2008 National U18 Club Championship

SAINT-FRANCOIS OPENS 2008 TELUS CUP WITH WIN OVER COLE HARBOUR

One year ago, they were the bronze medalists in Red Deer, AB. This year, the Séminaire Saint-François Blizzard look to improve their medal colour to gold and took the first step on Monday, topping the Cole Harbour McCains 3-1 in the opening game of the 2008 TELUS Cup.

William Cloutier, Jérôme Gauthier-Leduc and Tommy Giroux scored for Saint-François, who held a 29-20 advantage in shots on goal over the McCains. Jordan Mock had the lone goal for Cole Harbour, who saw their 11-game winning streak – dating back to the Nova Scotia provincial playoffs – snapped with the loss.

The Blizzard controlled play in the opening 20 minutes, and took the lead at the 9:23 mark when Cloutier took a pass from Jean-Phillipe Mathieu at the Saint-François blueline, cut into the slot and beat Cole Harbour goaltender Kody Blois with a snapshot low to the glove side.

Despite being outshot 11-6 in the first period, the McCains replied late in the frame as Mock deposited the rebound off a shot from blueliner Theodore Hannah past Blizzard goaltender Jean-Phillipe Gagnon to pull the Atlantic champions even after one period.

Gauthier-Leduc scored the only goal of the second period, capitalizing on a two-man advantage for the Blizzard by putting his point shot off the post and past Blois, capping off a wild powerplay that saw Saint-François miss numerous chances before the goal, and Giroux rounded out the scoring at the seven-minute mark of the third period, gathering in the puck after a scramble in front of Blois and scoring his team’s third goal.

Saint-François captain Frédérick Roy was named his team’s player of the game, while Cole Harbour’s Jordan Burke took home the honour for the Atlantic Region representatives.

The Blizzard return to the ice at the Nick Smith Centre on Tuesday afternoon when they face the Winnipeg Thrashers at 12:00 p.m. ET, while the McCains will take on the host Ottawa Valley Titans at 7:30 p.m. ET.