OHL Cup Championship Sunday
The first semi-final of the 2008 OHL Showcase Tournament for the OHL Cuprfeatured Alliance champion Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs against the GreaterrToronto Hockey League regular season champion, Toronto Marlboros. Thergame started at a very high tempo and neither team looked back.
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rToronto had a slight edge in the first period but the strong play ofrChiefs’ goaltender Reid Marchand kept the game scoreless through therfirst period. The game remained scoreless until Brandon Stewart buriedra Steven Shipley rebound 11:25 into the second period to putrElgin-Middlesex up 1-0.
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rJust under three minutes later, the Marlboros finally beat Marchandrwhen Michael Hawkrigg buried a shot on a set up from Bowman Webster toreven the score at one goal a piece heading into the final frame.
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rThe score remained tied through regulation time thanks in part to therpenalty killing unit of the Marlies who killed off a five on threerpower play late in third period. Back and forth action throughout therfirst overtime period did not produce a winner. Christian Thomas didrnot waste any time in the second overtime making sure that the contestrdid not go on too long as he buried a shot 12 seconds into the frame.
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rJP Anderson had a solid game between the pipes for the Marlborosrpicking up the win and earning player of the game for Toronto. Hisrcounterpart Reid Marchand was named player of the game forrElgin-Middlesex.
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rThe second semi-final of the morning featured the GTHL champion TorontorJr. Canadiens against Detroit Belle Tire. The Jr. Canadians jumped outrto a 2-0 lead after the first period on goals by John McFarland andrChase Balisy. Toronto added to their lead in the second period on goalsrby Cody McNaughton and Devante Smith Pelly.
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rAlthough the U.S. squad battled valiantly throughout the game they werernot able to muster a come back effort and were shutout by Canadiensrgoaltender Steve Gleeson.
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rMcNaughton rounded out the scoring in the third when he netted is second goal of the contest to make it 5-0.
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rIn a rematch of the GTHL Championship Series the Jr. Canadiens willrface the Marlboros in the final of the 2008 OHL Showcase Tournament forrthe OHL Cup. The game can be seen live on most Rogers networksrthroughout Ontario, with coverage beginning today (Sunday, March 23,r2008) at 5:00 p.m.