2016 TELUS Cup

RANGERS BLANK CONTACTS TO OPEN TELUS CUP

DAVID BRIEN

QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – Jett Alexander stopped all 23 shots he faced on Monday afternoon to help the North York Rangers blank the Saskatoon Contacts 5-0 in the opening game at the 2016 TELUS Cup.

The Rangers got the victory in their debut at Canada’s National Midget Championship, while handing the Contacts just their second tournament-opening loss in six appearances.

Jason Pineo paced the North York offence with a goal and two assists, while William Calverley and Aidan Casey had a goal and a helper apiece, and Christopher Bukvic and Mark Perone both had two assists.

Despite outshooting the Contacts 14-5 in the first period, North York waited until there was 4:07 left in the opening frame to start the scoring, with Pineo redirecting in a point shot from Perone.

The offence woke up in the second period, though; the Rangers found the back of the net three times.

North York doubled its lead 1:41 into the period thanks to a beautiful solo effort from Casey, who danced around a Saskatoon defenceman before going to the short side on Contacts goaltender Isaac LaBelle.

Sean Josling made it 3-0 just 68 seconds later, and Calverley roofed a shot past LaBelle from in close for a shorthanded goal at 6:22 to put the Central Region champions in complete control.

James Turner redirected another Perone point shot past LaBelle less than three minutes into the third period to put North York up by five and complete the scoring.

Alexander was busiest in the final 20 minutes, making 12 of his 23 saves; the Rangers finished with a 30-23 advantage in shots on goal, and the teams combined to go scoreless on nine power-play opportunities.

North York will look to remain undefeated Tuesday when they take on the Dartmouth Major Midgets (4 p.m. AT), while the Contacts try again for their first win, facing off against the Lions du Lac St-Louis (noon AT).