The Grass is Browner

Catching up with Victor Oreskovich, who left Notre Dame for the Kitchener Rangers mid-year last year in an attempt to jump-start his pro career. A second round pick of the Avalanche, he failed to earn a contract this year, so returned to the Ontario Hockey League as an overage player. Now, he's persona non grata with Kitchener, following the footsteps of Alex Lalonde another former golden domer who jumped to the OHL.

It's about Victor Oreskovich.

Apparently, the overage winger is no longer with the team. Rangers coach and general manager Peter DeBoer refused to elaborate on what he called "an internal matter." Oreskovich disappeared after the first period.

"We don't really know what happened," Rangers captain Jean-Michel Rizk said minutes after scoring the winner with 55 seconds left in OT.

"We were sitting in the room. As we were going out, Vic didn't follow. We didn't get a chance to know what's going on there. I think we're going to have a team meeting (today)."

Good idea. Just before the Rangers hop on a bus for tonight's game in Erie, Pa., they can talk about how and why DeBoer sent Oreskovich packing during last night's game.

This had been building.

"It was a series of events," Oreskovich said when reached on his cellphone after the game.

"I don't fault Pete at all here. It's something I have to deal with. It's been my fault. I've been, not disruptive, but I haven't been a good teammate. Pete grew tired of me yelling at guys when they made mistakes. It came to a front tonight. He told me he's had enough, that was the last straw. To just pack up my things."

Oreskovich, a 20-year-old from Oakville who joined the Rangers a year ago next week after leaving U.S. college hockey at Notre Dame, admitted to yelling at a teammate after a Rangers power play last night.

"I can basically take responsibility," Oreskovich said. "Pete was trying to help me throughout the year with the mental side of my game. I have a tendency to get frustrated pretty easily. It's something I have to deal with."

Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the OHL trade that saw the Rangers acquire the rights to Oreskovich from the Windsor Spitfires.

Now, his future is uncertain.