Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and Home Hardware Stores Limited, today announced that the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will take place at Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, on Wednesday January 19, 2011.

“The Canadian Hockey League is very excited to bring the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game back to Toronto where the event first began in 1996,” said CHL President David Branch. “This is an exciting opportunity for the NHL’s future stars to display their talents on Air Canada Centre ice before a national television audience and in front of one of the largest crowds this game has ever seen, and our appreciation is extended to Brian Burke and the entire Toronto Maple Leafs organization for hosting this prestigious event.”

The 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will mark the 16th annual showcase of the CHL’s top-40 NHL draft eligible players featuring talent from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The two-day event also features an exciting skills competition and three-on-three challenge taking place on Tuesday January 18, 2011.

“The CHL has a rich history of producing great NHL players and Toronto has been fortunate enough to have many of its alumni wear the Maple Leaf,” said Brian Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager. “This will be a great opportunity to showcase the next generation of NHL stars and the Maple Leafs organization is thrilled to bring the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to Air Canada Centre.”

The event returns to Toronto for the fifth time in 16 years and the first time since Air Canada Centre played host in 2000. Maple Leaf Gardens hosted the first three straight events beginning in 1996.

“On behalf of more than 1,070 Home Hardware Dealers across Canada, we look forward to returning to Air Canada Centre for the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game,” said Paul Straus, President and CEO of Home Hardware Stores Limited. “This will be our twelfth straight year as title partner of the event dating back to 2000 when it was hosted right here in Toronto, and we continue to enjoy the excitement that the players competing in this event bring to hockey fans across the country.”

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with SUBWAY® restaurant chain and the three regional leagues the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Western Hockey League today announced all six Canadian host centres for the 2010 SUBWAY® Super Series.

Canada and Russia will renew their rivalry in CHL venues across the country for the eighth straight year this season as part of a six game series beginning Monday November 8 in Saint John, NB.  The QMJHL will also host Game Two in Drummondville, QC, on Wednesday November 10.  The OHL leg of the series picks up in London, ON, on Thursday November 11 before heading north to Sudbury, ON, for Game Four of the series on Monday November 15.  The series shifts to the WHL and Kamloops, BC, on Wednesday November 17 before wrapping up in Prince George, BC, with Game Six on Thursday November 18.

The series features regional teams of CHL All-Stars competing against the Russian National Junior Team and serves as an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada just prior to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp for the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships to be held this season in Buffalo, New York.

“The CHL looks forward to welcoming back the SUBWAY® Super Series in CHL arenas this November,” said CHL President David Branch.  “The excitement around this event continues to grow as fans have the opportunity to see our league’s top talent that will vie for a spot on Team Canada at the World Junior Championships compete against one of our country’s biggest hockey rivals.”

SUBWAY®, a corporate partner of the CHL since the 2005-06 season became title sponsor of the SUBWAY® Super Series last season as part of an expanded corporate partnership deal.

Last season, the CHL won all six games of the series and were represented internationally by 21 players from 2009 SUBWAY® Super Series rosters on the Team Canada squad that captured silver at the World Junior Championships in Saskatoon, SK.  Eight Russian players also competed in the 2009 event before finishing in sixth place in Saskatchewan.

All six games of the SUBWAY ® Super Series will be broadcast nationally on Rogers Sportsnet with RDS televising both games from the QMJHL.

The 2010 SUBWAY® Super Series is supported by CHL associate sponsors, Bank of Montreal and CCM.
2010 SUBWAY® Super Series Schedule of Games:

Game 1 – Monday November 8 at Saint John, NB
Game 2 – Wednesday November 10 at Drummondville, QC

Game 3 – Thursday November 11 at London, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 15 at Sudbury, ON

Game 5 – Wednesday November 17 at Kamloops, BC
Game 6 – Thursday November 18 at Prince George, BC

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Louis Leblanc was crushed when he was cut from Canada’s team for the IIHF World Junior Championship last year and it’s clear he doesn’t want that to happen again.

The Montreal Canadiens’ 2009 first-round draft pick scored two goals and was dangerous on nearly every shift while leading Team White to a 6-3 victory over Team Red in an intra-squad game at the Canadian junior team development camp on Friday night.

“I still have a bad taste in my mouth from being cut from camp last year,” said Leblanc. “I came here ready and when the puck dropped I think our line was ready with (Sean) Couturier and (Quinton) Howden.

“Things were clicking and I think we got the job done.”

Brayden Schenn also had two goals while Casey Cizikas and Leblanc’s linemate Sean Couturier got one each for the Whites, who outshot Red 38-36.

Defenceman Stefan Elliott and forward Carter Ashton scored in the first period and winger Zack Kassian got one in the third for Red.

Leblanc left Harvard University to join the Montreal Juniors of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this summer in order to play more games and play in his home town. One of the 19-year-old’s top priorities is to make the world junior team.

“I think I’m ready to make the commitment and play a lot of games and focus on hockey for a year and see where I am the year after,” he said.

Tyler Seguin, the second overall draft pick of the Boston Bruins, was held off the scoresheet. The skill and explosive skating of the Plymouth Whalers’ star was evident, but Seguin was not sharp around the net.

“It’s the first time I played in a game since the (Boston) development camp after the draft, so I’m kind of using this to get back into hockey shape,” said Seguin. “It’s going to be a little tough going out there after not playing as much hockey as some other guys.

“I feel strong out there. I’ve been working out a lot for the last month and half and from now on, I’ll work out and skate for another month and half.”

After his low shot was stopped by Jean-Francois Berube after breaking in alone down the right side, a fan yelled out “Taylor Hall would have scored from there” – a reference to Edmonton’s No. 1 overall pick.

An announced crowd of 2,346 turned out at Mile One Centre, several wearing Bruins jerseys.

The teams will play a second Red-White game Saturday night.

There was only one power play in the game as Ashton was sent off for roughing and it produced a goal for Couturier, tabbed as a potential first overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft. He also had an assist.

A skirmish broke out late in the game when White defenceman Erik Gusbranson was speared in the groin and went after Kassian.

Coach Dave Cameron was not amused.

“I thought it was a spear that started it – I’ve got no time for that,” said Cameron. “The competitiveness I love.

“You’re not going to win this tournament if you’re undisciplined. It’s just too close with too many teams. So hopefully it’s a learning experience for our team.”

White jumped to an early 2-0 lead as Cizikas got around defenceman Brock Beukeboom, went in alone and, after his first shot was stopped, scored from a scramble in front of Mark Visentin only 45 seconds into the game.

Visentin left a big rebound and was slow to cover his right side as Leblanc shot in his own rebound at 5:05.

Elliot fired a wrist shot to the top corner past Calvin Pickard through traffic at 11:11 to put Red on the board and Ashton tied it at 14:38, scoring from the side of the net after a long moment of intense pressure in the White zone.

Leblanc put White ahead at 18:02 as he was sent in on a two-on-one by Couturier and put a wrist shot in off Visentin’s glove.

Scott Glennie created traffic in front and his Brandon Wheat Kings teammate Schenn sneaked in to lift in a White goal 6:04 into the middle frame.

Neil Manning partially fanned on a point shot and the puck fooled Berube as it went in off Schenn’s leg. Couturier’s power-play goal gave White a commanding lead.

Kassian backhanded a shot into an open side through a pile-up in front of Olivier Roy’s crease in the third period to make it a little closer.

But while White dominated, Cameron said the teams won’t be changed for the second intra-squad game.

“Team White was the better team, but now it’s a challenge for Team Red to come back,” he said. “You don’t want to take that challenge away from them.

“The easiest thing now would be to even it up, but no, this is a team sport. Let’s see how they respond.”

Both teams changed goalies midway through the second frame, with Berube replacing Visentin and Roy in for Pickard.

The Red team was stacked at centre with Seguin, fourth overall pick Ryan Johansen (Columbus), who had two assists, and seventh overall pick Jeffrey Skinner (Carolina).

But White had Schenn, the only healthy returnee from last year’s world juniors, and Couturier down the middle. White also had No. 3 pick Gudbranson (Florida) on defence.

In a two horse race to be the first overall selection, the debate between Tyler Seguin and Taylor Hall will be settled by the Edmonton Oilers – barring any trades. The Boston Bruins will – also barring a trade – be choosing second, and should take whoever the Oilers pass on.

Following is the current order of selection for the first round:

Round 1

1. Edmonton Oilers

2. Boston Bruins (from Toronto)

3. Florida Panthers

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

5. New York Islanders

6. Tampa Bay Lightning

7. Carolina Hurricanes

8. Atlanta Thrashers

9. Minnesota Wild

10. New York Rangers

11. Dallas Stars

12. Anaheim Ducks

13. Phoenix Coyotes (from Calgary)

14. St. Louis Blues

15. Boston Bruins

16. Ottawa Senators

17. Colorado Avalanche

18. Nashville Predators

19. Los Angeles Kings

20. Pittsburgh Penguins

21. Detroit Red Wings

22. Phoenix Coyotes

23. Buffalo Sabres

24. Atlanta Thrashers (from New Jersey)

25. Vancouver Canucks

26. Washington Capitals

27. Montreal Canadiens

28. San Jose Sharks

29. Anaheim Ducks (from Philadelphia)

30. Chicago Blackhawks

For all of your NHL Draft updates live from Los Angeles, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@OpenIceHockey, @vankoughnett) or add us on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/3327ajo)

OpenIceHockey’s Jesse Michael was able to catch up with Galiev at the 2010 Canadian Hockey League prospects game in Windsor, ON.

JM: Why did you come to the QMJHL to play instead of Europe?
SG: It’s better for me. It’s more physical, faster and just better overall for me.

JM: Did anyone ever tell you if you leave Russia you won’t be able to play on the national teams?
SG: Ahhh…I’m not sure *laughing*.  There was no discussion about that when I left

JM: Major differences between Russian and North American hockey?
SG: More physical and faster.  At junior it’s more professional.  Lots of good coaches.  It’s just better overall.  I like playing physical and a fast style.

JM: Differences between American and Canadian hockey?
SG: Not really much difference.  It’s just a faster league, you have to be quicker.  It’s a small rink just like the US.  The level is higher.

JM: Why don’t more Russians don’t come and play in Canada?
SG: I don’t know.  I picked Canada because I think it’s better for me.  I can learn so much more, and play at a higher level.  It’s good experience.  I don’t know exactly what it is.

JM: Girls in Russia compared to where you’re playing now.
SG: I don’t know really.  I don’t have a lot of time for girls.  Obviously Russia has the hotter girls.

JM: Who controls the music in the dressing room?
SG: A lot of Ipod’s going.  We just switch every time.  We listen to techno music, some rap.  We have some Little Wayne playing too.

JM: What would you want to do if you weren’t a hockey player?
SG: I’d want to be a hockey trainer or something in hockey.

JM: Do you play NHL ’10 at all?
SG: Not really, I play a lot of Call of Duty 4.

JM: Favorite meal?
SG: Chicken Parmesan

JM: Favorite player right now?
SG: Alex Semin.  I like his style.  He’s a great guy, he’s smart and dangerous on the ice.  I model my game after him

JM: Favorite team in the NHL?
SG: No favorite team but maybe the Capitals or the Penguins.  Rivals.

JM: Taylor (Hall) or Tyler (Seguin)?
SG: Taylor Hall.

JM: Backyard rink or pond?
SG: Backyard Rink

JM: Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, or Wayne Gretzky?
SG: Wayne Gretzky

JM: What would it mean to you to get drafted into the NHL?
SG: It would be great.  Playing in the NHL is my dream and I’d love to do it one day.

Look for Stanislav to be drafted in the late first round or early second round of the 2010 NHL draft in Los Angeles.

They accomplished the feat in stunning fashion, defeating the host Brandon Wheat Kings 9-1.

It was the first time since the Jarome Iginla led Kamloops Blazers in 1994-95 that a team was able to repeat as champs.

Adam Henrique opened the scoring 6:34 into the first period with his third of the tournament, squeaking a shot from the slot between the legs of Wheat Kings’ goalie Jacob De Serres.

Before the period was out, Eric Wellwood scored to give the home side a 2-0 lead.

Going into the second, the feeling amongst everyone in attendance cheering for the host team was well aware that they needed the next goal to have a shot at catching the defending champions.

That didn’t happen, as Taylor Hall put a laser over top of De Serres’ glove hand to make it 3-0 Windsor.

Brandon got on the board just under four minutes later, when Matt Calvert – playing in his final game with the Wheat Kings – rifled one top corner to make it 3-1.

The flood gates opened up for the Spitfires after.  Greg Nemisz, Marc Cantin, Cam Fowler, Zack Kassian, Henrique with his second, and Dale Mitchell filled the score sheet before the game was over.

Having locked up the win early in the third, Henrique said after the game that it was nice to reflect a little on the previous years spent in Windsor.

“We were obviously thinking about the back-to-back titles,” he said.  “I wouldn’t want to have done it with a different group of guys.  The group we have in the room is so special and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Taylor Hall explained that it was the different mix of players that helped them be so successful over the last two seasons.

“I think that’s our playoff experience coming into effect,” he said to OpenIceHockey after the game.  “We have so many guys who have been through so much; World Juniors, Under 18’s and all that kind of stuff.  Boughy [Bob Boughner] and the coaching staff gave some great tips and great leadership.”

Wellwood, who scored the game winner, spoke afterwards about how special it was winning two in a row.

“It’s a sense of accomplishment,” he said.  “We realize what we’ve done.  We’ve heard about the other teams to have done the same thing.  I’m glad we can be apart of this.”

Eric’s brother, NHL’er Kyle Wellwood, talked about how proud he was of his brother.

“Certainly it’s an amazing feat and it’s definitely one of the top teams of all time in the CHL,” he said.  “To have him apart of it playing for hometown team, it’s real nice.”

Henrique finished up by saying he’s enjoyed the ride.

“It’s been an unbelievable run and this is the right way to go out for us.”

De Serres made 43 stops for the Wheat Kings, while Philipp Grubauer stopped 27 of 28 shots he faced in the win.

After losing five in a row to the Calgary Hitmen dating back to their WHL playoff series, the hometown Brandon Wheat Kings were able to shake their demons en route to a 5-4 overtime victory Friday night.

With the win, the Wheat Kings get another shot at the defending Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires in Sunday’s finale.  They lost to the Spitfires in the tournament opener 9-3.

Jay Fehr was the hero in this one, as he took a drop pass from Toni Rajala just inside the blueline, and fired it past Martin Jones.

The game didn’t start well for the home squad as they fell behind by two goals twice.

Joel Broda got the ball rolling with his second of the tournament, followed by Ian Schultz nine seconds later with his first.

Alex Urbom got Brandon back to within one at the beginning of the second, only to have Tyler Fiddler restore the two goal cushion.

Fehr spoke after the game about how important it was to stay upbeat and positive to get back in the game.

“We knew we had a lot of momentum the crowd was great tonight,” he said.  “We had a lot of confidence in the way that we were playing and just wanted to keep it going.”

And keep it going they did.

The Wheat Kings rallied off the next three goals – Matt Calvert, Travis Hamonic, and Colby Robak – to take a 4-3 lead with 15 minutes left in the third.

“We’ve had that problem sometimes during the year when we get scored on early we fold the tents but tonight the boys wanted it,” Calvert said   “We didn’t want to have our last game together, and wanted a chance to play for the Memorial Cup on Sunday.”

Those aspirations looked a little more bleak as the period went on, as Misha Fisenko scored his first of the tournament to tie the game at four.

But the hockey gods were smiling down on the host team, as Fehr potted his third of the tournament 3:16 into the extra frame.

“We felt like we had a lot of hockey left,” Brayden Schenn said after the game.  “We battled back from 2-0 and then 3-1.  We have an older hockey club and didn’t want it to be our last game together.”

Hitmen forward Mackenzie Royer felt that they might have overlooked the Wheat Kings.

“Maybe our heads weren’t in it,” he said. “Maybe we thought we’d won five in a row and just set our sticks down and it’d be easy.  They’re a good team over there and we didn’t show up tonight.”

Jones, who stood on his head making 43 saves, couldn’t really put words together to explain what happened.

“Obviously it was a tough game and a tough way to go out,” he said. “We didn’t play our best tonight and I think that’s what’s going to hurt the most.”

It was a tough loss for the Hitmen, as they won the WHL championship and were red-hot against the Wheat Kings.

“Our goal was to get to the finals and win the Memorial Cup,” Jones said.  “To fall short is pretty disappointing.”

Jacob De Serres was solid for Brandon, stopping 25 of 29 shots.

Three Stars: 1) Brayden Schenn, 2) Martin Jones, 3) Jay Fehr

The Calgary Hitmen put up a five-spot in the first twenty minutes, pacing themselves to a 5-1 victory over the host Brandon Wheat Kings Wednesday night.

The round robin is officially complete and the win ensures the Hitmen home-ice advantage in the semi-final game Friday night.

The theme of tonight’s game for the Wheat Kings was redemption.

That didn’t work out too well.

Kris Foucault started the scoring just under three minutes in on a shot that squeaked between the legs of Wheat Kings goalie Jacob De Serres.

Brandon came back with a quick response 29 seconds later, as Jay Fehr took a nice pass from behind the net and buried it past Martin Jones to tie it at one.

Foucault potted his second of the game less than three minutes later, and said after the game that it was important for them to get the next goal.

“We scored a quick one and they scored a quick one,” he said.  “Of course scoring the next goal and getting the confidence and the team back together was definitely huge.”

He wasn’t kidding, as the flood gates opened after that goal.

Before the period was out, Cody Beach, Jimmy Bubnick, and Tyler Shattock scored and the game was out of reach.

Bubnick – with his four-point night – passed Taylor Hall for the tournament lead in points with eight.  He explained that it was a matter of finally getting things to go the way they wanted them.

“It was a matter of getting the bounces and plucking away,” he said.  “We never got the bounces in the playoffs and now we are.  Things are going right right now and we have to keep it going into the semi-finals.”

It was a tough night for the Wheat Kings, who have now been outscored by the Hitmen 11-2, dating back to game six of the WHL semi-finals.

Rotating captain Matt Calvert explained that they created a hole they couldn’t dig themselves out of.

“We put ourselves in a bad situation, and then we had to work ourselves back up from there,” he said.  “It obviously didn’t happen tonight.  The good news is we get another second chance. We will either have one game left in the season or two now.”

He went on to explain that he doesn’t buy into the momentum factor even tough Calgary has won five straight games against them.

“If you look at it that way we beat them every game in the regular season, and then they beat us in the playoffs,” Calvert said.  “When it comes down to this it shows what your team has in character and it’s going to come out to who wants it more now.

Things got testy towards the end, as Foucault took a knee-on-knee hit from Shayne Wiebe in the neutral zone.

Foucault limped off the ice in obvious discomfort, while teammate Rigby Burgart chased Wiebe around the ice.  As Wiebe went into the corner, Burgart checked him from behind into the boards.

The Wheat Kings ended up with two five-on-three power plays for two minutes each, but couldn’t capitalize on either.

Calvert believes that they’re buzzing, but just aren’t clicking right now

“We need to keep on shooting and get more guys to the net,” he said. “And after that, we need to let our skill level take over.”

Foucault said after the game that he put himself in an unfortunate situation. He went on to say that the injury was just a stinger and he’ll be in the lineup Friday night.

Jones stopped 39 of 40 shots he faced, while De Serres was 25 of 30.

Stars of the Game – 1) Kris Foucault, 2) Jimmy Bubnick, 3) Tyler Shattock

Even with a semi-final date set between the Calgary Hitmen and Brandon Wheat Kings, each team realizes there is a lot to play for tonight.

“We both know we’re playing Friday,” Hitmen goalie Martin Jones said.  “We want to make sure we don’t have any bad habits and make sure we don’t get sloppy.  We want to play them hard and let them know that it’s going to be a tough couple of games.”

There is a lot of history between the two teams as they both play in the Eastern Conference of the WHL.

This game will mark the tenth time they have faced each other this year alone.  Brandon won the season series 3-1, while Calgary defeated the Wheat Kings 4-1 in the Conference finals.

Jones knows that the game will be tough, even with the success they had against them in the playoffs.

“We know who their top guys are and how they like to play,” he said.  “It’s not going to be easy.  We need to bring our best.  There’s no room for bad games.”

Having not played for two nights, Wheat Kings captain Brayden Schenn feels that they can use this game as a tune up for Friday night’s tilt.

“We had three weeks off and we’ve only played two games [at the Memorial Cup],” he said.  “We’re trying to get better.  Obviously the game itself doesn’t mean anything but to the team it does.  We have two cracks at Calgary and we’re looking for two wins.”

Coach Kelly McCrimmon believes that it shouldn’t be hard to motivate his team.

“We need to keep getting better over the course of the week,” he said.  “It’s really important we don’t take a step backwards.  To get where we need to go we need to get better and better because it’s going to take big efforts from here on in to be successful.”

Schenn said that they’ve been chomping at the bit to get another shot at the Hitmen.

“Them beating us in the playoffs leaves a bitter taste in your mouth,” he said.  “It’s important for us to come out with a good start and we’re definitely looking for redemption on them.”

Hitmen forward Tyler Shattock knows that Brandon will be firing on all cylinders.

“There’s still some hard feelings from our series earlier so I don’t expect anything less from both teams,” he said. “Everyone wants to put in a good showing.”

Jones echoed his teammates’ sentiments.

“We’ve had a bit of a rivalry.  It’s going to be an intense game and a lot of fun to play in.”

While Jones is the confirmed starter for Calgary, Coach McCrimmon would not release his starter.  It is expected that Jacob De Serres will get the nod.

Puck drop is 7pm (8pm EST) from Westman Place.

Wellwood took advantage of a bounce off the end boards and finished off a crazy overtime with his first goal of the tournament, giving the Windsor Spitfires a 4-3 victory over the Moncton Wildcats. (Watch post game video here)

Wellwood was snake bitten earlier in the frame, as he shot a bouncing puck in the slot over the net and into the crowd.

He redeemed himself however, as he officially put the dagger into the Wildcats’ season, sending them home with an 0-3 record.

“I felt I was going to score a goal,” Wellwood said after his OT winner.  “I had a lot of opportunities in the third period and the overtime and it wasn’t going in but I still got it.  I was happy to get another chance.”

He was also pleased that they knocked out the first team of the tournament.

“It’s nice to get them out of the way,” he said.  “Kelowna let off last year and we came back.  We didn’t want that to happen this year and wanted to get them out of the way.”

Even with the win however, Wellwood felt that the Spitfires didn’t play the way they normally do.

“We weren’t as happy as we were with our other two games,” he said.  “We weren’t as sharp as we normally are and I think that’s because we knew we were going to the finals.  It’s human nature to let up.”

The win didn’t come easy for the Spits, as the QMJHL champions put up a fight until the very end.

In what was a bit of a surprising move, Wildcats’ goalie Nicola Riopel was scratched before the game in favor of backup Shane Owen.

““Last night they told me to be ready because Rio [Riopel] came down with the flu,” he said.  “I had to prepare myself even if he was ready.”

Having Owen face Windsor wasn’t a complete shot in the dark however, as he spent half of this season with the Erie Otters of the OHL before he was cut.

Owen played a stellar game, stopping 48 of the 52 shots he faced.

“I definitely wanted to give it my all and give them a chance to win the game,” he said.  “The boys came out hard and gave it all we had and we left it on the ice.”

It looked like Windsor was going to shut down the Wildcats completely, but early in the third period, they got some life.

Captain Scott Brannon brought the game to 2-2, followed by a Brandon Gormley seeing-eye shot 29 seconds later to give them their first lead since game one against Calgary.

“We were fighting for our lives,” Brannon said.  “We knew we had to just keep plugging away and get shots to the net.  We got up a goal and they got one back.  They did a great job in overtime and couldn’t ask for a better finish for the guys.”

That aforementioned goal came off the stick of perennial fourth liner Stephen Johnston, who was rewarded for his hard work with a shift on the top line with Taylor Hall and Adam Henrique.

But it was the goal by Wellwood that ultimately sunk the Wildcats and left them dreaming about what could have been.

Brannon – playing in what was most likely his last game in the CHL – explained that his team wore their heart on their sleeve.

“Our year is over and we had a great game,” he said.  “I like how we saved our best game for last.  It could have gone either way, we had a lot of chances but they got a good bounce at the end.”

Cam Fowler and Justin Shugg had the other goals for Windsor, while Randy Cameron tallied his first of the tournament for Moncton.

Philip Grubauer played another strong game, stopping 38 of 41 shots.