OTTAWA – As the Kitchener Rangers boarded their bus for the long haul home Friday night, the father of one of the Ottawa 67’s vented his rage.
     “The way you guys play the game, it’s no wonder we never win anything internationally,” shouted the irate parent, from a distance of course.
     Indeed the Rangers did flex their muscles in the opening game of the eight-point Ontario Hockey League championship final, a 4-4 tie before 7,674 Civic Center fans.
     But they also outplayed the 67’s most of the night and richly deserved the point that gave them the home-ice advantage in the series.  Game two is Sunday at the Auditorium at 2 pm.  But coach Joe Crozier, who did a little shouting himself after the game, isn’t taking anything for granted.
     Crozier’s well aware that the 67’s won twice in Kitchener en route to their overall first-place finish (47-19-2).  He only hopes that the officiating eventually balances out.
     If defensive standout Scott Stevens hadn’t slipped in from his point position to slide home Brian Bellows’ pass for the tying goal with less than four minutes to go, Crozier might have litterally exploded over the refereeing of Don Goodridge.
     “Sure Ottawa’s got a good powerplay,” he bellowed.  “They got enough opportunities to practice it.  Does the man realize that we’re playing for the OHL championship.
     “It’s just so damn frustrating.  Kids like Larmer and Martin aren’t scrappers.  So what does he (Goodridge) do but throw both of them off.”
     Crozier was referring to a mid-first period scuffle that also involved one of the more aggressive ‘67s Alan Hepple.  Martin went off for slashing and Larmer and Hepple for roughing.  Less than a minute later former Ranger Don McLaren lifted the puck over a prone Wendell Young to tie it 2-2.
     A bench penalty followed as Crozier continued to heap abuse on the official.  Again the ‘67s took advantage, 56 goal man Jeff Vaive clicking at 12:37 with Ottawa’s third goal in three minutes.  Defenceman John Odam added a third powerplay goal 24 seconds into the third, beating Young with a point shot to make it 4-3.
     But the Rangers also looked sharp with the man advantage.  Only nine seconds remained in the first period when Larmer beat the superb Jim Ralph with his second powerplay goal of the period and 17th of the playoffs (a team high).
     Pointmen Martin and Al MacInnis assisted on both of Larmer’s goals after some precision passing.  However the Rangers had only three powerplay opportunities to the ‘67s seven.
     What annoys Crozier is the ‘67s turn-the-other-cheek tactics.  He contends that Ottawa, the least penalized team in the league, receives preferred treatment from the officials.
     Ottawa coach Brian Kilrea expressed concern over the injuries to two of his best defencemen Bill Dowd (knee) and Mark Paterson.  Dowd was injured in the Oshawa series but Paterson was slashed late in Friday’s game and left with a possible broken hand.
     Kilrea thought the Rangers “NHL line” (Martin, Bellows and Larmer) played extremely well.  But he also raved about his own Brad Shaw and Ralph, named the first and third stars.  Shaw, a talent-laden Kitchener minor grad, had three assists while controlling the puck with the expertise of a veteran.
Though Ralph excelled, Young saved the game with three seconds to go when he grabbed McLaren’s hard drive off left wing.