Kitchener opens Memorial Cup with a thrilling OT victory against Gatineau

After allowing the QMJHL champion Gatineau to tie the Memorial Cup opener at 5 after having leads of 3-0 and 5-2, the tournament host and OHL Champion Kitchener Rangers won 6-5 in overtime in their home arena thanks to a goal by Center Justin Azevedo. Azevedo scored the game winner 6:59 into overtime, it was his first goal of the Memorial Cup and he also added 3 assists during regulation. Kitchener out-shot  Gatineau 53 to 28, but the Olympiques were resilient throughout the game, eventually overcoming the later 3 goal deficit to tie it up. The Azevedo line, considered by many scouts to be the best line in the OHL was spectacular during the game. All 3 line-mates finished with a plus/minus rating of +4, the line’s LW Nick Spalling had a goal and two assists and it’s RW Matt Halichuk netted two goals. Kitchener winger Mikkel Boedker is a name that may be called early in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and he had an assist on the game winner after coming back from a third period injury. Boedker finished the game with a goal and an assist. The Rangers were the better team overall, but there is no questioning the heart of Gatineau. The Olympiques had two players finish with a goal and two assists, LW Michael Stinziani and C Darryl Smith, keep an eye on both for the rest of the Memorial Cup. The Round Robin portion of the tournament continues tomorrow with WHL Champion Spokane taking on the OHL’s runner-up Belleville at 4 PM EST. For more on the Memorial Cup, check out mastercardmemorialcup.com.