KITCHENER — The opening above the goalie's shoulder looks about as big as a mail slot but Jeremy Bracco leans into a wrist shot and picks the top corner with ease.

His Kitchener Rangers teammates react to the impressive accuracy at a recent practice with cheers and stick taps.

When you're hot you even score beauties when it doesn't count.

And Bracco is scorching.

The Freeport, N.Y. native has six goals and nine assists in his past eight games. Only 11 players in the Ontario Hockey League have a higher points-per-game average than Bracco's 1.43.

But it's not just the numbers that stick out. It's the way he's accumulating them.

Toe drags, pretty passes, power play points and one-timers. Lately, he seems to be doing it all on offence.

"Things have picked up for me in the past month," said Bracco, whose Rangers take on the Erie Otters Friday at the Aud.

The 18-year-old winger made the difficult decision to leave Boston College for the Rangers in late October. Now, about three months later, he says he doesn't regret the decision one bit.

"When I came here (Rangers) coach Mike Van Ryn said it's going to be the best move I've ever made and I think so far he's given me the opportunity to flourish as a player," said Bracco. "He's showed me what it's like to be a pro."

The skills have always been there for Bracco. But it's his approach off the ice that has changed.

"I think he's in better condition than he was when he came here," said Van Ryn. "He's really committed himself to being in shape. His body fat has dropped significantly since he's gotten here."

The Rangers have been using Bracco on their top line since he arrived, usually with a mix of Ryan MacInnis, Adam Mascherin and Gustaf Franzen. Whatever the supporting cast, he continues to produce and is currently riding a six-game streak where he has scored two points or more per contest.

Bracco's deep understanding of the game has played a big part in his surge. Van Ryn calls him a "rink rat."

"I think he sits around and watches a lot of hockey," said the skipper. "You'd be surprised about the amount of kids that can't tell you what's going on in the NHL. He is on top of it. He eats, sleeps and breathes the game."

It's always been that way for Bracco, who grew up in a hockey house. His father Michael was a goalie for Dartmouth College while uncle Jon played net at St. Lawrence University.

The family attended New York Islanders games when Bracco was a kid and his No. 97 is an ode to his birth year and retired NHLer Jeremy Roenick.

"I could probably tell you what kind of sticks and skates every guy on this team uses," said the Toronto Maple Leafs second round draft pick.

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"I'm pretty good with stuff like that. I go home and watch OHL and NHL games every night. I enjoy watching my buddies and picking up things from NHL guys that I can transition into my game."