Saturday, May 9, 2009

Windsor heads to Rimouski

Press Release

In Windsor, Taylor Hall capped an incredible playoff run by scoring the winning goal 2:09 into overtime to lift the Spitfires to a 2-1 win over the Brampton Battalion and give the Spitfires their second OHL championship and first in 21 years.

Hall, who won the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as the Most Valuable Player in the OHL playoffs as selected by the media covering the championship series, capitalized on a powerplay early in overtime to give the Spitfires a 4-1 win in the Rogers OHL Championship Series.

The Spitfires win the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions and will represent the OHL at the MasterCard Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Quebec starting next Saturday against the champions from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

After a scoreless first period, Dale Mitchell opened the scoring with a powerplay marker at 13:06 of the second period. The Spitfires looked like they might escape with the regulation time win before Matt Kang tied the game with 3:46 left in the third period.

“I think we jumped on them early and getting that first goal was key,” said defenceman Ryan Ellis. “They got one back but fortunately we’re a pretty good team in overtime.”

For Ben Shutron, Scott Timmins and Josh Unice, it’s their second straight OHL championship after helping the Kitchener Rangers win the title last year.

“The feeling hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Shutron said. “I’ve won two in a row and I’m just so lucky to be a part of this team and be part of this group of guys. To win this is just amazing.”

Windsor goaltender Andrew Engelage was the first star of the game after making 37 saves in the win.

Thomas McCollum made 34 saves for the Battalion.



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

No comments: