet brothers in her school work. 'She had drawn our hockey player in the family picture. So that was kind of like, 'oh, so they considered them to be just a part of our family as well',' Cailin said. Kitchener Rangers billets Cailin and Brian Daub A school project by Kitchener Rangers billets Brian and Cailin's child. (Submitted: Brian Daub) Along with Chromiak, their family is also welcoming Christian Kirsch this upcoming season, the newest goalie on the team coming from Switzerland. 'We're both looking forward to having them this August,' Brian said. Billet families must meet certain requirements before being selected. The team considers things like if the player has siblings at home or any kind of allergies. The hosts receive $135 a week and season tickets, but there are expectations. 'Obviously a safe environment, a caring environment. We provide their meals, we do their laundry, we help them with whatever they need help with,' Cailin said. While the Daubs aren't hockey fanatics, they've made lasting relationships and had experiences they'll never forget, including attending World Junior Events and making friends with families all over Europe. Brian was even invited to dad's weekend by Radek Faksa, who they had previously billet and now plays for the Dallas Star. 'I went to Dallas and we did a bunch of things with the whole team and [went] to a bunch of different games. That was a once in a lifetime experience. Just the fact that he asked me to do that was probably the most special thing that he could have done,' Brian recalled. But it's the 24 new family members that they really cherish. 'We've been to weddings and we've been with them going through having kids now. There's all sorts of experiences that we've had because of the billeting experience,' Brian said. 'Jakub went to the World Juniors last year. So we drove them to the airport for that and, you know, those little goodbyes are really important to us.' '[We] just love them to bits, like that's the easy part for me. Just finding things that they enjoy and trying to work some of those things into their day, whether it's the baking they like or we had one player who liked doing puzzles,' said Cailin. The Rangers said despite having a full compliment of billet families for the upcoming season, there's always movement in the league, and opportunity for others to get involved in the future.
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Kitchener Rangers announce overagers for next season
The Kitchener Rangers are saying goodbye to two potential overagers as they announce roster updates for the upcoming season. In a news release on Friday, the team announced Jakub Chromiak, Jack Pridham and Christian Humphreys will be joining the blue shirts next season as long as they don't get called up to join NHL teams during training camps this fall. 'All three of these guys were such a big part of our team last year and the possibility of all three returning is a huge boost to our team for this upcoming season,' Mike McKenzie, Kitchener Rangers' general manager, said. 'All three players had options to play in other leagues, but we are thrilled they have chosen to stay in Kitchener for another season and be key veteran members of our team.' However, the announcement also comes with some fond farewells. Chris Grisolia and Cameron Mercer will not be hitting the ice with the Rangers as OHL teams are only allowed to carry three overage players each season. Mercer has been with the team for more than 280 regular and playoff games over the span of four seasons. He is also known for his work off the ice, raising over $17,000 for SickKids through his Mercer's Mission campaign. He was inspired to start the initiative after his brother, Nathan, received emergency brain surgery in 2008. Nathan spent more time at SickKids over the years, undergoing multiple brain surgeries, but is still alive today. 'We would like to thank Cam for the last four years and his dedication to our program,' McKenzie said. 'He was such a popular player around the room and someone that was a pleasure to be around and coach. We will miss Cam but wish him the best of luck in his next chapter.' Meanwhile, Grisolia has been with the team since October 2024 after a trade with the Barrie Colts. He appeared in 55 regular season games and posted ten goals. 'Chris was only here for one season but left a positive mark on our organization with his work ethic and popularity in the dressing room,' McKenzie said. 'We wish Chris the best in the next stop on his hockey journey.'
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Kitchener Rangers pledge thousands to consent and healthy relationship training
The Kitchener Rangers are earmarking $50,000 to train young hockey players on relationships and consent. CTV's Krista Simpson reports.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Golden Knights Development Camp Day Spotlight: Trent Swick
Day 2 of the Vegas Golden Knights Development Camp was in full swing, and the young prospects took to the ice more confident after having acclimated the day before. Among the standouts was camp returner Trent Swick, who made a strong impression with his hustle. Swick, 21, is a left-winger towering at 6-foot-7, from St. Catharines, Ontario, and was selected by the Knights in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. As of March 1, 2025, the team officially signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract. Vegas Golden Knights Sign Towering Prospect Vegas Golden Knights Sign Towering Prospect Earlier this month, the Advertisement Vegas Golden Knights announced the signing of Kitchener Rangers' forward Trent Swick to a three-year, entry-level contract for the 2025-26 season. Coming off finishing his fourth season with the Kitchener Rangers as an alternate captain, Swick put up a total of 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) with a +11 rating in the regular season. He put up an additional 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) in the postseason. 'I'm a completely different player now,' Swick said about his past two years of development. 'I didn't really believe in myself before, and now I do. I also pretty much put on probably 25% of my mass from two years ago. I just need to learn how to move with that mass and be able to be quick with it.' At the heart of Swick's game is his ability to create plays. He finds soft spots in coverage, constantly surveys the ice, and delivers quick, accurate passes to teammates in scoring positions. He's good at drawing defenders in and pulling the puck close to his feet before adjusting to the lane. Improvement is evident in the young forward, and he has a bright future with the organization.
CTV News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Kitchener Rangers goalie signs three-year contract with Ottawa Senators
Jackson Parsons has made history with the Kitchener Rangers. CTV's Heather Senoran explains. One of the Kitchener Rangers' standout stars is heading to Ottawa. On Monday morning, the Rangers announced Jackson Parsons had been named to the Ottawa Senators development camp roster which is scheduled to run until July 4. Just a few hours later, the Senators posted a picture of Parsons shaking hands with Steve Staios, the team's president of hockey operations and general manager, and announced Parsons had been signed to a three-year entry-level contract. Parsons is originally from Embrun, Ont. Last month, he was named as the Canadian Hockey League's goaltender of the year.
