Kelowna, B.C.- The Everett Silvertips can add another first to their historic 2025-26 season.
Veteran forward Jesse Heslop picked up a goal and an assist as the WHL Champions defeated the QMJHL-winning Chicoutimi Sagueneens 5-3 in their Memorial Cup-opening match on Saturday night.
Fittingly, it was the longest-serving active Silvertip, Heslop, who scored the team’s first-ever goal at the tournament.
The Nanaimo, B.C. product got the cowbells rattling just 1:14 into the period with a no-look backhand shot that fooled Ottawa Senators prospect Lucas Beckman.
The Silvertips buzzed as they outshot the Sagueneens 8-0 through the first seven minutes of play, but the QMJHL Champs drew even as forward Christophe Berthelot converted on the Everett doorstep.
Philadelphia Flyers prospect Luke Vlooswyk denied the Sagueneens of another golden opportunity as he hit the ice for a major block to break up a two-on-one rush, and Anders Miller ensured the teams would hit the dressing rooms tied at one as he robbed QMJHL regular-season MVP Maxim Masse (Anaheim Ducks) of a grade-A chance on the edge of the blue paint.
In the middle frame, Nashville Predators pick gave Chicoutimi its first lead of the game with a bar-down rip, but as the goal was being announced, Lukas Kaplan blew down the ice and wristed a hard shot on Beckman.
The puck bobbled through the goaltender and trickled over the goal line, with Kayd Ruedig on the scene to ensure it made it all the way.
Heslop continued his whale of a game by winning a low puck battle and sneaking a pass to a wide-open Zackary Shantz on the back door for a tap-in.
In another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, Defenceman of the Year finalist Landon DuPont thwarted an attempted Chicoutimi breakout and wired a centering feed to Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear for a one-timer in the slot.
Bear’s first goal of the tournament marked three second-period goals and two tallies in a span of 50 seconds for the lone U.S.-based club at the Memorial Cup.
It would also stand as the game-winning goal.
With the netminder pulled and the Sags on a late powerplay, Masse got his side within one with a 6-on-4 goal with under 28 seconds left in regulation.
But Draft-eligible Matias Vanhanen stifled any more hope of a QMJHL comeback as he picked off a Chicoutimi breakout pass and gave his team some breathing room with an empty-netter moments later.
Anchorage, Alaska product Anders Miller denied 22 of 25 shots for a .880 save percentage, while Heslop was named Player of the Game.
Everett (1-0-0) returns to the ice on Monday, May 24, against the OHL Champion Kitchener Rangers (1-0-0).
The host Kelowna Rockets (0-1-0) will try to muscle out their first win of the tournament against Chicoutimi (0-1-0) on Sunday, May 25, at 6:00 p.m. PT.
