Memorial Cup: the Saguenéens start with a loss

Six days after capturing the Gilles-Courteau Trophy, the Chicoutimi Saguenéens opened their Memorial Cup tournament Saturday night with a 5-3 loss to the Everett Silvertips, champions of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

The game got off to a rough start for the Saguenéens, as Jesse Heslop gave the Silvertips a 1-0 lead just 74 seconds into the contest.

Christophe Berthelot responded eight minutes later, pouncing on a rebound from an Alexis Bernier shot.

Then, at 5:39 of the second period, Alex Huang gave the Sags a 2-1 lead with a laser of a shot that beat goaltender Anders Miller over the right shoulder.

But just 33 seconds later, Lukas Kaplan tied the game on a shot from the left wing that Lucas Beckman — beaten under the left arm — would likely want back.

That goal proved to be the turning point of the game in Everett’s favour. The Silvertips increased the pressure and, at 13:55 and 14:45, scored twice in a span of 50 seconds to take a 4-2 lead. Zackary Shantz and Carter Bear were the goal scorers.

The Sags, who had erased a 4-0 deficit in Game 5 of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy Final against Moncton, were unable to complete another comeback against Everett.

Maxim Massé gave the Sags a glimmer of hope by making it 4-3 with 28 seconds remaining, after Beckman had gone to the bench, but Matias Vanhanen found the back of the empty net seven seconds later.

More details on the game HERE.

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The Saguenéens will play their second game of the Memorial Cup tournament Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) against the host team, the Rockets.

Kelowna also dropped its opening game on Friday, falling 5-0 to the Kitchener Rangers.