Brandon runs out of gas in final

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This article was published 29/04/2024 (705 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When it counted, the Brandon Wheat Kings ran out of gas in the Telus Cup U18 championship game Sunday afternoon in Membertou, N.S.

The Magog Cantonniers used their effective power play and stingy defence to earn a second Telus Cup U18 national title following a 4-1 victory over Brandon.

“This was a long week, seven games in seven days,” offered Wheat Kings coach Travis Mealy in a post-game telephone interview. “Ferly [assistant coach Michael Ferland] and I were out walking and I commented I was exhausted, and to think I’ve just been standing on the bench, so how do the guys feel.

“But living in a hotel room for eight days, I could see their energy slipping in our semifinal game. I was just hoping they’d have enough in the tank for the final game after a few good meals, a good night’s rest, and play on some adrenalin.

“But you could see as the game progressed, we just didn’t have any more gas in the tank.”

Wheat Kings forward Colten Worthington, who had two big assists in his team’s 7-4 semifinal victory over the Calgary Buffaloes the day before, concurred with his coach’s assessment of a tired group going up against a structured opponent like Magog.

“We all knew we were tired, but still went out there to play our game and just try to forget the tiredness knowing this was going to the last game for some of us playing together,” he said.

“For myself, I know we all had a slow start at the tournament, then stepped it up to get us into the finals. I know I left everything out there on the ice, and other than winning, I tried my best to help our team win.”

On Day 7 of the tournament at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre, Magog struck first with Simon-Xavier Cyr beating Brandon goalie Burke Hood.

The Wheat Kings responded two minutes, seven seconds later to draw even 1-1 after Brady Turko set up Easton Odut for his fifth goal scored on Kyan Labbe.

The vaunted Magog power play then went to work, with top sniper Gabriel Courchesne scoring a power play goal to go up 2-1 seven seconds after Worthington was penalized.

After 20 minutes, the Cantonniers were up 2-1 and had outshot the Wheat Kings 18-6.

Magog again struck with a man advantage, this time Marc-Olivier Proteau with finding the back of the net. Antoine Boudreau added another as the Cantonniers went to the dressing room after 40 minutes up 4-1 and outshooting the Wheat Kings 35-15.

There was no scoring in the final period, with Boudreau and Proteau each finishing the game with a goal and two helpers. Magog finished with 46 shots on Hood, while Labbe handled just 20 in his net.

Worthington offered kudos to his Magog opponents for their success winning gold, acknowledging the Cantonniers was the best team he’s playing against all season.

“Calgary was more skilled, but a less structured team when we played them,” he said. “But when you go up against Magog, they don’t have a weak line out there, just following four against us. That was a dedicated group of guys who never stopped, even trying to score another goal when they were up 4-1 with two minutes to play.”

For Mealy, finishing second overall is still something his players should feel proud of as there’s always a runner-up team in a championship game.

“To think we came second out of the 135 or 136 teams across the country who would have wanted to be here is pretty good,” he offered. “Sure it hurt when we lost one of the best forwards in the tournament when Jaxon (Jacobson) was hurt after only two shifts.

“And (Burke Hood) stood on his head in net to give us a chance to win, but in the end it was a war to get where we got, so looking back, it stings right now for the boys, but I hope one day looking back after rewatching the game again on TSN they will realize what they accomplished this season.

“It’s not been done in 20 years for Brandon, coming from a small Manitoba community unlike the Quebec team or Calgary, that we made the finals.”

Mealy said he had more than 70 texts on his iPhone following the game from well-wishers who congratulated the coaching staff and the players for what they did earning a trip to the Telus Cup final, despite the outcome not leading to a second banner for J&G Homes Arena.

Up at 2 a.m. for a 5 a.m. flight out of Sydney en route to Regina, then the four-hour bus ride back to Brandon, the team should arrive home sometime today after 7 p.m.

“I’m proud of the boys and what they accomplished, and so should they,” he said before returning to packing up hockey bags knowing there was a silver lining in what his players accomplished during their 2023-24 season.

DAY 7 SUMMARY

It came down to a shootout, with the Calgary Buffaloes heading back to Alberta with bronze medals after a 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon in Membertou, N.S.

Buffaloes sniper Christian Stephanson scored his first goal of the tournament at an opportune time, beating Waxers goalie Eamon Callaghan to send the game to overtime.

His shorthanded marker came with 4:49 to play and the Waxers having a decided edge in play in the third period.

Ryan Piggott, with two goals, and Philip Govedaris scored for Markham, while Brayden Gourley and Diego Cazac answered for Calgary.

Callaghan handled 24 shots prior to the overtime period and allowed two goals during the shootout, while Calgary goaltender Kael Svenson handled 33, plus stopped all four shots taken by Markham shooters.

EAST COAST NOTES: Players on the Calgary Buffaloes arrived at the seven-day tournament on the East Coast, exploring Cape Breton when they weren’t on the ice, with blonde dyed hair. Even coach Brent Harrison joined his teen players, sporting blonde hair from the bench … It has been 13 years since a team from Manitoba has played in the Telus Cup final, with the Winnipeg Thrashers defeating the London Jr. Knights in the 2011 final … The only other time the Wheat Kings advanced to the gold medal game was in 2004. Brandon defeated Quebec’s Riverains du College Charles-Lemoyne 2-1 in overtime … Going into the championship game, in six tilts, Magog outshot its opponents 34-12, while Brandon was 22-18 … Special teams was important for Magog’s 6-0-0 record, with a 43.5 per cent success rate on the power play, and 88.2 per cent excellence on the penalty kill. Brandon was 23.8 per cent on the power play, after going 1-for-11 in its first four games, then 4-for-11 in its next six games. The Wheat Kings were 78.3 per cent on the penalty kill in six games … This is the fourth time Magog has made the final since 2018, finishing second in 2018, 2019 and 2022. The 2020 and 2021 Telus Cup was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2000, the Cantonniers made their first trip to the championship contest, and in an all-Quebec final, they defeated Montreal Bourassa College for gold … Courchesne was named tournament MVP, while his teammates Boudreau (best forward) and Labbe (best goaltender) were also acknowledged with Hockey Canada awards. Turko was named most sportsmanlike player, while Marham captain Ryan Piggott received the Telus Cup scholarship. Top rearguard award went Calgary’s Liam O’Neill … Prior to the gold medal game, Hockey Canada ran a poll asking “Who wins the Telus Cup?” With 226 respondents, the poll said 57 per cent chose the Wheat Kings, while 43 per cent chose the Cantonniers … Magog opened the tournament with a 5-1 win over Brandon, going 5-0 in preliminary round play to finish first overall. Brandon finished 3-2 and placed third in the six-team tournament.

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