Kitchener Rangers opened the Memorial Cup with a 5-0 shutout over host Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place on Friday, with Christian Kirsch making 24 saves and goals from Dylan Edwards, Jack Pridham, Haeden Ellis, Sam O’Reilly and Jared Woolley.
KELOWNA, B.C. — The Memorial Cup opened the way Kitchener probably hoped it would: quickly, decisively, and with the host forced to play catch-up from the opening shift.
On Friday at Prospera Place, the OHL champion Rangers blanked the Kelowna Rockets 5-0 in a shutout that never felt in doubt. Christian Kirsch made 24 saves as Kitchener took control early and kept it for the rest of the night.
Dylan Edwards and Jack Pridham led the scoring with each registering a goal and an assist. Haeden Ellis, Sam O’Reilly and Jared Woolley also found the net, while defencemen Carson Campbell and Alexander Bilecki each added two assists.
Rockets goaltender Harrison Boettiger stopped 34 shots in the loss in front of an announced 6,007 fans. For Kelowna, it was a tough welcome to the tournament schedule, but for Kitchener, it was a message sent on Day 1.
“The guys made it pretty easy for me,” said the Swiss goaltender Kirsch. “They didn’t give up much, and that helped me to get my shutout.”
He didn’t let the moment stretch into celebration. “It’s nice, but the tournament just started. There’s a lot of work ahead of us, and we’ve got to stay humble and keep working.”
Edwards opened the scoring at 4:38 of the first period, converting a sharp-angled rebound past Boettiger. The game stayed 1-0 until 17:33 of the second period, when Pridham, skating behind the net, fed Woolley sliding into the slot.
Pridham and O’Reilly then turned the third period into a statement. Striking in a span of one minute and 22 seconds starting at 11:32. Pridham made it 3-0 on a breakaway after Lucas Romano sent a cross-ice pass. The Chicago Blackhawks prospect then added another set of momentum as O’Reilly scored at 4-0 on a backhand shot upstairs off the rush.
Ellis finished the scoring at 14:14. A Bilecki blast from the blue line deflected off Ellis and into Kelowna’s net.
Special teams offered little relief for the Rockets. Kitchener’s power play went scoreless on four chances, while Kelowna also came up empty on three power-play opportunities.
Pridham, who played two seasons of B.C. junior hockey with the West Kelowna Warriors before his OHL career, described the breakaway moment with gratitude for the setup. “Felt great,” he said. “Nice play by Romes to give me the puck wide. Just want to do anything I can to help the team win. so it’s nice to see that one go in.”.
Kitchener head coach Jussi Ahokas focused on the result, but also on how they got it. “Of course, the first win is important,” he said. “Our team was ready and played a good team game.”
With the opener complete, the Memorial Cup picture shifts quickly. The Western Hockey League champion Everett Silvertips face the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League’s Chicoutimi Sagueneens on Saturday. The Rockets meet the Sagueneens on Sunday, and Kitchener’s next opponent is Everett on Monday.
Memorial Cup Kitchener Rangers Kelowna Rockets Christian Kirsch Dylan Edwards Jack Pridham Prospera Place Harrison Boettiger OHL
5-0 is wild, like how do you even let that happen in the first game lol
I only saw the headline but doesn’t Kitchener usually choke sometimes? Shutout sounds fake or like Kelowna was tired from travel.
Christian Kirsch having 24 saves is basically the whole story right? Also isn’t Kelowna like the host, so why were they already behind from the opening shift… seems like bad coaching or they got no energy.
I’m confused because it says Kitchener took control early but then it also says it never felt in doubt… like which one is it, was it close or not? Anyway 6,007 fans is cool but kinda small for a Memorial Cup opener, unless COVID stuff still affects seating.