Kitchener Rangers 2007-2008
Inducted In
2009
Top Row (Left-Right) Tanner Pearson, Brad Sparkes, Jason Akeson, Scott Timmins, Mikkel Boedker, Dan Kelly, Nazem Kadri, Jordan Hardy, Mike Mascioli, Rolly Fortin, Dave Tennant
Middle Row – Michelle Fortin, Barry Hoch, Jim Brown, Alexei Dostoinov, T.J. Battani, Spencer Anderson, Myles Barbieri, Robert Bortuzzo, Brandon Mashinter, Josh Schram, Scott Tregunna, Alex Dzielski, Troy Smith, Tayler Hill, Adam Bramhill, Dan Lebold
Front Row – Josh Unice, Yannick Weber, Justin Azevedo, Mike Duco, Stephen Spott, Steve Bienkowski, Matt Pepe, Ted Scharf, Peter DeBoer, Matt Halischuk, Nick Spaling, Ben Shutron, Steve Mason
The Kitchener Rangers Major Junior hockey team achieved a record-setting season in 2007-2008, emerging as champions in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and hosting the 2008 Memorial Cup Championships.
The Rangers finished the regular season in first place overall in the 20-team league, establishing a team record of 53 wins, 11 losses and four overtime/shoot-out losses for 110 points.
In the playoffs, the Rangers swept their way to the 2008 Championship, winning 16 games while losing only four.
As Ontario Hockey League champions, the Rangers participated in the Memorial Cup championship, which they also hosted. The team qualified for the final game of the championship, losing to Spokane, WA and ended the season as Memorial Cup finalists.
The Rangers’ successful season captivated the community, with crowds of more than 6,000 fans attending all games at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. As well, the community embraced the opportunity to host the Memorial Cup national championship.
Complementing the superb team success, centre Justin Azevedo’s superb playmaking resulted in his winning the triple crown of scoring, as the top scorer in the OHL regular season, the playoffs and the Memorial Cup tournament. In addition, Azevedo won the Red Tilson Award as the OHL’s Most Valuable Player, and the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as the OHL playoff MVP. As well, he was named the Canadian Hockey League’s player of the year.
Forward Matt Halischuk, the OHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player for the season, was a member of Canada’s National Junior Team and scored the winning goal in overtime in the gold medal game against Sweden at the IIHF world championships in the Czech Republic.