OHL Cup Final is set

Press Release

The semi-finals are complete at the 2009 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament and the final two teams are set to compete for the OHL Cup Sunday afternoon at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.

Championship Final: 5:00 pm

Toronto Marlboros (5-0-1) vs. Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs (6-0-0)

Semi-Final 2: 11:00 am

York Simcoe Express 1 vs. Toronto Marlboros 9

The second semi-final game pitted two teams perched atop the OHL Cup top-10 rankings for most of the season, the top-ranked Toronto Marlies and the number two ranked York Simcoe Express.

The Marlies demonstrated their strength offensively right off the start and carried it throughout the contest counting eight straight for an insurmountable lead. Lucas Lessio set the pace 3:41 into the first period with his fourth goal of the tournament showing tremendous patience in close. “I got a great pass from Santino (Andrew) and their d (defenceman) slid early. I was looking to make a pass but was able to walk right in” said Lessio describing his first of two goals. “We were so pumped up for this game, especially after losing to them (York Simcoe) at the Silver Stick tournament, it was fuel to the fire and we wanted to win every aspect of this game and I think we did” added Lessio.

Marlies goal scorers also included Michael Curtis and Zach Mitchell each with two, Ryan Strome, Andrew Santino, and Eric Chevrier each added one. Andrew Shutt scored the single for the Express.

Despite the lopsided score, the Marlies relied heavily on goaltender Malcolm Subban who provided stability in the crease during a string of five-on-three power plays for the Express down the stretch. “We took lots of penalties but even with the score as it was I approach every penalty kill the same way and tried my best to stay focused” commented Subban.

Toronto Marlboros Player of the Game – Lucas Lessio (2 Goals and 2 Assists)
York Simcoe Express Player of the Game – Andrew Shutt (1 Goal)

Click here for the final game summary.

Semi-Final 1: 9:00 am

Quinte Red Devils 1 vs. Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs 2

The first semi-final game of the 2009 Ontario Hockey League Showcase Tournament for the OHL Cup featured the Quinte Red Devils and Elgin Middlesex Chiefs battling head-to-head for an advance to the finals this afternoon.

Following a scoreless first period, Steven Broek supplied the go-ahead strike, with an assist from Billy Ulrick and Scott Boultbee at 4:07, to put Quinte in the lead. Broek is among the leaders of the tournament with seven points, in just six games. Shortly after his game opening goal, Broek fired a slap shot from the blue line but was stopped by an alert Michael Roefs with a glove save, late in the second.

Chiefs’ Luke Heitkamp beat Tyson Teichmann with his second goal of the tournament, in the beginning of the third to tie up the game at 1-1. Brock Pinnell and Corbin Bean assisted Jordan Drury on the game winner, with his first goal of the tournament at 10:02 when he buried a rebound off a shot from the point. "Quinte is a hard working team, just like us, all we wanted to do was work harder" commented Drury following the game. "The game was so close but I think we outplayed them in the third. Our goal was always to make it here (the finals) after losing last year in the Bantam finals this could be our redemption" added Drury. The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs will advance to the 2009 OHL Showcase Tournament finals today at 5:00pm.

Quinte Red Devils Player of the Game – Tyson Teichmann (Goaltender)
Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Player of the Game – Michael Roefs (Goaltender)

Click here for the final game summary.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)