Generals down Rockets in Memorial Cup Final Overtime

The final hockey game to be played in the Colisée Pepsi needed extra time as the Oshawa Generals defeated the Kelowna by a score of 2 – 1.

Undrafted in the OHL Priority Draft, Anthony Cirelli scored both goals for the Generals. Including the game winning goal just 1:28 into the extra period.

The Memorial Cup final served as the final hockey game in the Colisée Pepsi, a storied rink that saw many legends of hockey play the game of hockey. Dubbed by some as “The House that Beliveau Built”, it saw Jean Beliveau begin his junior hockey career with the Quebec Aces, Guy Lafleur as a member of the Quebec Remparts and of course hosted the Quebec Nordiques of the NHL.

The final hockey game to be played in the Colisée Pepsi needed extra time as the Oshawa Generals defeated the Kelowna by a score of 2 – 1 in 1:28 of overtime.

More from Frozen Futures

• CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game: Team Plante Tops Team Roenick
• 2016 NHL Draft: WHL Preview
• Does Alex Khokhlachev Want a Trade From Boston?
• Expectations High for Jacob Markstrom
• Islanders Send Ho-Sang Back to OHL After Late Report to Camp

Since 2000 the Memorial Cup final has gone to OT twice. First the Red Deer Rebels beat Val D’or Foreurs in a 6-5 affair in Regina, SK where Doug Lynch scored the winner. More recently in 2012, the Shawinigan Cataractes defeated the London Knights when Anton Zlobin made it 2-1 for the host Cataractes.

With 4 goals and 3 assists, Leon Draisaitl of the Kelowna Rockets was named the 2015 Memorial Cup tournament’s most valuable player.

For the Kelowna Rockets, Thomas Soustal scored their lone goal.

The Generals last played on Tuesday and it appeared that the break didn’t have any effect on their play. The matchup was as advertised, a closely matched game with a lot of hitting.

Thomas Soustal’s goal opened up scoring for the Rockets with 4:52 remaining in the first period.

"The Kelowna Rockets strike first thanks to a perfect bounce off the boards. #MCMemorialCup http://t.co/qj9rpl7qHj— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 31, 2015"

The Generals finally responded with 13:50 remaining in the second period with a top corner wrist shot from the draft eligible Anthony Cirelli.

"Oshawa’s Anthony Cirelli fires a laser to tie the game! #MCMemorialCup http://t.co/PP6YGQ231d — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 1, 2015"

Assistant captain Hunter Smith scored with 2:30 left in the third period to put the Generals up a goal but it was ruled a no-goal due to the fact that he hit the puck with a high stick.

"No Goal! Smith almost gives the Generals the lead but it would be called back for a high stick. #MCMemorialCup http://t.co/OMoWwrVixo— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 1, 2015"

Sixty minutes weren’t enough to create separation between the best two teams in Canadian junior hockey so this one had to go to sudden-death overtime. Just 1:28 into the OT period, Anthony Cirelli scored his second goal of the game to give the Oshawa Generals the Memorial Cup championship.

Across the Canadian Hockey League, sixty teams representing nine provinces and four American states are eligible to compete for the Memorial Cup. It has been awarded to the best team in Canadian junior hockey since 1919, where it was dedicated to the fallen Canadian soldiers from World War I. Since 2010 the Memorial Cup has been dedicated in honour of all soldiers who died fighting for Canada in any conflict.

The Memorial Cup has been won by a team from all three leagues in the past three years, as the Edmonton Oil Kings won in 2014 and the Halifax Mooseheads won in 2013.

The round-robin format of the Memorial Cup tournament was adapted in 1972. Since then, the WHL has won the most Cups with 19. The OHL and QMJHL have 14 and 10 respectively.

The 2016 Memorial Cup will be held in Red Deer, AB.