2015 OHL Cup Quarter-Finals Recap
Saturday March 21, 2015
The top eight teams in the 2015 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament battled in Quarter-Final action on Saturday morning at Buckingham Arena. The Toronto Marlboros, Don Mills Flyers and London Jr. Knights all needed overtime to advance to the Semi-Finals along with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens.
Here’s how the action unfolded.
Quarter-Final 4: McLeod powers Marlies to OT victory over Red Devils
Toronto Marlboros 2, Quinte Red Devils 1 – OT
After a grueling 45 minutes of intense action, it took Ryan McLeod just 36 seconds to make it look easy.
The GTHL Player of the Year led the Toronto Marlboros to a 2-1 overtime win over the OMHA Champion Quinte Red Devils, beating a Quinte defender off the rush before slipping a low shot under the pad of Anthony Bertucca with the puck trickling across the goal line.
“I assure you it wasn’t easy,” McLeod said heading into the dressing room after the win. “Those guys are the best defensively positioned team we’ve faced this year. They’re tough and hard to play against.”
“I’ve played in some big games,” added McLeod, “but that was definitely the biggest goal of my career so far.”
Nicholas Pryce put the Marlies ahead 22 seconds into the second period with helpers from Jaden Peca and Ben Jones. Quinte’s Mac Lowry answered to start the third, tying the score 1-1 with assists from Nathan Dunkley and Keegan Ferguson.
The Red Devils, who were missing injured OMHA ETA Player of the Year Brady Gilmour from the lineup, had their share of chances, but Marlies goaltender Jacob McGrath came up with some timely saves.
Arguably the best Quinte team since the 2009 group that included former Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds forward Nick Cousins, the Red Devils ended the tournament with a record of 3-2-0. They were led in scoring by Aidan McFarland who had five goals and an assist for six points in five games.
The Marlies will now face the London Jr. Knights in Semi-Final action at 8:00pm.
Marlies MVP – Ryan McLeod (1G)
Red Devils MVP – Anthony Bertucca (Goaltender)
Quarter-Final 3: Willits bangs in winner to boost Jr. Knights in second overtime
London Jr. Knights 3, Ottawa Jr. 67’s 2 – 2OT
Brett Willits scored nine goals for the London Jr. Knights this season. His 10th might be the biggest of his career so far.
Willits was in the right place, at the right time 2:43 into the second overtime, pouncing on a rebound off the chest of Leif Thorpe to send the ALLIANCE Finalist London Jr. Knights to the OHL Cup Semi-Finals on Saturday night where they’ll face the Toronto Marlboros.
Willits, a man of few words, had a smile on his face that you could see for miles. “That’s probably the biggest goal of my career so far, yeah. It just feels amazing right now, I don’t really know how else to put it.”
Willits’ goal came from an initial shot by defenceman Jordan Di Cicco who stepped into a slaptshot from the top of the circle, drawing a rebound from Thorpe.
“We had some big saves from Aidan Hughes during the overtime. We wouldn’t have made it this far without him,” Willits added.
The Knights trailed the Jr. 67’s midway through the third before Marcel Berube scored his second goal in as many games, coming on assists from Jackson Brown and Alex Turko.
Aidan Hughes provided a big-time glove save off a 67’s forward blazing down the wing early in the overtime to preserve the tie, setting the stage for Willits’ eventual winner.
Jr. 67’s captain Greg Meireles saw an abundance of ice in the extra frame, even taking some shifts back on the blueline as the two clubs matched up against one another.
The Ottawa Jr. 67’s wrap up the 2015 OHL Cup with a record of 3-2-0. They were led in scoring by Greg Meireles who ended Saturday’s Quarter-Final game tied for the tournament lead in scoring with three goals, six assists and nine points in five contests.
Jr. Knights MVP – Brett Willits (1G)
Jr. 67’s MVP – Darcy Walsh (1G)
Quarter-Final 2: Boyko nets two as Jr. Canadiens continue to roll
Toronto Jr. Canadiens 5, Waterloo Wolves 0
The Toronto Jr. Canadiens were in full control on Saturday morning at Buckingham Arena.
Scott Del Zotto opened the scoring at 9:25 of the first period on the powerplay and the Jr. Canadiens never looked back, taking a 5-0 win over the Waterloo Wolves in Quarter-Final action.
Slippery winger Simon Boyko popped two goals just over three minutes apart for his fourth and fifth of the tournament to put Toronto ahead 3-0.
Jr. Canadiens tournament scoring leader Mathew Rehding tallied shorthanded at 7:14 of the second before Colton Kalezic rounded out the scoring at 11:05.
Rehding, who leads the way with five goals, four assists and nine points in five tournament contests, gives a lot of credit to his linemates.
“I’ve played a lot with Nicholas Celotti and Allan McShane, two really talented guys who find creative ways to get me the puck in scoring areas,” he said with a laugh. “Our team is locked in right now. We’re going in to a big matchup with Don Mills now, one that we really want to have.”
The Don Mills Flyers eliminated the Jr. Canadiens from the GTHL Playoffs in a seven game semi-final series.
“They know our systems and we know theirs,” Rehding continued. “They’re a team that has an ability to adapt to situations and they did that against us in the playoffs. We intend to execute better offensively this time around though. It’s going to be a good game.”
The Waterloo Wolves finished the tournament with a record of 2-3-0 after they claimed victories over the Oakville Rangers and the TPH Thunder. They were led in scoring by forwards Sullivan Sparkes and Noah Benjamin who finished with six points each (3-3–6) in five games.
Jr. Canadiens MVP – Simon Boyko (2G)
Wolves MVP – Noah Benjamin
Quarter-Final 1: Misley’s OT deflection pushes Flyers past Jr. Rangers
Don Mills Flyers 4, Kitchener Jr. Rangers 3
The Don Mills Flyers were winning the draws, keeping possession and trying everything to beat Kitchener Jr. Rangers goaltender Daniel Chenard. Bryce Misley finally found the answer with 7:34 remaining in overtime to give the Flyers a place in the OHL Cup Semi-Finals.
Misley got his stick on a David Levin shot from the top of the circle, deflecting the puck over the shoulder of Chenard as the Flyers rushed on to the ice victoriously by a score of 4-3.
The Kitchener Jr. Rangers battled hard as they have all tournament, overcoming deficits twice in the game as Austin Benko scored midway through the third period to tie the score at three, sending the game to overtime.
Big winger Jason Robertson scored twice for Don Mills while blueliner Liam Dennison scored on a rocket slapshot from the blueline in the second period. Along with Benko’s tying marker, Kitchener responded with goals from Benton Hayes and Tyler Dam.
“Their goaltender was great out there,” said a smiling Bryce Misley after his overtime winner. “Kitchener gave us a real good test. They’re a hard-working physical team that can wear you down. Fortunately we stuck with our gameplan and pulled through.”
The Flyers have a date with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in Saturday evening’s Semi-Finals. The Flyers eliminated Toronto in Game 7 of the GTHL Semi-Finals back in February.
“I’m sure they’ll be hungry for us,” Misley continued. “We really need to execute better defensively as a team. I think we’ve been a little loose and allowed guys to slip through the cracks and that can’t happen against a team like the Jr. Canadiens. They have some finishers in their lineup.”
The Flyers took the first overtime Quarter-Final game in the OHL Cup since 2013 when Sudbury Wolves defenceman Kyle Capobianco lifted the Oakville Rangers to victory over the Halton Hurricanes.
The Jr. Rangers wrap up a strong OHL Cup showing with an overall record of 2-3-0. They drew wins over the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs and York-Simcoe Express and were led in scoring by captain Jason Willms who finished the tournament with four goals, five assists and nine points in five games.
Flyers MVP – Jason Robertson (2G)
Jr. Rangers MVP – Benton Hayes (1G, 1A)
OHL Cup Semi-Final schedule:
Semi-Final 1: 6:00 pm – Toronto Jr Canadiens vs. Don Mills Flyers at Buckingham Rink 1*
Semi-Final 2: 8:00 pm – Toronto Marlboros vs. London Jr. Knights at Buckingham Rink 1*
*Broadcast LIVE on Rogers TV Toronto and OHL Action Pak 437
Monday March 23:
Championship Final: 7:30 pm – Winner Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner Semi-Final 2 at Mattamy Athletic Centre**
**Broadcast LIVE on Sportsnet ONE
For more information including schedule, rosters, and stats please visit www.ohlcup.ca.
Recaps by Josh Sweetland/OHL
