Latest news with #MemorialCup
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Cup run comes to an end for Lightning prospect
Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender and South Surrey's own Harrison Meneghin has won back-to-back WHL Goaltender of the Week honours. (Randy Feere/Medicine Hat Tigers photo) Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin and the Medicine Hat Tigers fell short on Sunday night, after losing 4-1 in the Memorial Cup Final to the London Knights. Meneghin was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round, 206th overall, of the 2024 NHL Draft. On May 19, the Lightning announced Meneghin was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract. Advertisement The 20-year old goalie helped lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to their first Memorial Cup appearance since 2007. Through 16 post-season games, he recorded a 14-1 record while posting a .906 save percentage, a 2.35 goals against average and three shutouts. His efforts earned him WHL Playoff MVP honors, which made him only the third player in Tigers history to receive the award. Meneghin finished the tournament with 4GP 2.54GAA and a .906SV%.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Memorial Cup: London Knights Capture Crown And Redemption With Win In Final
The London Knights are once again Memorial Cup champions. The OHL's most dominant franchise over the last quarter century has once again asserted itself as CHL royalty, and it was a long, winding road to get there. Almost three years ago, the London Knights began what was supposed to be a rebuild or retool, an unusual spot for the franchise. That year, they made it all the way to the OHL final with a new core of stars emerging along the way. Denver Barkey, Easton Cowan, Oliver Bonk and Sam Dickinson were the future of the franchise and their growth and improvement over the following two seasons would set the Knights up for a historic run. Advertisement Last year, they were looking to build off that relatively surprising season and they were dominant en route to an OHL championship before falling just short in the Memorial Cup final, losing on a last-second goal against Saginaw. They took a step – winning the OHL championship – but ultimately still finished their season with an agonizing loss in their final game. This year, they weren't going to let the heroics of an opposing player or anything else get in there way. After dismantling every opponent that they came up against in the OHL and cruising to a league title for a second straight year, along with gaining entrance into the Memorial Cup, they finished second in the round robin. This was because of a loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers in a very hard fought game, but they breezed by the Moncton Wildcats to reach the final and a rematch with those same Tigers. After Jacob Julien opened the scoring in the first period, the Knights' core began to take over in the second period. Cowan scored on a net drive play, tapping a pass from below the goal line in from the top of the crease. About a minute and a half later, Barkey picked up a puck in the neutral zone, burst up ice for a breakaway and scored a beauty to put the Knights up three goals early in the second period. After Barkey added another for his second of the night, the Knights were up 4-0 heading into the third period against a very strong Medicine Hat squad that hadn't lost a game to this point at the Memorial Cup tournament after ripping through the WHL for a league title. A team that strong wouldn't go down without a fight. Advertisement As London looked to park the bus a bit and lock down their big lead, Medicine Hat pushed back, and it was no shock that 2026 NHL draft phenom Gavin McKenna was at the center of it all. Under three minutes into the final frame, McKenna caught a pass on the half wall and cut to the middle quickly before firing a laser by the London netminder. The shiftiness of McKenna finally broke through the tight defense that London had played on him to that point. The Tigers continued to push, but the Knights continued to do their best not to break. With time winding down and their hopes beginning to be lost, McKenna found the back of the net once again, but the goal was reviewed and called back for a high stick earlier in the play by the Tigers. McKenna and the Tigers were understandably upset on the bench, but they kept pushing. Advertisement When the Tigers pulled their goalie, it was all of the Knights' core players who were leading shifts out on the ice. Barkey was blocking shots. Dickinson was clearing the slot. Bonk was making defensive stops. Cowan was winning puck races. The core four were doing what it took to win in the biggest game of the year. The London Knights were celebrating on the bench as the clock wound down and gloves went flying as the clock hit zero and the CHL finally crowned their kings. This was a team of destiny. They began a rebuild and immediately got to the league final before losing. They came back the next year to win the OHL final but lost the Memorial Cup. They followed that up with this year's Memorial Cup win. The progression of the core and the team around them was incredible. Advertisement Dale Hunter had a special tournament in his own right behind the bench. He became the winningest coach in Memorial Cup tournament history, finishing off with 17 wins after the championship game. He tied Don Hay for most Memorial Cup wins by a head coach as well. He didn't want any of the spotlight, though, making it very clear in the aftermath of the game that this was a special team that he had the opportunity to coach. 'Skill and will to win, that's always the key,' noted Hunter. 'We came up short last year, it hurt a lot, these boys were determined right from the get-go.' The stars were grateful for the opportunity that this team and the fans in London gave them over the years as they look to appreciate this championship before the large group of them look to move to pro hockey this year. 'We hung out every day. We'd get ice cream together and watch horror movies together, even though I'm not a big fan of the horror movies,' laughed Cowan, who won MVP and led the tournament in scoring. 'What a team we had.' Denver Barkey, Jared Woolley, Oliver Bonk, Easton Cowan and Sam O'Reilly (Vincent Ethier / CHL) The Knights were a deserved champion. They built this team up and developed all of the key players on this team. Advertisement 'We've kind of been working towards it for all four years here. To come up short last year and then get it done tonight, it's a surreal feeling,' Knights captain Barkey said, overjoyed. 'I'm so proud. I went down in the Kitchener series, and I didn't know if I'd play again this year, but these guys stepped up and made sure I played hockey again this year.' The London Knights are sitting atop the CHL throne, once again as Memorial Cup champions. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
The Province
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Province
London Knights win third Memorial Cup in last 20 years
Ryan Pyette Published Jun 01, 2025 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 5 minute read A shot by Easton Cowan of the London Knights is saved by Medicine Hat Tigers goalie Harrison Meneghin during their game at the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Que. on May 27, 2025. (Canadian Press) RIMOUSKI, Que – They finally wrote their storybook ending. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The London Knights converted last year's Memorial Cup heartbreak into the ultimate comeback tale by scoring the game's first four goals in a 4-1 victory over Medicine Hat to claim the Canadian Hockey League's biggest prize before 4,512 Sunday at Sun Life Financial Coliseum. They shrugged off an early push from the well-rested and previously unbeaten Tigers, then held them off during a furious finish. You need your best players to rise to the occasion and, after a dud a year ago at Saginaw, London got that and more here in rainy Rimouski. The OHL champs won their record-tying third Cup title in their fifth trip to the final in the last 20 years. Their coach Dale Hunter equalled Don Hay as the only two bench bosses with three CHL crowns. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hunter has three Cups, 1,000 major junior wins, five OHL titles and world junior gold to his credit. That's a Hall of Fame resume and, one day, the committee should recognize his contribution to the game. The Knights were ready for anything. They didn't let any missed call or lapse in momentum bother them. They were the best team in junior hockey this year and proved it when it mattered most. 'It's a tough tournament,' London defenceman Sam Dickinson said. 'It's one game. You never know what can happen going into it. I think of last year and how the game went from the flat start to the comeback to 22 seconds left. You can't have any idea of what's going to happen out there.' The Tigers' best player, Gavin McKenna, got the Western champs on the board in the third period. But a second goal by the wunderkind was called back because of a missed high stick with 5:30 left in regulation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It was a break for the Knights and they shut it down from there. THE TWINS: Dale Hunter reunited Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey – nicknamed the 'Twins' – and it turned into a master stroke. Barkey scored twice in the decisive second period and Cowan had another as London built the four-goal lead. Cowan should have had two, as well, in the middle frame but one was snuffed out on a goalie interference call against linemate Sam O'Reilly. The foundation of the Knights' three-year run of success started with the drafting of Barkey, Cowan and Oliver Bonk in 2021. Once they added Sam Dickinson to the mix the following season, they were on their way. And Sunday, they finished the job. EXTRA GAME: The Tigers had to kill a lot of time. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Knights brass and 12 of their players know that drill. They went through it last year while hanging out in Frankenmuth near Saginaw before the final last year. 'It's a different way to look at it,' Dickinson said. 'We got another game under our belts and a little more time to get back in the groove of things. I definitely think our legs are a little more fresh so we'll see how that adds up.' The Tigers, at times, looked sluggish. That four-day rest, at times, adds up to a disadvantage. AROUND THE RINK: London goaltender Austin Elliott's final win-loss record? He was 55-3 in his last junior season. We won't see that again for a long time, if ever . . . This was London's first time facing a Western league team in the Cup final. The OHL champs faced a fellow OHL team once (Saginaw last year) and three QMJHL teams (Rimouski in 2005, Shawinigan in 2012 and Rouyn-Noranda in 2016). It was the first OHL-WHL final since Oshawa beat Kelowna, which featured Leon Draisaitl, in 2015 at Quebec City . . . Kasper Halttunen entered the final with points in all eight of his tournament games over the past two years . . . Cowan entered the final one point shy of his childhood idol Mitch Marner's franchise record 15 points in Cup play and matched it in the second period . . . The Knights had the worst dressing room setup at the Coliseum all week. They had to walk through the ice resurfacing entrance to get to it . . . Dickinson said several of the Knights from last year had texted the current roster to finish the job. They wanted them to win so badly. Usually, a lot of grads make their way to the championship game but Rimouski isn't the easiest place to get to from London. They got the job done for them . . . Londoner Jacob Julien, the Jets prospect, played his best hockey of the season at this tournament . . . Knights agitator Ryder Boulton was scheduled to participate in warmup but didn't and was a scratch for the final. He was suspended for the semifinal against Moncton for a warmup violation committed the last time London faced Medicine Hat . . . Earlier in the day, Medicine Hat star defenceman Tanner Molendyk described London as the best team he had faced all year. 'They have a lot of skill but when a team works hard and has skill, it's one of the hardest things to beat,' the Predators first-rounder said. He felt it and the rest of the hockey world saw it up close this week. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. rpyette@ MEMORIAL CUP FINAL Knights 4, Tigers 1 London goals: Denver Barkey (2), Jacob Julien, Easton Cowan Medicine Hat goal: Gavin McKenna Sunday at Sun Life Financial Coliseum Knights 4, Tigers 1 First period 1., London, Julien 2 (Brzustewicz, Dickinson) 11:21 Penalties – None. Second period 2. London, Cowan 3 (O'Reilly, Dickinson) 3:13 3. London, Barkey 2 (Dickinson) 4:53 4. London, Barkey 3 (unassisted) 12:08 (pp) Penalties – Lindstrom, MH (high-sticking) 10:42, Nicholl, Ldn (tripping) 13:01, Woolley, Ldn (cross-checking) 17:01, Lindstrom, MH (faceoff violation) 17:01. Third period 5. Medicine Hat, McKenna 3 (Vaisanen, Molendyk) 2:43 Penalties – Cowan, Ldn (high-sticking) 6:54, Wiesblatt, Ldn (high-sticking) 7:31. Shots on goal by Ldn 12 9 3–24 MH 11 17 4–32 Power plays: Ldn 1-2. MH 0-2. Goalies: Elliott, Ldn (W, 4-1). Meneghin, MH (L, 3-1). Referees – Nicolas Leduc, Taylor Burzminski. Lines – Nicolas Boivin, Spencer Knox. Attendance – 4,512 Read More
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
London Knights beat Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 for 3rd Memorial Cup title
RIMOUSKI, Quebec — Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey scored twice in the second period and the London Knights beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 on Saturday night for their third Memorial Cup title. Jacob Julien and Easton Cowan also scored and Austin Elliott made 31 saves to help the Ontario Hockey League champion Knights win the junior hockey championship a year after losing in the final to host Saginaw. 'This is something I'll never forget,' said Barkey, London's captain. 'We worked all year toward this, and this is the tightest team I've ever played on. To be able to do it with these guys. It's so surreal. Going to remember this for life.' After a 3-1 loss to Western Hockey League champion Medicine Hat on Tuesday night in round-robin play, London beat Moncton 5-2 on Friday night in the semifinal game to set up the rematch with the Tigers. London also won the Memorial Cup in 2005 and 2016. The Knights are owned by former NHL players Dale and Mark Hunter and Basil McRae, with Dale Hunter serving as president and coach and Mark Hunter as general manager. Dale Hunter won his third title to match former Kamloops and Vancouver coach Don Hay's record. 'It's an empty feeling when you go home with nothing,' Dale Hunter said. 'When you come to this tournament, you had a good year, but when you don't win the last game, it's not successful.' Medicine Hat star Gavin McKenna spoiled Elliott's shutout bid early in the third period, and Harrison Meneghin stopped 20 shots for the Tigers. They won the Memorial Cup in 1987 and 1988. 'They cared, they tried,' Tigers coach Willie Desjardins said. 'Coming in, we only have one problem, that's London's a really good hockey team. It wasn't that we didn't want it, wasn't that we didn't try. They're just a good team.' Julien opened the scoring midway through the first period. Cowan, a first-round pick by Toronto, and Barkey scored in a 1:40 span early in the second and Barkey made it 4-0 on a power play with 7:52 left in the period. ___ AP sports:
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Flames Prospect Basha's Medicine Hat Suffer Defeat To London In Memorial Cup Final
Calgary Flames left wing Andrew Basha (49) controls the puck against the Edmonton Oilers during a pre-season game at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sept. 23, 2024. (Photo: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images) Calgary prospect Andrew Basha and his Medicine Hat Tigers did not reach the promise land of Canadian junior hockey as they were beaten 4-1 by the OHL champions London Knights in the Memorial Cup Final on Sunday evening. Advertisement The 19-year-old forward put up passes and created scoring chances, but none could be finished into the back of the net. He tried to get something going during his shift in Medicine Hat's first and most promising-looking power play, but that too faltered. The Calgary native will end his Memorial Cup campaign with one assist. Two days ago, the Knights knocked out fellow Flames prospect Etienne Morin and the QMJHL champions Moncton Wildcats. It was reported from Logan Gordon that Flames assistant GM Brad Pascall plans on having Morin on the Flames' AHL affiliate team, the Wranglers next season. Similar plans are being discussed for Basha. Tweet from Logan Gordon regarding the futures of Flames prospects Etienne Morin, Andrew Basha and Matvei Gridin (@Fan960Logan) It should be interesting.
