Ranger, rookie DiLauro determined to thrive in Steelheads net
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — As the Mississauga Steelheads prepare for the new season, they will have a new face between the pipes. While starting netminder Joe Ranger remains with the team, he will be supported by OHL rookie Justin DiLauro.
At 18, DiLauro is on the older side as far as major-junior freshmen go. In fairness, though, last season’s cancellation due to COVID did play a significant role in pushing the Whitby, Ont., native’s OHL career back a year. Nevertheless, DiLauro is in Mississauga now, and while he may not receive as much playing time as the veteran Ranger, he is determined to make his mark on his new team.
Mississauga’s head coach, James Richmond, is excited about what the Steelheads have in DiLauro and is pleased to see the progress he’s made early in his career.
“Justin had a bit of a slow start to camp but has really turned things around,” Richmond said.
But, the Steelheads coach has been especially impressed with DiLauro’s desire to improve.
“He has come in for extra on-ice workouts,” Richmond added. “He has put extra time in with our goalie coach, Chris Beckford-Tseau. He has done some video work and we have seen steady improvements with his game.”
Whitby native & 2019 OHL Priority Selection, @DilauroJustin (G) signs with the Steelheads #futurefish
✍️: https://t.co/FG62nmUSMW pic.twitter.com/fwSMmCWzHa
— Brampton Steelheads (@OHLSteelheads) July 2, 2019
As for the club’s likely starter, Richmond has been just as impressed with his work ethic during lockdown.
“Joe has worked very hard on and off the ice during the COVID break and it has really shown with his play thus far during training camp and the one exhibition game he played,” noted the Steelheads coach. “We want Joe to focus on being the best he can be, and we believe Justin will be able to learn Joe’s work ethic [as it] translates into being a better goalie.”
As for Joe Ranger, while he is a veteran with the club, 2021-22 should mark the first time in his major-junior career where he will participate in more than 15 games, having played in that many outings in 2018-19.
During that season, Ranger went 4-4-3 with a 3.53 goals-against average and a save percentage of .878. These numbers may have been underwhelming, but nothing to panic over with an inexperienced rookie. In 2019-20, Ranger suited up for 11 games, going 2-6-1 with a 5.16 goals-against average and an .842 save percentage.
Looking at these numbers alone may not exactly instill confidence or peace of mind with Steelheads fans but as Coach Richmond noted, the 19-year-old’s effort during the COVID lockdown has really shown in his work — and in his overall play — at training camp and in preseason thus far. Fans hope that this is a promising sign of things to come.
Of course, it may take some time for the Steelheads to adjust to life without Kai Edmonds.
Edmonds, in his lone season with the team in 2019-20, took the reins in the Mississauga goal, playing in 54 games.
During that stretch, Edmonds went 25-23-4 with a 3.26 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage. Last season, the native of Carlsbad Springs, Ont., played — albeit one game — for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
While Edmonds possessed a good amount of size at 6-foot-3, his 174 pounds was very light by goaltending standards. His replacement, if you will, in Justin DiLauro, packs more weight at 201 pounds while standing at 6-foot-2. As for Ranger, he boasts similar size at 6-foot-1 and 196 pounds. So, for those worried about size with the Mississauga netminders this season, there isn’t much reason to be deterred.
Overall, like the rest of the OHL teams, it’s a new day for the Mississauga Steelheads, who simply hope to write themselves a promising new chapter and make the most of the OHL’s long-anticipated return.
While they have had mixed results in the preseason thus far, there is no cause for concern for Richmond or the Steelheads. In fact, just by looking at his goaltenders, the head coach is liking what he’s seeing, and only hopes that it will continue.
“If Joe and Justin continue on the path they are on right now, we’ll be happy,” Richmond said.
As for what’s on the horizon for the Steelheads in the short term, it comes in the form of the Kitchener Rangers, who they kick off a home-and-home series with this Friday. However, with last Sunday’s late-game collapse against the Guelph Storm — one that resulted in a 7-6 defeat — you can bet that the Steelheads will look to right the proverbial ship with a vengeance.
“We need our returning players to be our leaders,” Richmond stressed. “We are excited to see our younger players continue to look like they belong in the OHL.”
The regular season is just around the corner. So, let us see what the Mississauga Steelheads, especially their goaltenders, can do in what’s left of this preseason showcase.
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