Jan Mysak Sends Bulldogs to First Memorial Cup Final
June 27, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release
After a victory over the WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday night sent the Hamilton Bulldogs to the Memorial Cup semi-finals, the Bulldogs squared off with the QMJHL Champion Shawinigan Cataractes for the second time with a berth in the finals on the line.
The opening frame was a sandwich period for the Bulldogs, owning the first few minutes with three shots on goal and Mason McTavish stationed in front of Antoine Coulombe where he dangled to his backhand and hit both post and crossbar with the puck staying out of the net. After a debatable tripping call put the Cataractes on the man-advantage, Marco Costantini picked up where he left off against Edmonton on Friday, robbing both Mavrik Bourque & Lou-Felix Denis with marvellous glove saves to keep the game scoreless. Shawinigan opened the scoring at 14:39 with Mavrik Bourque knuckle balling a puck right in the goal mouth that found its way under Costantini's arm and in giving the QMJHL Champions a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs found their stride again in the latter stages of the period, with the game 4-on-4 as Ryan Winterton entered the Cataractes zone with possession on the right wing, dropping the puck to Mason McTavish who drove through the right circle whipping a pass across the goal mouth to a charging Artem Grushnikov to record his first of the Memorial Cup at 16:29 knotting the game 1-1. After Ryan Humphrey drew a late period tripping penalty, Hamilton poured the pressure on Coulombe's goal but ended the first period knotted 1-1.
The Bulldogs got the start they wanted in the second frame, just after the power-play had expired, Ryan Winterton was able to bat a puck down in the slot and run it to the top of the left circle where Mason McTavish let loose a McTavish missile for his 4th of the Memorial Cup giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead at 1:23. Hamilton's lead held up for a little over 4-minutes until Olivier Nadeau batted down and Isaac Menard left circle shot that the Bulldogs thought was a high-stick at 5:49 to tie the game 2-2. Marco Costantini, again continuing to make himself a story in the Memorial Cup made another incredible save in the second period as he laid out in the Bulldogs crease and still managed to glove a doorstep chance from Mavrik Bourque to keep the game tied. A late second period shift from the Bulldogs saw a brilliant five-man rotation with McTavish, Winterton and Patrick Thomas joined by Noah Van Vliet and Jorian Donovan had the Cataractes caught in their own zone with only a crossbar denying McTavish and the Bulldogs a lead before the second period ran out, tied up 2-2.
A controversial third period followed, with the Hamilton Bulldogs believing they had snatched the lead through an Avery Hayes shot that bounced off Coulombe's chest and into the net minder's pads rolling through and into the net, giving the Bulldogs what they believed would be a 3-2 lead. After review the officials decided the whistle had blown and negated the still moving puck from being counted. Just a couple minutes after the controversial no goal, Angus Booth took a shot from the Hamilton blueline tipped in front by Jeff Veillette to give the Cataractes a 3-2 lead at 10:01, making the no goal call even more controversial. The Bulldogs wouldn't quit however, pressing for the tying goal and finding it at 13:56 as Ryan Winterton twirled the puck to the slot from the backboards where Logan Morrison raced down the slot to score his first of the Memorial Cup, tying the game 3-3 and eventually sending the semi-final into overtime despite a late Avery Hayes offering on a brilliant one- on-one move which nearly ended the game inside the last two minutes.
In overtime, Marco Costantini started the session with two tremendous stops giving the Bulldogs momentum from their star netminder. At the half way point of the extra frame, Nathan Staios toured the offensive zone, finally stopping his second lap at the right point where he fired a shot that was deflected by Jan Mysak for his first goal of the Memorial Cup at 10:08 sending the Hamilton Bulldogs to the franchise's first Memorial Cup Final.
The Hamilton Bulldogs will challenge the host Saint John Sea Dogs on Wednesday night, June 29th with the Memorial Cup on the line at 6:00pm eastern time from Harbour Station in Saint John.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2022-23 Season Ticket packages call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from June 27, 2022
- Jan Mysak Sends Bulldogs to First Memorial Cup Final - Brantford Bulldogs
- Mike McKenzie to Resume Role Exclusively as General Manager - Kitchener Rangers
- Hartford Wolfpack Sign Defenseman Louka Henault - Windsor Spitfires
- Howling Back Home - Wes Wolfe Returns to Otters Staff - Erie Otters
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