Finn golden at U-17 in Winnipeg
The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge gold medal is going back to Ontario.
20 OHLers wrapped up a perfect tournament Tuesday night with a 5-3 win over the United States before a record crowd of 12,060 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, MB. The old record was set at the gold medal game back in 2008 in London, ON, where 8,889 saw Ontario defeat the USA on home ice.
Sean Monahan of the Ottawa 67’s scored twice, including the game winner with 12:47 to go to give Ontario their third gold medal in four years, and avenged its 2-1 gold medal game loss to the U.S last year in Timmins, ON.
Player of the Game Kerby Rychel of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors opened the scoring for Ontario at 4:39 of the first period burying a slapshot off a pass from Alex Gudbranson of the Kingston Frontenacs.
After a U.S goal to tie the game, Monahan tallied his first of two to put Ontario back on top before Belleville Bulls’ forward Brendan Gaunce would make the lead 3-1 at 12:48 on a set-up by Kitchener Rangers’ forward and Team Ontario captain Matia Marcantuoni and Oshawa Generals’ forward and Ontario alternate captain Scott Laughton.
Leading 4-3 late in the third period, Plymouth Whalers’ forward Thomas Wilson was hauled down on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot but was injured on the play.
Mathew Campagna of the Sudbury Wolves stepped up and took the penalty shot, with more than 12,000 standing and cheering before he even touched the puck.
Unfazed by the noise, Campagna swung wide to the right, cut to the net and, after getting American netminder Jared Rutledge moving the wrong way, tucked the puck around the tender with one hand – reminiscent of Peter Forsberg’s famous Stamp goal in the 1994 Olympic Winter Games.
That goal was more than enough for Ontario, which ran out the remaining four minutes to clinch its eighth gold medal at the tournament.
Belleville Bulls prospect Daniel Altshuller won his sixth game of the tournament with 18 saves.
Monahan finished the tournament with a team-high seven points in six games. Rychel, Campagna, Marcantuoni, along with Chris Marchese of the Erie Otters and Jesse Graham of the Niagara IceDogs all finished with six points. Storm rookie Matt Finn had one goal.
