Kitchener Rangers rout the host Kelowna Rockets 5-0 in the Memorial Cup opener
Kitchener Rangers' Jared Woolley (51), Luke Ellinas (19) and Haeden Ellis (13) celebrate Woolley's goal as Kelowna Rockets' Shane Smith (9) skates past during the second period of a Memorial Cup hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, Friday, May 22, 2026. Credit: AP/DARRYL DYCK
KELOWNA, British Columbia — Defenseman Jared Woolley had a goal and a fight, Christian Kirsch made 24 saves and the Kitchener Rangers routed the host Kelowna Rockets 5-0 on Friday night in the Memorial Cup opener.
The 6-foot-5 Woolley exchanged punches with Dawson Gerwing with 6:24 left in the first period, then gave the Ontario Hockey League champion Rangers a 2-0 lead with 2:27 left in the second.
Woolley is a Los Angeles Kings prospect. The Quinnipiac University-bound Kirsch was drafted by San Jose.
Dylan Edwards opened the scoring early in the first. He's also heading to Quinnipiac.
Jack Pridham, Sam O’Reilly and Haeden Ellis scored in the third.
Kitchener had not played since beating Barrie 4-2 on May 12 to sweep the OHL final.
Kelowna had been off since a 2-1 overtime loss to the Everett Silvertips on April 17 in Game 5 of the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.
Kelowna Rockets' Dawson Gerwing (18) and Kitchener Rangers' Jared Woolley (51) fight during the first period of a Memorial Cup hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, Friday, May 22, 2026. Credit: AP/DARRYL DYCK
On Saturday night, WHL champion Everett will face the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, the winner of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
Kelowna will be back in action Sunday night against Chicoutimi. On Monday night, Kitchener will play Everett.
