Attack Crowned OHL Champions After Overtime Thriller

Mississauga, ON – The Owen Sound Attack won another thrilling overtime victory today against the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors 3-2 to capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup in game seven at the Hershey Centre.

This is the first time in the 22 year franchise history the Attack have been OHL Champions.

“We have a great group of guys and we deserved it,” said Jarrod Maidens who had two goals in the game including the overtime winner.  “It feels amazing.”

Owen Sound opened the scoring in the first period as Mike Halmo got his stick on a shot from the point redirecting the puck past Majors net minder JP Anderson.

Stuart Percy tied it up for the Majors at 12:34 of the first period.  Percy stepped in from the point, walked around a sprawling Attack player and fired a wrist shot, beating Attack goalie Jordan Binnington short side under the blocker.

Maidens, who is in his rookie season in the OHL scored his first of the night with 7:26 remaining in the first period to give the Attack the lead.

The lead didn’t last long, as the Majors found them selves on the power play.  Jordan Mayer scored his ninth of the playoffs with assists coming from Michael D’Arazio, and Brett Flemming.

The second and third period was scoreless, with both goalies standing their grounds for the rest of regulation.  JP Anderson faced 26 shots, and Jordan Binnington faced 25 shots.

The Sunday matinee game seven was a sell out at the Hershey Centre.  No one was disappointed as for the third time in the series the game was going to overtime.

It took only 3:27 of overtime for Maidens to end the game.  In a scramble in front of JP Anderson, Maidens found the puck after Cameron Brace put it on net, and slammed it into the goal.

As the Western Conference’s number one ranked team, the Attack came back from being down 2-0 in the series to force a game seven.

Owen Sound forward Robby Mignardi was awarded the Wayne Gretzky 99 award as the Most Valuable Player in the 2011 playoffs.  Mignardi finished the playoffs with 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points in 22 games played.

Both teams have earned births into the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup which begins play Friday May 20.  With the host team Mississauga beginning round robin play against the QMJHL champion Saint John Sea Dogs.

The OHL champions Owen Sound Attack will begin play Saturday against the WHL champions Kootenay Ice.