QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Coming from behind after trailing by one after the first period the Shawinigan Cataractes won their first Memorial Cup title in the 43-year history. The second goal by Anton Zlobin at 17:51 of overtime fired up the crowd in the Centre Bionest giving Shawinigan a 2-1 win against the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights.
The last time the Memorial Cup was won in overtime was 11 years ago when the Red Deer Rebels won 6-5 over the Val-d’Or Foreurs.
Trailing 1-0 after twenty minutes Shawinigan tied the game in the first four minutes of second period with Zlobin’s first of the night.
Playing six games in the last 10 days, four in last five days nobody thought the Cataractes would still have enough energy to win a fifth game in six nights. But at the end the host team of tournament came on top winning first Memorial Cup since the team entered in the league 43 years ago.
The overtime session was exciting with players looking deep in the tank to find energy trying to be the one who will play the hero.
Shawinigan being the team having the best chance to put an end to this exciting game, finally saw their effort rewarded with Zlobin’s second goal of the game, fifth of the tournament.
The game began with both teams playing first four minutes before first whistle been heard in building. London outshot Shawinigan 7-0 in first six minutes.
London did what they had to do to silence the crowd and got on the board first with Ryan Rupert goal 5:42 into the opening period. Taking advantage of turnover Austin Watson and Rupert brother Matt united their effort on first Knights goal.
Outshot 10-1 midway through first period Shawinigan got its first chance to turn things around when London forward Vladislav Namestnikov got penalized for holding at 13:44. Instead of getting good scoring opportunity the Cataractes was completely shut down.
Having not been tested for most of the first period, London netminder Michael Houser answered the bell when he had to especially against Loik Poudrier and Frederick Gauthier with less than 2:00 remaining. The first period ended 13- 4 in shots on goal for London but more importantly for Mark Hunter team the Knights lead 1-0 on main scoreboard.
The crowd inside the Centre Bionest was fired up again after being silent with the first Knights’ goal.
A faceoff won in Knights zone saw defenseman Morgan Ellis from the blue line make great pass to teammates Kirill Kabanov. Going through traffic the shot by Cataractes right winger by Anton Zlobin station doorstep, deflected the puck behind London goalie Houser, for first Cataractes goal 3:01 into middle frame.
The Cataractes’ tying goal seeing to energize Eric Veilleux’s team taking the paste of second period having the best scoring chances. But the winner of the Canadian Hockey League best goaltender of the year Houser stand up and didn’t concede anything preventing Shawinigan to take the lead for first time in game.
London had the first power play opportunity in the game with 7:16 gone in the second frame. Like the Cataractes in the same situation in first period, London did not have a serious scoring chance during their only power play in the game.
Shawinigan had the advantage in shots on goals in second 13-8, but London still got the advantage after forty minutes 21-17.
Both teams played up and down hockey in the third period. Gabriel Girard closed the door on London Jered Knight with 1:00 remaining. After seeing the Cataractes veteran netminder Girard made first save on Matt Rupert first shot, Austin Watson the Nashville Predator prospect missed a rebound with 5 seconds left on the scoreboard.
A perfect pass by Shawinigan captain Michael Bournival to Zlobin left no chance to Houser closing the light of the Centre Bionest giving the victory to the oldest QMJHL team in the history of the league.
The QMJHL saw one of its teams for second times in as many years crowned the Memorial Cup champion.
After the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2011, here is the new Memorial Cup champion the Shawinigan Cataractes.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.