The Prairie Hockey Academy Cougars didn't get off to the start that they were hoping for on Wednesday in their opening round-robin game at the Canadian Sport School Hockey League Championship.

PHA dropped a 5-0 game to the Rink Academy Nationals to kick off pool play in the Elite 15 Division.

The Cougars fired 30 shots on Rink goalie Malachi Klassen, but they couldn't solve the netminder. PHA goalie Nathan Airey stopped 31 of 36 shots in the loss.

PHA will be back on the ice on Thursday to face-off with OHA Edmonton at 8:45 a.m. They close out the round robin against the Burnaby Winter Club on Friday night at 7 p.m.