KELOWNA, B.C. — The Kitchener Rangers opened the Memorial Cup with a 5-0 shutout of the host Kelowna Rockets on Friday.
Dylan Edwards and Jack Pridham each had a goal and an assist for the OHL champion Rangers.
Christian Kirsch posted a 24-save shutout.
"The guys made it pretty easy for me," said the Swiss goaltender. "They didn't give up much, and that helped me to get my shutout.
"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."
Haeden Ellis, Sam O'Reilly and Jared Woolley also scored for the Rangers.
Defencemen Carson Campbell and Alexander Bilecki each had two assists.
Rockets goalie Harrison Boettiger stopped 34 shots in the loss in front of an announced 6,007 at Prospera Place.
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. Kitchener's next opponent is Everett on Monday.
Edwards opened the scoring at 4:38 of the first period Friday when he put a sharp-angled rebound past Boettiger.
That was the only scoring until 17:33 of the second when Pridham, behind the net, fed Woolley sliding into the slot.
Pridham and O'Reilly struck in a span of one-minute-22-seconds starting at 11:32 of the third.
Lucas Romano sent a cross-ice pass to Pridham for the Chicago Blackhawks' prospect to score on a breakaway.
Pridham played two seasons of B.C. junior hockey with the West Kelowna Warriors before his OHL career.
"Felt great," Pridham 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."
O'Reilly made it 4-0 on a backhand shot upstairs off the rush. Ellis capped the scoring at 14:14 when a Bilecki blast from the blue line deflected off him and into Kelowna's net.
Kitchener's power play was scoreless on four chances, and Kelowna's was scoreless on three.
"Of course, the first win is important," said Kitchener head coach Jussi Ahokas. "Our team was ready and played a good team game."
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