Toronto Bulldogs 1, Boston Junior Bruins 0 

Both teams, including the defending tournament champions, ran into offensive trouble on Monday morning, combining for 21 shots and one goal through three periods. 

Beckham Edwards scored the eventual game-winner in the first period, with assists going to Dimian Zhilkin and Jude Bray on the powerplay. Goaltender Matthew Humphries made nine saves for the Bulldogs, and while the quantity was lacking, some of his saves were truly impressive. Carson Mertz made 11 saves for the Junior Bruins.

Team Brick Alberta 2, Team Manitoba 1

The low-scoring trend continued on day one, as YHH's pre-tournament favorite Team Brick Alberta was held to just two goals despite outshooting Team Manitoba 26-13. 

Ty Meunier scored for Team Brick Alberta in the first period before the teams settled into a scoreless seesaw battle, highlighted by goaltending a defense. Maddox Malmquist tied the game for Team Manitoba midway through the third period, but the jubilation was short-lived as Team Brick Alberta's Brett Olson scored the game-winner just two-and-a-half minutes later. 

Despite taking the loss, Team Manitoba's Jake Windbiel impressed throughout the game, making 24 saves between the pipes.

Team Minnesota 3, Chicago Jr. Blackhawks 2

Leave it to the old (NHL) division rivals to snap The Brick out of its relatively lethargic start. 

After Logan Lutner scored late in the first period, the game saw no more scoring until a flurry near the end of regulation, where Chicago seemingly took the forever-lead with just under four minutes remaining in regulation. 

Nicholas Crededio tied the game for the Jr. Blackhawks and less than a minute later Lucas Zajic put them ahead 2-1, giving the Chicagoans who made the trip to Edmonton believe in a victory for 45 seconds before Lutner scored again for Team Minnesota. 

With 9.5 seconds remaining and score tied 2-2, Team Minnesota's Cole Bumgarner took a shot from below the face-off dot in the Jr. Blackhawks zone, beating goaltender Logan Marsch over Marsch's stick-side shoulder for the game-winner.

Team Brick Alberta 5, Western Selects 2

Taking both games on Monday was as near a perfect a start that the host team could hope for, as Ty Meunier and Co. cruised past the Western Selects 5-2. 

Team Brick Alberta nursed a 2-1 lead into the third period, where the players in the sharp white sweaters rattled off three consecutive goals to put the game out of reach for the Western Selects. Ty Meunier and Brett Olson scored the first two goals of the game for Team Brick Alberta, with their efforts cut in half by Western Selects standout Logan Stuart who scored in the second period. 

Olson scored his second goal midway through the third, with supplemental goals coming from Townes Kozicky and Zac Olsen. Stuart tallied his second goal of the game near the end of the third period.