Rangers thrash Rockets 5-0 in Memorial Cup opener

The Kitchener Rangers defeated the host Kelowna Rockets 5-0 in the opening game of the Memorial Cup.

The Kitchener Rangers opened their Memorial Cup campaign with a bang Friday night, shutting out the host Kelowna Rockets 5-0 in a dominant performance.

Five different Rangers found the back of the net, with Dylan Edwards opening the scoring in the first period.

Jared Woolley added another goal in the second before Jack Pridham, Sam O’Reilly and Haedan Ellis scored in the third.

Rangers Goaltender Christian Kirsch stopped all 24 shots he faced to take earn the shutout, with Kirsch crediting his teammates for the defensive effort.

“The guys made it pretty easy for me,” Kirsch said in a media release. “They didn’t give up much, and that helped me get the shutout… it was a great team effort and now we have to keep going.”

Rangers Head Coach Jussi Ahokas said getting the opening win was important.

“The first win is important…I thought our team was ready and we played a great game,” Ahokas said.

This victory marked the Rangers’ first Memorial Cup win since the 2008 Memorial Cup semi-final, when Kitchener beat the Belleville Bulls, now the Brantford Bulldogs, 9-0 on home ice.

The Rangers will look to keep their momentum going against the WHL champion Everett Silvertips on Monday. Puck drops at 9 p.m.