Community

In 1996-97, the first Don Cameron Potato Night took place at The Aud.

Over the past 26 Don Cameron Potato Nights, Rangers fans have raised more than the equivalent of half a million pounds of potatoes for families in need.

The 27th annual Kitchener Rangers Don Cameron Potato Night Presented by Zehrs took place on Friday, January 27th at 7:30pm as we welcomed the Barrie Colts. Potatoes and cash donations were collected upon entrance to the game in support of the House of Friendship.

Founded in 1939, House of Friendship serves Waterloo Region with a vision to build a community where all can belong and thrive. Annually, HOF provides support to more than 42,000 people who need access to food, shelter, addiction treatment, and vital community resources. For more information, visit www.houseoffriendship.org.

27 years. 172,267 donated bears.

The 27th Annual Kitchener Rangers Teddy Bear Toss took place on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 when the Rangers played host to the Guelph Storm. Fans were encouraged to bring a new teddy bear or plush toy to the game and, immediately following the Rangers’ first goal, throw their bear onto the ice surface. Bears were collected and turned over to local charitable organizations following the game – just in time for Christmas. The Kitchener Rangers partner with Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program, a national charity dedicated to providing children from financially disadvantaged families with the opportunity to experience the benefits of organized sport and physical activity.

For more information on the Teddy Bear Toss CLICK HERE

One in three Canadian families cannot afford to enroll their children in organized sports or physical activities, meaning many kids are missing out on a chance to be competitive, learn fair play, and the spirit of companionship. Canadian Tire Jumpstart is dedicated to removing barriers so that children can participate in organized sports and physical activity by helping to cover the cost of registration, equipment and/or transportation for children who meet Jumpstart’s funding criteria.

To apply for assistance, call our toll free number at 1-877-616-6600 and based on your postal code a representative will provide a contact on the closest Jumpstart chapter. To find out more information about Jumpstart, please visit jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.

Each season choir members from within the Waterloo Region District School Board and the Waterloo Region Catholic School Board are invited to perform the National Anthem at our Rangers’ home games.

Choir members are provided complimentary tickets, commemorative t-shirts and the opportunity to perform before a large audience.

The 2022-23 Anthem Program is presented by Civilian Screen Printing. To apply please contact tickets@kitchenerrangers.com with your preferred date.

Please fill out the form below for community appearance requests. This includes players, coaches, and mascots. A representative of the Rangers will reach out once submitted if approved or to discuss more details.

The Kitchener Rangers are proud of their partnership with the Waterloo Regional Police Services, otherwise known as Blue C.R.E.W. Cops and Rangers Educating Waterloo Region is a program that’s unique to both hockey and policing. This program will forward a strong partnership between both organizations that build on each other’s respective assets.

Every player on the Rangers roster has been matched up with a member of the Waterloo Regional Police Service. Teams will work collectively as youth educators and role models, guiding one another through the rewards and challenges of community stewardship, with the hope of building a long-lasting camaraderie.

The Rangers and the Waterloo Regional Police both share common goals directed toward building a safe and healthy Waterloo Region.

The goal of the Blue C.R.E.W. is to help educate our community, particularly elementary school children, on such topics as leadership, respect, pride and teamwork.

What better way to present these skills to our community than through “Cops and Rangers”- two organizations that are built on these very foundations.

As this program grows you will notice the Blue C.R.E.W. at multiple community events such as school and hospital visits, safety events and more.

Many children ranging in age from infant to 16-years-old within our region along with their families deal with childhood cancer on a daily basis.

The Kitchener Rangers have teamed up with former Rangers forward and National Hockey League player, David Clarkson, to run a program called Clarky’s Kids.

Kitchener Rangers Clarky’s Kids provides children from Grand River Hospital’s POGO (Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario) Satellite Centre and sick kids at Grand River Hospital the opportunity to experience the excitement of a Kitchener Rangers game and visit with players and coaches in and out of the hospital. As well, this program continues to raise funds that aid in the support of local families and siblings dealing with a child that is ill.

From 2002 to 2005, Clarkson spent countless hours supporting local community programs. His goodwill and commitment to both the team and the region have inspired numerous people of all ages. He was honoured with the Ted Scharf Award in 2002-03 and 2003-04 for being the Kitchener Rangers Humanitarian of the Year. “It’s great to be able to come back and support a community that supported me when I played here.” – David Clarkson

SUPPORT CLARKY’S KIDS

PLACE A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT MESSAGE
Do you know someone special that has a birthday, anniversary or graduation coming up? Surprise them with a celebration message on our centre ice video board! (Shown once during the game) All proceeds go to support Clarky’s Kids. Click here to find out more.

MAKE A DONATION
By mail: Kitchener Rangers, 1963 Eugene George Way, Kitchener, ON N2H 0B8
Cheques may be made payable to Kitchener Rangers/Clarky’s Kids. Tax receipts are issued directly to you from POGO and Grand River Hospital Foundation.

In person: Rangers administration office, 400 East Avenue, Kitchener, ON N2H 1Z6
M-F, 9:30am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm
Entrance off of parking lot ‘A’

All monetary donations directly benefit sick kids in our region and have specifically helped beneficiaries such as Grand River Hospital’s POGO Satellite Centre, Grand River Hospital pediatric in-patients and POGO.

GRAND RIVER HOSPITAL’S POGO SATELLITE CENTRE
For the past 25 years, POGO has been working on behalf of Ontario’s childhood cancer community to continually improve care for children with cancer.

The clinic located at Grand River Hospital is one of six POGO satellite oncology clinics in the Province of Ontario set up to deliver cancer care closer to home.

To find out more about POGO visit their website at http://www.pogo.ca/
To find out more about Grand River Hospital visit their website at http://www.grandriverhospital.on.ca/

POGO Charitable Registration Number: 871067245RR0001
Grand River Hospital Foundation Charitable Business Number: 88918 0394 RR 0001

We look forward to continuing to bring together members of our community in the 2022-23 season. The Kitchener Rangers Community Corner offers community, not-for-profit and charitable groups the opportunity to market their brand at our game free of charge.

COMMUNITY CORNER INCLUDES:

1. Your event/group/organization logo to be shown on our centre ice video board. Your logo is placed in our Community Corner video.
2. One 6 foot table with two chairs in our designated Community Corner where you may present your messaging as fans enter the venue.
3. Space for two (2) volunteers to help share your group’s message.

POLICY
We run on a first-come, first-served basis. The event organizer must complete the online application below in full. In order to qualify for this request, you must be a charitable organization, community group, or non-profit organization. The Kitchener Rangers are only able to accommodate each group/organization once during the OHL season.

REGULATIONS

1. The event organizer must complete the application form in full to be considered.
2. We will not accept applications from third-party fundraisers, groups or businesses or personal/team fundraising.
3. Priority is given to those located in Waterloo Region.
4. One application per year/per group is allowed.
5. Group/organization must adhere to regular ticket holder policy: OHL policy dictates that there will be no audio recording, video recording or photography from a camera with lenses larger than 35mm or SLR camera equipment. Flash photography from personal cameras is strictly prohibited. Management reserves the right to refuse admission or expel from the premises any person whose presence or conduct is deemed objectionable. The ticket holder acknowledges all risks incidental to any game or event and hereby agrees to assume the same. Holder consents to reasonable examinations of his/her person and effects to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, by-laws and facility regulations and rules.
6. No more than two (2) volunteers will be allowed access.
7. Activities at your Community Corner must not conflict with any Ranger’s promotions. You must have approval from the Rangers for all activities you wish to host at your Community Corner table. Your application must include information pertaining to the set-up of your table to be considered.
8. Volunteers must touch base with Rangers upon arrival and a table must be set up before the venue opens to the public: 1.5 hours prior to game time.
9. The table must not be left unattended at any time during the game.
10. Volunteers and staff at the table should conduct themselves in a manner of which they would behave at the organization’s facilities.
11. Volunteers must be fully vaccinated in order to enter the building.

PROCESSING
You will be contacted within 2-4 business days of submitting your application unless otherwise noted. Approved applicants will be emailed with confirmation of their game date and will be required to confirm back to the Rangers within two business days or run the risk of the date being provided to an alternate group or organization.

To apply please contact Patrice Whiffen at pwhiffen@kitchenerrangers.com

For over 22 years, our Fan Fest and Barbecue have supported Make-A-Wish Canada (formerly Children’s Wish Foundation) by raising over $203,000.

This years event was held on September 4th, 2022. Thank you, Rangers Nation, for your continued support in creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Over the years, the Rangers pay tribute to those who have been a part of the Canadian Forces by wearing commemorative jerseys.

This year’s edition was worn on November 11th, 2022 when the Mississauga Steelheads visited The Aud at 7:30pm. The game featured a special ceremony and puck drop.

The 2022-23 jersey was inspired by the Canadian Rangers. 2022 is the 75^th anniversary of The Canadian Rangers, a sub-component of the Canadian Army Reserves who live and work in remote, isolated, and coastal communities across much of Canada.  Initially established in 1947 following the Second World War, the Rangers were formed to protect again emerging threats in the north from the Soviet Union.  Their responsibilities today include surveillance, sovereignty patrols, search and rescue, disaster relief, and training of other Armed Forces personnel with survival skills.

There are approximately 5,000 Canadian Rangers in more than 200 Patrols across Canada.  In Ontario, the 3^rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group leads almost 600 Rangers in 29 First Nations communities across Northern Ontario.  They recently completed the busiest year in their history, at one time having more than 170 Canadian Rangers on active duty.  The Rangers assisted ORNGE, the province’s air ambulance service, in providing COVID-19 vaccines to 34 First Nations in Northern Ontario.  They also played a leading role in community evacuations due to tainted water, power failures, and forest fires, and so far this year they have saved the lives of 27 missing persons during 18 Ground Search and Rescue operations. saved lives in numerous search and rescue operations for missing persons.

Fans placed bids to purchase the special jerseys through a silent auction before and during the game.

All proceeds from the auction benefitted the 78th Fraser Highlanders Fort Conestoga Garrison, Support Our Troops, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Poppy Fund through Rangers Reach.

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Since its inception, the commemorative jersey auction has raised over $350,000 for its beneficiaries.

CLICK HERE to view a history of the Kitchener Rangers Commemorative Remembrance Day Jersey’s.

The Kitchener Rangers have shown their continued support for the Cambridge Ice Hounds Special Hockey Club by attending their annual friendship tournaments.

The Ice Hounds and Ice Pirates are two local hockey teams comprised of more than 100 children and adults who have developmental or physical challenges that prevent them from participating in traditional hockey programs.

The goal of both teams is to provide individuals with an opportunity to experience the great Canadian game in a setting where there are no age groups, no tryouts, and everyone has a role.

Players don’t need to know how to skate, hold a stick or handle a puck though many of them do this very well. All that is required is a heart and desire to do what many others take for granted; being part of a team, learning about teamwork and most of all having fun playing Canada’s game.

The teams travel all over southwestern Ontario to face other teams in many major cities. Friendships are made during these games and the experiences will last a lifetime.

For more information on the Cambridge Ice Hounds, please visit: Twitter and Facebook
For more information on the Kitchener Ice Pirates, please visit kitchenerminorhockey.com/Categories/1638/

Perhaps the most traditional game night program is the Tim Hortons Timbit Minor Hockey Intermission Game. For most game nights, two area teams participate in a six-minute game on the ice during the second-period intermission. The participating teams are provided Tim Hortons jerseys for the evening to wear in their respective games.

This program is perhaps the most popular and successful intermission program that the Rangers present on each game night. This program is an excellent support vehicle for minor hockey associations and allows the participating children the thrill of playing on the ice that the Kitchener Rangers players and many other professional hockey players have played on!

This intermission game includes girls and boys teams primarily from ages 5-8. Teams from all over Southwestern Ontario including Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Elmira, Tavistock, New Hamburg, Listowel, Woodstock and other surrounding towns and villages have worn the red, white and blue of the Rangers/Tim Hortons mini-games.

Please contact Director of Ticketing, Zach Foss at zfoss@kitchenerrangers.com