Kitchener Rangers beat the Everett Silvertips 6-2 to win the Memorial Cup

KELOWNA, British Columbia (AP) — Jack Pridham and San O'Reilly broke it open with power-play goals in a 37-second span early in the third period and the Kitchener Rangers beat the Everett Silvertips 6-2 on Sunday night to win the Memorial Cup.

Ontario Hockey League champion Kitchener won its third Memorial Cup title and the fourth in franchise history. The team took its first championship in 1952 as the Guelph Biltmores, moved to Kitchener in 1963 and won titles in 1982 and 2003.

Everett missed a chance to become the fourth U.S. franchise to win the event. The Portland Winterhawks won in 1983 and 1998, the Spokane Chiefs in 1991 and 2008 and the Saginaw Spirit in 2024. The Silvertips won the Western Hockey League to reach the Memorial Cup for the first time.

Kitchener won all four games in Kelowna, also beating Everett 6-2 in round-robin play. Everett advanced to the final Friday night, topping Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League champion Chicoutimi 6-1 in the semifinal.

O’Reilly had three assists for a four-point game, and Luke Ellinas, Dylan Edwards, Jared Woolley and Christian Humphreys also scored. Christian Kirsch made 30 saves.

Matias Vanhanen and Carter Bear scored for Everett, and 17-year-old defenseman Landon DuPont had two assists. Anders Miller stopped 26 shots.

Edwards gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead with 6:45 left in the first period, scoring from the left side of a pass from O’Reilly.

After an apparent Everett goal was waved off early in the second after a review determined Zackary Shantz batted the puck in with his elbow, Woolley made it 3-1 with 4:34 left in the period.

With Kayd Ruedig and Shantz serving penalties for Everett, Pridham scored his fifth goal of the tournament at 26 seconds of the third off an assist from O'Reilly, who then made it 5-1 at 1:03.

Bear scored for Everett at 2:59, and Humphreys capped the scoring with a short-handed, empty-net goal.

The teams traded goals in a 28-second span early in the first period. Ellinas opened the scoring at 5:47, and Vanhanen tied it at 6:15. Kitchener then killed a four-minute power with Alexander Bilecki serving a double minor for high-sticking.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Everett Silvertips' Zackary Shantz reacts after losing to the Kitchener Rangers during the Memorial Cup final hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, on Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kitchener Rangers' Jack Pridham, right, leaps into the arms of goalie Christian Kirsch as they celebrate after Kitchener defeated the Everett Silvertips to win the Memorial Cup final hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, on Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kitchener Rangers' Dylan Edwards, front center, Luke Ellinas, left, Tanner Lam, back center, and Cameron Arquette, right, celebrate after Kitchener defeated the Everett Silvertips to win the Memorial Cup final hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, on Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kitchener Rangers' Christian Humphreys kisses the Memorial Cup after Kitchener defeated the Everett Silvertips to win the Memorial Cup final hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, on Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kitchener Rangers players celebrate after defeating the Everett Silvertips to win the Memorial Cup final hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, on Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kitchener Rangers' Jack Pridham (24) and Christian Humphreys (48) celebrate Pridham's goal during the third period of the Memorial Cup final hockey game against the Everett Silvertips in Kelowna, British Columbia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kitchener Rangers goalie Christian Kirsch (65) sprawls across the net as Carson Campbell (8) collects the puck during the second period of the Memorial Cup final hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kitchener Rangers goalie Christian Kirsch (65) allows a goal to Everett Silvertips' Matias Vanhanen, back right, during the first period of the Memorial Cup final hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kitchener Rangers' Jared Woolley (51) checks Everett Silvertips' Carter Bear (11) during the second period of the Memorial Cup final hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kitchener Rangers' Sam O'Reilly (23) falls in front of Everett Silvertips' Zackary Shantz (19) during the second period of the Memorial Cup final hockey game in Kelowna, British Columbia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Mauricio Pochettino gathered players around him during a hydration break in the 24th minute of Sunday's friendly against Senegal to give some tactical instructions.

Not with his voice or a clipboard, but with a laptop.

Television cameras showed the U.S. coach pointing to the screen with a finger as he talked, apparently showing desired movements on the field. Huddled players watched intently.

“Players need to think, but they also need to see," Pochettino said after the Americans' 3-2 win.

Pochettino said the U.S. has not been told by FIFA whether laptop use during breaks will be allowed during the World Cup. FIFA said it will “look into this and come back if there’s anything we can share.”

Midfielder Weston McKennie said any time he can see and learn from field movement is helpful.

Christian Pulisic said it was similar to what the team does following the first half.

“It's a little unique for us,” Pulisic said. “But that's also what we do at halftime — we just go over some things.”

Pulisic said overall he is in favor of more breaks in soccer, which until the adoption of the hydration breaks featured 45 straight minutes plus stoppage time of non-stop action in each half.

“I think it's a good thing,” Pulisic said. “Like timeouts would be a good thing in soccer. I feel like it's nice to get a little regroup.”

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Senegal midfielder Bara Ndiaye (27) deflects a shot from United States midfielder Sebastian Berhalter (14) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

Senegal defender Malick Diouf (25) shoots against United States during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

Senegal defender Malick Diouf, left, and United States forward Tim Weah (21) vie for a header during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

United States defender Miles Robinson (12) heads the ball away from Senegal forward Assane Diao (7) during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)