Oshawa Generals win 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup
66 years of hockey history came to an end in fine style on Sunday.
Oshawa Generals rookie Anthony Cirelli, who made the team out of training camp as a free agent invitee, buried two goals including the winner just 1:28 into overtime to crown the Oshawa Generals as 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup Champions.
The final game at the Pepsi Colisée ended in dramatic fashion as the Generals claimed their fifth MasterCard Memorial Cup title in franchise history and first since 1990.
The Generals, who were outshot 38-26 in the historic victory, had an outstanding performance in goal from Ken Appleby who made numerous big saves throughout the game.
Both teams threw their weight around in the first, with big Montréal Canadiens prospect Michael McCarron making his presence felt while Canadian World Junior gold medalist Madison Bowey was a rock on the Kelowna blueline.
The Rockets had their offensive motor running in the first, with Ken Appleby being forced into a big save off Bowey five minutes in as the Washington Capitals draftee got over the blueline and slinged a wrister that the big Generals goaltender would get a mitt on.
Kelowna took the first lead of the night at 15:08 when Tomas Soustal netted his first of the MasterCard Memorial Cup. The Czech winger went to the net off an offensive zone faceoff win, taking the rebound of Madison Bowey’s shot off the end boards and beating Appleby to the post for the finish.
The speed and vision of the Rockets seemed to gain an edge in the first period as they outshot Oshawa 9-4. The Generals, at 7-4-1-1, were the only OHL team this season to record an above .500 winning percentage when trailiing after 20 minutes.
The Rockets continued their strong play into the second period and if not for Ken Appleby, the Generals may have been in a very bad situation.
Appleby made big saves off both Cole Linaker and Riley Stadel in the same shift five minutes into the period before doing the same to Dillon Dube and Tyson Baillie a shift later.
The Oshawa fans in attendance displayed their approval with a heartfelt chant for the big goaltender who kept his club in the game long enough for them to get on the scoresheet.
A Dakota Mermis outlet pass beyond the midway point of the second tilted the scales in Oshawa’s favour as he found a streaking Anthony Cirelli busting in on a two-on-one. The Generals rookie opted to shoot, beating Whistle over the glove at 13:50 to knot the score at one and bring the Oshawa fans to their feet.
Kelowna led the shot clock 23-16 headed into the third period of the MasterCard Memorial Cup Final tied at one.
Appleby and Whistle traded saves in the third, putting on a great display for the 10,391 on hand.
Oshawa nearly took the lead in the latter half of the third as Cole Cassels drilled a one-timer off the rush off iron, inspiring a rebound for Hunter Smith who batted it out of mid-air and over the goal line. Upon further review, the goal was ruled a high-stick and waved off.
For the first time since 2012 in Shawinigan, the MasterCard Memorial Cup Final would head to overtime, and it wouldn’t take long for a hero to emerge.
Just 1:28 in, with the ice still wet, Cirelli would finish off a rebound in the slot off a Josh Brown slapshot to give the Generals Canadian Hockey League supremacy.
Kelowna’s Leon Draisaitl received the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as MasterCard Memorial Cup MVP. The Edmonton Oilers prospect led the tournament in scoring with four goals, three assists and seven points in five contests.
The 2015 Oshawa Generals set new franchise records in wins (51), points (108), goals against (157), are J. Ross Robertson Cup Champions for the 13th time in franchise history and now, hoist the Memorial Cup a fifth time.
