The Everett Silvertips delivered a dominant statement on Wednesday night, blanking the host Kelowna Rockets 4-0 in the final game of Memorial Cup round-robin play. From the opening whistle, Everett came out flying, scoring twice in a 25-second span early in the first period on goals from Kayd Ruedig and Jaxon Pisani, before Matias Vanhanen and Carter Bear added insurance markers to complete the shutout—leaving the Rockets with just two goals scored across the entire tournament. In theory and in reality, this event should have been hosted in Medicine Hat, but regardless, it was a complete team effort that sent a clear message: the Silvertips are hitting their stride at the right time.
Kayd Ruedig opens up the scoring for the Silvertips at 7:22 of the first period.–Kayd Ruedig scored the first goal at 7:22 of the first period. After Jaxsin Vaughan’s strong forecheck forced a turnover, Ruedig fired a wobbling shot from the right boards that handcuffed Kelowna goalie Josh Banini and trickled in, possibly deflecting off a Rockets defender. t was a gritty, ugly-but-effective play that gave Everett a quick 1-0 lead.
Jaxon Pisani makes it 2-0 for the Silvertips at 7:47 of the first period. The assist on the goal went to Jaxsin Vaughn.–Jaxon Pisani scored the second goal at 7:47 of the first period. Just 25 seconds after Ruedig’s goal, Pisani fired a seeing-eye floater from the left point that found its way through traffic and past Kelowna goalie Josh Banini for his first career CHL goal. It was a perfect quick-strike play that extended Everett’s lead to 2-0 early and set the tone for the shutout win.
Shots on goal in the first period were 10-6 for Everett
Matias Vanhanen makes it 3-0 Everett with an unassisted goal at 1:03 of the second period. That marked the end of the night for Rockets goalie Josh Banini.–Matias Vanhanen scored the third goal at 1:03 of the second period. He blocked Rowan Guest’s attempted zone-clearing pass along the wall to keep the puck in, then cut into the right circle and snapped a wrister high blocker side past Josh Banini, possibly ringing off the post. It made it 3-0 for Everett and chased Banini from the net in favor of Harrison Boettiger.
Shots on goal in the second period were 15-10 for Everett
Carter Bear makes it a 4-0 game for the Silvertips at 13:07 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Matias Vanhanen and Kade Ruedig.–Carter Bear scored the fourth goal at 13:07 of the third period. He fired a shot from the slot, retrieved his own rebound, spun around in the right circle, and lofted it past relief goalie Harrison Boettiger to make it 4-0. It was a nice individual effort that sealed the shutout win and put the game out of reach for good.
Shots on goal in the third period were 12-8 for the Rockets. The Silvertips outshot the Rockets 33-28 in the game.
For the Silvertips Anders Miller stopped all 28 shots that he faced for the shutout win. For the Rockets Josh Banini stopped 8 of the 11 shots that he faced until being replaced in the second period by Harrison Boettiger, who stopped 21 of the 22 shots that he faced.
Player of the game was Matias Vanhanen
Next game at the Memorial Cup is Friday May 29th for the Semi Final when Everett plays Chicoutimi. Anything can happen, but this game basically looks like a “who gets the opportunity to lose to the Rangers in the final” game.
Not a betting man but I am saying this before the game Everett should beat them. Those other scenarios seem like pipe dreams. But you never know.
