The Memorial Cup continues in Kelowna on Wednesday as the Canadian Hockey League’s top teams battle for junior hockey’s most prestigious title. The round-robin schedule ends with the host Kelowna Rockets facing the Western Hockey League champion Everett Silvertips in a game that carries major playoff implications.
The Rockets must win to keep their tournament hopes alive. If Everett wins in any fashion, Kelowna will be eliminated and the Silvertips will advance to the semifinal against the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League champion Chicoutimi Saguenéens. A Kelowna victory would force a tiebreaker on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with the exact matchup depending on the margin of the Rockets’ win. If Kelowna wins by one goal, Everett would still advance to the semifinal and wait for the tiebreaker winner between Kelowna and Chicoutimi. If the Rockets win by two or more goals, Kelowna would advance directly to the semifinal and face the winner of Everett and Chicoutimi in the tiebreaker.
The Ontario Hockey League champion Kitchener Rangers have already clinched a place in the final after a perfect round-robin run.
Kelowna comes into Wednesday’s game after a frustrating 3-2 overtime loss to Chicoutimi on Sunday. The Rockets showed resilience by erasing two one-goal deficits and tying the game late in the third period on Mazden Leslie’s goal with 4:10 remaining, only to fall in the 3-on-3 overtime. Liam Lefebvre scored 5:28 into the extra frame to give the Saguenéens their lone win of the tournament.
Tij Iginla, the Utah Mammoth prospect, scored for Kelowna in that loss and continues to lead the club offensively. He finished the regular season with 41 goals and 90 points and added seven goals and 12 points in the playoffs. Kelowna also made a goaltending change, starting Josh Banini against Chicoutimi after Harrison Boettiger allowed five goals on 39 shots in the opener against Kitchener. Banini responded with a strong effort, stopping 26 of 29 shots.
Everett enters the matchup looking to rebound from a 6-2 defeat to Kitchener on Monday. The Silvertips were able to erase an early two-goal deficit and tie the game in the second period on goals from rookie Matias Vanhanen and Rylan Gould, but Kitchener pulled away with four unanswered goals. Everett was outshot 42-22, and goaltender Anders Miller allowed six goals on 28 shots.
The Silvertips previously eliminated Kelowna from the WHL playoffs in five games, outscoring the Rockets 17-8 in the series. Kelowna’s only win in that matchup came in a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 3. Everett’s postseason was led by Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen, who topped WHL playoff scoring with 14 goals and 27 points in 18 games, while highly touted defenceman Landon DuPont was held to an assist against Kitchener.
Wednesday’s game will be shown live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on TSN1/3, TSN.ca, and the TSN App. If needed, the tiebreaker is scheduled for Thursday at the same time on TSN, TSN.ca, and the TSN App.
