By Jamie Neugebauer, Staff Writer
By now the potency of North York’s offence is no secret to anybody around the league.
And they showed it Sunday afternoon as the Rangers pounded the visiting Hamilton Red Wings 9-2 at the Herb.
After the game, head coach John Dean explained where the boys in blue are the most effective.
“Our team is so good off the rush,” he said outside the Rangers locker room.
“Any time they turn the puck over there’s going to be an opportunity to score. We need to get better at creating offence off the cycle, but off the rush we’re pretty creative and tonight I think we did well.”
An over-aggressive defence on the part of Hamilton gave North York’s speedy, skilled forward group numerous odd-man opportunities and hung Red Wing goaltender Avery Allen out to dry over and again.
Nevertheless, the Vaughan-native that was traded from the Rangers earlier in the season made numerous spectacular stops to keep the game somewhat reasonable.
“Number one, in all seriousness, Avery is a professional,” Dean said.
“I think he did an unbelievable job. I know he was excited to come back here and see the boys, and I’m sure he didn’t like the result, but I think if we look at the game he made some huge saves and it could have been a lot worse.
“I’m proud of the way he handled it, and he should be proud of himself.”
Ryan Kinsella’s five points led the way for North York, while John Carpino and Michael Giacometti had three each.
Charles Lapierre scored his first two goals in junior, both in the second period.
Corey Kalk’s first period goal gave him his 15th of the season, breaking the sniper’s previous career high total.
The win, coupled with Toronto Lakeshore’s defeat in Mississauga, puts the Rangers within two points of first place in the division behind St. Mike’s and Oakville who are tied at 33.
North York’s next action is Saturday night in Orangeville, before returning home on Sunday afternoon to take on the Mississauga Chargers.
