2014 OHL Cup Semi-Final Results
The GTHL’s Toronto Marlboros and Jr. Canadiens will meet in the championship final of the 2014 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament following Semi-Final wins on Saturday night.
The rematch of the city finals and the 2008 OHL Cup final takes place at 1:00 pm on Sunday March 16 at Buckingham Arena in Toronto.
Here’s a recap of the Semi-Final action:
Semi-Final 1: Toronto Marlboros 6 – Chatham-Kent Cyclones 2
The Toronto Marlboros over powered the Chatham-Kent Cyclones to earn a spot in Sunday’s OHL Cup championship game.
The Marlboros came out of the gates flying and used a big first period to win 6-2.
Kyle Maksimovich scored only 2:15 into the game to get the ball rolling for the Marlboros. Taylor Raddysh scored a pair of goals before the first period was over to increase Toronto’s lead.
“We got a lot of confidence from the quick three goals,” said Raddysh following the game. “We just built on it and kept it going the whole game.”
The Cyclones got on the board in the second period with a goal from Blair Derynck, but the Marlboros weren’t fazed and continued to control the game.
Blake Coffey, Nic Sicoly and Michael Kelaiditis rounded out the scoring for the Marlboros. The Cyclones added a power play goal from Brad Maxim in the final minute of the game, but the game was in Toronto’s hands from start to finish.
Raddysh’s two goal effort earned him player of the game for the Marlboros and said he enjoys the opportunity to step up in big games.
“I like to look at myself as a role model,” said Raddysh. “I’ve just got to finish my checks and be a leader out there.”
The Cyclones player of the game went to forward Brady Pataki, who also led Chatham-Kent in scoring for the tournament with two goals and six assists for eight points in six games.
Chatham-Kent ends the OHL Cup with an overall record of 3-2-1 and an impressive showing in their organization’s OHL Cup debut.
The Marlboros remain undefeated for the tournament with a record of 5-0-1 and advance to the organization’s eighth straight OHL Cup final.
Semi-Final 2: Toronto Jr. Canadiens 8 – Ottawa Jr. 67’s 0
The Toronto Jr. Canadiens made a statement cruising past the Ottawa Jr. 67’s 8-0 to earn a spot in the OHL Cup Championship Final.
The Jr. Canadiens wasted no time taking the lead 29 seconds into the game with a tip-in goal from Drake Rymsha. The Jr. Canadiens kept the pressure on the Jr. 67’s and took a 2-0 lead at 3:57 with a goal from Justin Cmunt.
The Jr. Canadiens had clearly frustrated the Jr. 67’s and Toronto’s Kevin Hancock capitalized on the team’s first power play midway through the first period.
Ottawa’s unraveling continued on a power play of their own when a turnover at the point led to a shorthanded breakaway goal for Adam Timleck to make it 4-0 Jr. Canadiens at the end of the first period.
After not scoring in the second period, the Jr. Canadiens continued to pour it on in the third period with Timleck scoring his second of the game early in the frame. Travis Barron, David Sherman and Scott Del Zotto also added goals to cap off an 8-0 victory.
Timleck was named player of the game for the Jr. Canadiens and said his team brought everything they had for one another to have a chance at a championship.
“We brought everything and left everything on the line knowing it could be our last game of the year,” said Timleck who was named player of the game. “I played pretty well against them (Ottawa) last time, so I had no worries just knew to work hard and compete.”
Despite, a close game between the two teams in round-robin play, the Jr. Canadiens victory by eight goals in the semi-final was the largest victory of the tournament.
The Jr. 67’s player of the game award went to forward Jacob Hould.
Ottawa’s tournament ends with a record of 4-2 and led in scoring by Captain William Bitten with five goals and five assists for ten points in six games.
The Jr. Canadiens advance to the championship for a rematch of the GTHL championship series against the Toronto Marlboros.
“It’s going to be a really close game, hard competing, a lot of hitting and all that stuff,” said Timleck. “It’s going to be a great game, I already have butterflies in my stomach for tomorrow.”
Championship Final:
Sunday March 16 at 1:00 pm at Buckingham Arena in Toronto
Broadcast live on Rogers TV Cable 10/63/510 and on Rogers TV Sports+ Digital 368 (SD), 369 (HD)
Admission is free.
Click here for tournament top scorers
Click here for a semi-final photo gallery
Recaps written by Mark McKelvie
