The Barrie Colts defeated the Kitchener Rangers 5-3 on Friday night. Waterloo-native Colin Behenna scored twice for the Colts and was named the contest’s first star. Tobias Rieder scored his team-leading 34th of the season and Michael Catenacci added two assists for Kitchener.

The Rangers got on the board first, taking advantage of an early power play opportunity. Michael Catenacci collected the puck behind the net and found Tobias Rieder, who launched it high glove-side past Mathias Niederberger for his 34th of the season. The sophomore winger leads the team in goals and points and extends his recent scoring streak to 14 games. Centre Andrew Crescenzi also picked up an assist on the play.

The Colts responded with six minutes remaining in the frame. Kitchener netminder Franky Palazzese made a number of saves, but Mark Scheifele kept the pressure on, eventually finding the back of the net for his 19th of the year, assisted by Colin Behenna. Schiefele and fellow Kitchener-native Tanner Pearson were recognized before the game for their participation with Team Canada in the World Junior Hockey Championship earlier this season. 

With 90 seconds remaining in the first period, the Rangers capitalized on a delayed penalty call, pulling Palazzese and sending Crescenzi over the boards as the extra attacker. The move paid off, as Crescenzi fired a long shot glove-side for his 20th and fifth tally in three games. Assisting on the play were veteran defenseman Cody Sol and Radek Faksa, who leads all OHL rookies with 51 points this season.

The Colts evened the score at 2-all with a power play marker in the dying seconds of the frame. The puck took a bounce before landing inside the blue paint and Behenna was there to push it past Palazzese. The Waterloo-native sits second in team scoring with 21 goals and 44 helpers this season. Ryan O’Connor and Steven Beyers were credited with the helpers.

Barrie out-shot Kitchener 11-9 in the first period.

The Rangers jumped back in front midway through the second period. Catenacci found Sol wide open to the left of Niederberger and the overager was quick to snap a low shot into the back of the net. Also assisting on Sol’s 13th was his defensive partner Ryan Murphy.

Behenna’s second of the game pulled the Colts even with just 1:14 left in the second. The captain slid past the glove hand of a sprawled out Palazzese, with assists from Daniel Hartwick and Chris Buonomo.

Barrie continued to lead shots on goal with a 13-10 advantage in the middle frame.

The Colts broke the deadlock with a power play marker near the midway point of the final period. Zach Hall snapped a high shot over the shoulder of Palazzese, putting his team up 4-3. His 18th of the year was assisted by Ivan Telegin and Beyers, who collected his second assist of the night.

Ivan Telegin would add a shorthanded empty net goal in the final minute to seal a 5-3 Colts win.

Barrie led shots on goal 15-12 in the third period and finished the game with a 39-31 overall advantage.

With the victory, the Colts improve to 30-20-2-2, while the Rangers sit at 36-16-1-1.

Please note, due to technical difficulties, we will not be able to provide video highlights online. We will post video as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

Scoring
1. KIT T. Rieder, (34) (M. Catenacci, A. Crescenzi), 2:26 (PP)
1. BAR M. Schiefele, (19) (C. Behenna), 13:50
1. KIT A. Crescenzi, (20) (C. Sol, R. Faksa), 18:32
1. BAR C. Behenna, (21) (R. O’Connor, S. Beyers), 19:48 (PP)
2. KIT C. Sol, (13) (M. Catenacci, R. Murphy), 13:11
2. BAR C. Behenna, (22) (D. Hartwick, C. Buonomo), 18:46
3. BAR Z. Hall, (18) (I. Telegin, S. Beyers), 10:14 (PP)
3. BAR I. Telegin, (17) (unassisted), 19:23 (SH)

Three Stars
1. BAR – 24 Colin Behenna
2. KIT – 41 Cody Sol
3. BAR – 12 Steven Beyers

Attendance: 6,504

Kitchener travels to London on Sunday, February 19 for a 2pm meeting with the Knights. The road trip continues on Monday, February 20 when they meet the Guelph Storm at 2pm.  The Rangers return to home ice on Friday, February 24,when they host the Peterborough Petes at 7:30pm. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, via the internet or in person at The Aud Box Office or Centre in the Square Box Office.