QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Having to go through a tournament like the Memorial Cup is never an easy task for any team. Undefeated during the entire tournament the Ontario Hockey League champion came here earning the right to play in the Memorial Cup after winning against the Erie Otters in the OHL and they successfully found a way to stop Conor McDavid. Sticking to their game plan the Oshawa Generals became the new Memorial Cup champion needing overtime before finally signing a 2-1 overtime win against the Western Hockey League champion Kelowna Rockets.
After a slow start in the first portion of first period Kelowna played much better as the game went on but the first goal of the tournament by Anthony Cirelli in second period tied the game until the siren sound was heard announcing the end of regulation time between the two teams. 
The overtime period was only 1:28 before the second goal of the game by the one who will be eligible for NHL entry draft this June Cirelli put an end to this confrontation.
Kelowna was the first to score in what was up until this first goal a defensive opening period. The shot by Kelowna defenseman Madison Bowey miss the Oshawa net to his side, the puck came right back to teammate Tomas Soustal who took the rebound beating Generals goaltender Ken Appleby with 4:42 remaining.
Kelowna ended the first period and began the second on power play following a penalty to Oshawa center Michael McCarron with 21.8 seconds left to the opening period. Shot on goal 9-4 in Western Hockey League team.
Showing an 80% efficiency playing in shorthanded situation Oshawa successfully killed first Rockets first power play.
Dominating the first half of middle frame Generals goaltender Appleby made several key saves preventing the Western Hockey League to add to their lead.
Consecutive penalties to Kelowna defenseman Joe Gatenby and forward Nick Merkley seem to turn things around and Oshawa dominate the second portion of the second period tying the score 1-1 scoring their goal at even strength.
A perfect past from Generals defenseman Dakota Mermis to teammate Josh Brown to offensive blue gave Oshawa a two-on-one breakaway ending with the goal scored by Anthony Cerelli his first of the tournament his wrist shot beat Jackson Whistle on his left side at 13:50.
Shots on goals were 20-14 Oshawa after forty minutes with most shot by the Generals taken in second half of the middle frame (12), Kelowna shots 5 times on Appleby.
In the third period, both teams had several scoring chances up until 3:00 remaining in the period.
Oshawa thought they took the lead after Hunter Smith hit the puck on the air following first shot by center Cole Cassels. As Rockets netminder Whistle made the save the puck bounced in the air been hit by Calgary Flames prospect to get in the net.
The referee near the goal signaled a goal on the ice but after reviewing the play the puck had been clearly hit over the crossbar so the call was reversed so the score stayed 1-1.
The game needed to go in overtime to determine a winner. Taking first shot on Rockets netminder Chris Carlisle saw his shot been block but Anthony Cirelli scored his second of the game a goal that gave the Memorial Cup to the Ontario Hockey League champion.
“Everybody step up at the right time and we were lucky to win, it is the best trophy I ever won,” said Michael McCarron on the ice as he celebrate his team victory.
“That is all right tonight it is not about me it’s about the team, this team played really well tonight this team is unbelievable. It Is best time of my life.”
“ I think the game went exactly the way we thought it would go, I know it will be a low scoring game they would tried to hold us as far as how many chances the gave up, I’m sure we have had more chances they would hoping but unfortunately we weren’t able to finish.” Kelowna head coach said after his team suffered a heartbreaking loss in overtime.
As Kelowna missed several good scoring chances here and there in the game the result could have been different, but for Leon Draisaitl it did not work like that. “Yea it didn’t go that way so, I don’t know it is obviously tough right now, you work for that all season long and in two seconds it is all gone. Basically you were there with nothing.” The Edmonton third pick overall in 2014.
“We had an incredible group, we are very proud of each other, we did great job the entire year. We definitely miss too many chances, they really played great, they stock with it, congratulation to them they are great team but it is definitely been tough to be on losing end.” Ended Draisaitl.
“I think both teams battle hard, it could go both ways obviously we came out the way we wanted to, we played out hard it was great team over there, and two great teams meet up, one team had to lose and today we were on wrong side of things.” Rockets defenseman Madison Bowey said.
“You know what I’m proud of the guys we battle hard right up until the end it is just tough to go out like that.” Concluded Kelowna captain who has been a third round selection of the Washington Capitals in 2013.
The Memorial Cup was the last sporting even to be played in the Colisee Pepsi because next year the Junior hockey team will transfer to the new Videotron arena.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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