RIMOUSKI, Quebec — The thrilling Memorial Cup semifinal witnessed the London Knights clinching a spot in the final, overcoming the Moncton Wildcats with a decisive 5-2 victory on Friday night. The victory grants them a chance to compete against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Sunday for the championship.
Blake Montgomery was instrumental in the victory, breaking a tied score at 3:35 into the third period. He skillfully maneuvered the puck past Moncton’s goalie, Mathis Rousseau, with a breakaway goal assisted by Sam Dickinson. This crucial goal set the momentum for the Knights in the latter stages of the game.
Previously in the tournament, the Medicine Hat Tigers secured their spot in the final by defeating the London Knights 3-1 on Tuesday night, reinforcing their position as the Western Hockey League champion. The Knights have been eager to claim the title, having narrowly lost 4-3 in the final against the host team Saginaw Spirit last year.
In addition to Montgomery’s pivotal performance, Landon Sim, Denver Barkey, Jesse Nurmi, and Easton Cowan, who scored into an empty net, also found the back of the net for London. Austin Elliott played a key role in guarding their lead, making 21 crucial saves throughout the match.
Moncton’s attempt to rally was powered by Caleb Desnoyers and Dyllan Gill, each scoring with a man advantage. Gill’s goal leveled the score at 2 during the second period. Despite Mathieu Rousseau’s commendable effort in blocking 32 shots, the Wildcats fell short. Moncton entered the semifinals after winning the QMJHL title in Rimouski the prior week, securing their spot by defeating the Oceanic in six games and then winning decisively over the host Rimouski team 6-2 on Wednesday.