Team GTHL Blue claims OHL Gold Cup Championship
For the second straight year Team GTHL Blue has claimed an OHL Gold Cup Championship, defeating Team ALLIANCE by a score of 6-1 at the Activa Sportsplex in Kitchener on Sunday.
Peterborough Petes prospect Hunter Jones turned aside 29 shots in goal to earn MVP honours for GTHL Blue who went 4-for-7 on the power play as Akil Thomas (NIAG) led the way with a pair of goals.
Thomas and Danil Antropov (OSH) put GTHL Blue on the board in the latter stages of the first as a pair of power play goals came within the final three minutes of the frame.
Team ALLIANCE’s Brady Hinz (SAR) scored shorthanded 2:08 into the second but that’s all the offence they’d muster as Curtis Douglas (BAR) and Teth Burles (GUE) responded to put GTHL Blue up 4-1 after 40 minutes.
Goals from Jackson Alexeev (SAG) and Akil Thomas (NIAG) sealed the deal for Team GTHL Blue, who outshot Team ALLIANCE 44-30.
Thomas led the 2016 OHL Gold Cup in scoring with six goals, five assists and 11 points in five games while blueliner Ryan Merkley (GUE) led all defencemen in scoring with a goal and seven assists.
Team GTHL Blue finished the 2016 OHL Gold Cup with a perfect 5-0 record.
Player of the Game:
GTHL Blue – Hunter Jones (PBO) (29 SV)
ALLIANCE – Chris Playfair (WSR)
OHL GOLD CUP CHAMPIONS – TEAM GTHL BLUE:
Jackson Alexeev (SAG) – Danil Antropov (OSH) – Kevin Bahl (OTT) – Teth Burles (GUE) – Riley Damiani (KIT) – Curtis Douglas (BAR) – Dante Fantauzzi (OSH) – Emmett Gordon (KGN) – Matthew Hayami (SSM) – Barrett Hayton (SSM) – Hunter Jones (PBO) – Christian Mattiace (KGN) – Ryan Merkley (GUE) – Peter Muzyka (SSM) – Peter Stratis (OTT) – Akil Thomas (NIAG) – Thomas Tinmouth (OTT) – Jesse Tucker (OS) – Tyler Tucker (BAR) – Zack Young (WSR)
OHL GOLD CUP FINALISTS – TEAM ALLIANCE:
Luke Bignell (BAR) – Keaghan Brett – Tristan De Jong (BAR) – Brett Fisher – Kyle Fisher (HAM) – Owen Gilhula (SBY) – Eric Guest (KIT) – Brady Hinz (SAR) – Mitchell Hoelscher (OTT) – Owen Lalonde (SBY) – Spencer Lapointe – Brady MacDonald (PBO) – Joel Mazzilli (NIAG) – Tyler McBay (SAG) – Jake Murray (HAM) – Chris Playfair (WSR) – Derek Seguin (HAM) – Isaac Taylor (OSH) – Nathan Torchia (OSH) – Eric Uba (FLNT) – Holden Wale (SSM)
THIRD PLACE GAME – TEAM HEO 2 (3-2), TEAM GTHL RED 1 (2-3) SO
Shootout goals from Serron Noel (OSH) and Liam Peyton (KIT) led Team HEO to a third place finish in the 2016 OHL Gold Cup, defeating Team GTHL Red by a score of 2-1.
The thrilling HEO comeback featured a late game-tying goal from Ryland Mosley with the extra attacker on the ice with 12 seconds remaining. Noel and Brian Bygrave (HAM) gathered assists as the game spilled into overtime.
HEO goaltender Kai Edmonds (BAR) was his club’s Player of the Game, making 39 saves before turning away all four shootout opponents he faced to secure the victory.
Team GTHL Red outshot HEO 40-31, with their lone goal coming off the stick of defenceman Joseph Rupoli (OSH) at 15:52 of the second period.
Player of the Game:
HEO – Kai Edmonds (BAR) (39 SV)
GTHL Red – Giovanni Vallati (KIT)
OHL GOLD CUP 3RD PLACE – TEAM HEO:
Kai Edmonds (BAR) – Ryan Bangs (LDN) – William Ennis (OSH) – Jack York (KIT) – Merrick Rippon (KIT) – Jackson Norlock – Tyler Orban (ER) – Wil Murray (LDN) – Serron Noel (OSH) – Liam Peyton (KIT) – Joseph Samson (KGN) – John Beaton (GUE) – Brian Bygrave (HAM) – Francois Drouin (LDN) – Paul Larabie (KGN) – Ethan Manderville (OTT) – Griffin McGregor – Noah Maika – Ryland Mosley – Marshall Frappier
TEAM OMHA BLACK 3 (3-2), TEAM OMHA WHITE 1 (2-3)
London Knights prospect Richard Whittaker scored twice to lead Team OMHA Black to a 3-1 win over their OMHA counterparts in white, claiming fifth place in the 2016 OHL Gold Cup.
Hunter Holmes (FLNT) scored the winning goal with 2:21 left in the second frame before adding a third period assist on Whittaker’s insurance marker on the power play at 16:50.
OMHA Black goaltenders Tanner Sheppard (HAM) and Blair Coffin (SAR) shared the load in goal, combining to stop 29 of the 30 shots they faced. Jacob Ingham (MISS) made 34 saves in the loss while Aidan Dudas (OS) picked up the lone OMHA White tally.
Player of the Game:
OMHA Black – Justin MacPherson (NIAG) (1A)
OMHA White – Dennis Busby (FLNT) (1A)
TEAM NOHA 5 (1-4), TEAM HNO 0 (0-5)
Keegan Stevenson (GUE) and Chad Denault (PBO) each had a goal and an assist to lead Team NOHA to their first win of the OHL Gold Cup, defeating Team HNO 5-0 to claim seventh place.
Brett Jacklin (SSM), Jordan Spadafore (NB) and Riley Robitaille also scored while Alex Vendette recorded a 23-save shutout. Billy Moskal (LDN) and Brandon Atkins each had two assists.
Player of the Game:
NOHA – Keegan Stevenson (GUE) (1G, 1A)
HNO – Jett Leishman (LDN)
For statistics, news and full information on the 2016 OHL Gold Cup, please visit ohlgoldcup.pointstreaksites.com.
