JRC clinches ticket to tournament Final with 8-4 win
The Toronto Jr. Canadiens may have entered the 2025 OHL Cup as a wildcard entry, but they are playing like champions. The 2023 titleholders delivered a statement win on Thursday night, powering past Detroit Little Caesars 8-4 in Semi-Final action.
From the opening faceoff, the game had the intensity of a final. Tyler Bruce (2) opened the scoring on a power play for the Canadiens in the first period, but Little Caesars responded just eight seconds later with a goal from Brock Burch (4). Moments later, Christian Kolodziej (2) buried another for Detroit, stunning the crowd and shifting momentum.
With his team shorthanded, Noah Laus (5) evened the score late in the first, swinging momentum back to Toronto.
After Burch (5) netted his second of the game early in the second to restore Detroit’s lead, it was all JRC from there.
Jax Pereira (1,2) took over with back-to-back goals just seconds apart, flipping the game on its head.
“Something opened up, and I was able to capitalize on it,” Pereira said post-game. “It was a good momentum change for the game, and that just got the boys going. I think everybody started to get a little mad, which is what we need to get going. We were unstoppable from there.”
Little Caesars refused to go quietly, with Kage Flory (2) adding one more in the second period.
But the final 15 belonged to the Canadiens. Bruce (3) scored his second of the night to kick things off, followed by goals from Camryn Warren (5), Keaton Ardagh (3), and Laus (6) to put the game out of reach.
“Super excited,” Pereira said about the final. “Hopefully, we can come out with the win and keep that energy we had today.”
The 8-4 win sends the Canadiens to the OHL Cup Final, where they’ll face a familiar GTHL opponent in the Don Mills Flyers on Friday at 7PM at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
UNDER ARMOUR PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JRC – Jax Pereira (F) – 2G1A
Little Caesars – Brock Burch (F) – 2G
