Christian Kirsch, left, and goalie Jason Schaubel celebrate after Kitchener defeated the Chicoutimi Saugenéens 3-2. (Photo: Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

The Kitchener Rangers are off to the Memorial Cup final.

That's after a perfect 3-0 record in the round robin that left little doubt the Blueshirts were the class of the OHL.

It's Kitchener's CHL-record seventh trip to the final in seven attempts since the league adopted a four-team format in 1972.

They secured their berth with a narrow 3-2 win over the QMJHL's Chicoutimi Saugenéens on Tuesday in Kelowna.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Rangers head coach Jussi Ahokas told beat reporter Josh Brown. “But we got the job done and that’s the only thing that matters.”

Their opponent on Sunday will be determined by a semifinal clash between the Saugenéens and the WHL's Everett Silvertips on Friday.

If you have a Metroland subscription, you can read the full story in the Waterloo Region Record, and view the photo gallery of Tuesday's action from Canadian Press photographer Daryll Dyck.

Saguenéens’ Jordan Tourigny leaves the penalty box and is ejected from the game after receiving a match penalty in Tuesday’s loss to Kitchener. (Photo: Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

The fallout from Tuesday’s Kitchener-Chicoutimi game was more than just a final berth for the Rangers.

Saguenéens defenceman Jordan Tourigny was suspended for the remainder of the Memorial Cup after receiving a match penalty for stomping on the foot of Rangers forward Christian Humphreys during the third period of Kitchener’s win.

The decision was handed down from the NHL's Department of Player Safety, so as to avoid any conflicts of interest in the inter-league tournament.

The incident sparked a round of heated comments from both sides.

Jussi Ahokas called the play “coward hockey,” while Chicoutimi coach Yanick Jean criticized those remarks on Wednesday after Tourigny reportedly received death threats online.

“The second thing I don’t agree (with) is the coach from the other team putting oil on the fire, gas on the fire to make sure he encourages those threats," Jean said.

Tourigny, meanwhile, said he never intended to injure Humphreys and was only trying to reach the blade of his stick.

Josh Brown has the full story on the suspension, the reaction and the latest on Humphreys’ status heading into Sunday’s final.

After 19 seasons in Owen Sound, Dale DeGray is now the general manager of the Niagara IceDogs. (Photo: Sam Buschbeck/Owen Sound Attack)

The Dale DeGray era is over in Owen Sound.

After 19 seasons as general manager and one OHL championship, the Attack announced Wednesday they’ve parted ways with the longtime executive amid sweeping changes under new ownership.

The move had been widely expected after Ecological Dynamics Sports Partners took over the franchise earlier this month.

But the changes didn’t stop with DeGray.

Several members of Owen Sound’s scouting and player development staff are also out, including director of scouting Brian Teakle and longtime staffer Sean LaFortune, who said on social media he resigned after going 11 days without communication from ownership about his future.

DeGray, meanwhile, landed quickly — the OHL announced later Wednesday he’s taking over hockey operations with the Niagara IceDogs.

Writing in the Owen Sound Sun Times, our Greg Cowan details the changes in Owen Sound and what they could mean ahead of the fast approaching OHL draft.

 Rangers forward Sam O'Reilly continues his run of clutch play, putting a sharp-angle shot past Chicoutimi goaltender Lucas Beckman. (Photo: Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

Thanks for reading, hockey fans. See you next time.