Sea Dogs Crowned Champions

Mississauga, ON – Simon Despres, Zack Phillips and Jonathan Huberdeau provided all the offensive production that was needed for the Saint John Sea Dogs as they held off the host Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors in the final of the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup 3-1 Sunday night.

Riley Brace was the lone goal scorer for the Majors in the loss.

“We played our hearts out,” said team captain Casey Cizikas.  “We had our chances, we had tons of chances to score but we just couldn’t find the net.  Their goalie played unbelievable and he’s the reason I think they won.”

DeSerres, who was competing in his second Memorial Cup, was rock solid in the game stopping 34 shots for the win.  Something he failed to do as a member of the 2010 Brandon Wheat Kings who lost in the final last year to the Windsor Spitfires 9-1.

“It’s unbelievable, not many people can say they won their last game in junior hockey,” said DeSerres about the win.  “This makes up for everything, this is the greatest thing that could ever happen to me in my junior career.”

JP Anderson made 22 saves in the loss.

The Sea Dogs battled the Majors for Canadian Hockey League supremacy in a penalty filled contest seeing 10 minor penalties handed out within the first 40 minutes.

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Simon Despres opened the scoring early in the first period shorthanded.  Making a great individual effort Despres fought off a Majors defender letting a wrist shot go and picked the top corner over Anderson’s blocker.

The Sea Dogs continued the scoring with 6:43 remaining in the first period.  Just as the Majors’ finished killing off their second of four penalties in the period.  Defenseman Marc Cantin, winner of the George Parsons Trophy for Most Sportsmanlike player, made an error attempting to clear the puck behind the net instead of up the boards.  Forward Michael Kirkpatrick picked off the pass, leading to a nice tic-tac-toe play involving Huberdeau and ending with an open Phillips in front squeaking the puck between Anderson’s legs.

“Phillip’s was great,”  said Mike Thomas about the play of the 19-year old forward.  “We have a great chore of young guys and they all stepped up and played hard and it’s all we could of asked for.”

Brace opened the scoring 14:41 into the second period for the Majors.  The Majors applied pressure, threw their bodies and started to wear down the QMJHL champions.  After some great work down low, the forward line of Cizikas, Justin Shugg and Brace connected on a nifty passing play that hung DeSerres out to dry giving Brace an open net for the goal.

The Majors started the third period strong looking to tie the game early.  Less than a minute into the period Shugg failed to convert a pass from Cizikas who made a nice move to beat his defenseman leading to a two-on-one.

“Losing sucks.  There is no other way to put it.  Probably one of the worst feelings in the world right now,” said Cizikas.  “You leave everything on the line when you play your hearts out and you have chances to win…and you just don’t.”

With minutes remaining, the Majors got caught pinching giving Huberdeau and Phillips a two-on-one.  Phillips gave the puck to Huberdeau who made a nice move to dance around Anderson making no mistake for the goal.

“I scored goals like that in the season,” said Huberdeau about going to his backhand on the insurance marker.  “Just tried to do the same today – and it worked.”

The Sea Dogs tightened up defensively shutting down the offensive talent of the Majors holding on for the 3-1 win to earn their first MasterCard Memorial Cup championship in franchise history.

Devante Smith-Pelly, Stuart Percy, Nathan Beaulieu, and Huberdeau were all named to the MasterCard Memorial Cup all star line.  Andrew Shaw and Jordan Binnington of the Owen Sound Attack were the only players named not in the final game.

Notes:  With the win, the Sea Dogs become the first Maritime team to win the MasterCard Memorial Cup in the tournaments 93-year history.

Majors head coach Dave Cameron and team captain Cizikas had a rare opportunity at the triple-crown of junior hockey.  Making it to the finals of the World Juniors, Ontario Hockey League championship, and the MasterCard Memorial Cup yet falling short in all three contests.  “They say the losing toughens you” said Cameron.  “But right now, I feel like a 10-cent steak to tell you the truth.”