Downtown Showdown brings out Kitchener Rangers fans as team sets new franchise season record

A special March Break event gave fans a chance to meet the Kitchener Rangers as excitement grows for this year’s playoff run. CTV’s Colton Wiens reports.

Negative temperatures couldn’t dampen the positive spirits of Kitchener Rangers fans as the Downtown Showdown returned.

The Rangers teamed up with the City of Kitchener for the second annual event at Carl Zehr Square, coinciding with March Break.

“We get so many families come out. It’s a great event,” Steve Roth, manager of special events for the City of Kitchener, said. “Working with the Kitchener Rangers is the best. The best part is it’s absolutely free so people can come out, enjoy the whole day. Wear their coats - but it’s great!”

The day included a three-on-three hockey tournament, autographs, hot chocolate, maple taffy and family friendly games and inflatables.

Thanks to the recent cold weather, the skating rink at Carl Zehr Square was still open for anyone who wanted to lace up.

“This year we decided to keep the tournament with the Rangers on the road and open up the skating for anyone to enjoy the ice. So, it’s fantastic. Just adds to everything,” Roth said.

The stars of the event stepped off a coach bus on King Street around 1 p.m. The team then split up into four groups and played in a road hockey tournament.

“The fans get right up, the Rangers give them high fives. I remember when I was a kid and got to meet my idols. A lot of people look up to the Kitchener Rangers and this is a really good chance to be so close, so interactive with them and it’s a lot of fun,” Roth said.

“It’s awesome. It was really fun last year and I’m even more excited for this year to see what happens,” Cameron Reid, captain and defenceman for the Kitchener Rangers said.

“Just excitement, getting close to the playoff time. [I came down] just to see the players, see the three-on-three hockey. It’s pretty cool,” Rob Hoffman, a Rangers fan, said.

Spirits amongst fans and the team were even higher than usual on Wednesday, as the Rangers clinched their first back-to-back 100 point season in franchise history when they beat Flint on Tuesday night.

“It was a great game by us. Great to have the fans really loud and supporting us, it was awesome. It was a great game overall. It’s a great feeling to clinch first in the western conference. And also reach 100 points,” Reid said.

The Rangers don’t know their first round playoff opponent yet, but tickets for Game One on March 27 at The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium are now on sale.

Hopes are high for a deep playoff run.

“Every team is good in this league, if you don’t have a good game yourself, they’re going to bring it to you. So, it doesn’t matter who we play, we just have to play good ourselves and we’re really excited,” Reid said.

“They’re going to win it!” Isaac, a fan, enthused.

“We’re going to go all the way. Nobody’s going to even touch us,” Hoffman said.

“We’ve got home advantage this year,” Jake Oswald, a Rangers fan, said.

Kitchener has two games left in the regular season. Their final home game is on Friday night at the Aud against Sarnia at 7 p.m. Kitchener will head to Owen Sound to wrap up the regular season on Saturday.