2005 National U18 Club Championship

WEST 4 VS HOST 1

Gold Medal Final
April 24, 2005
Guertin Arena
Gatineau, QC

By/Par: Graeme Kishiuchi

In the Gold Medal Game of the 2005 TELUS Cup, the Saskatoon Contacts take on the Host team, the Gatineau Intrepide.  In their only previous meeting in the round robin, the Contacts edged the Intrepide 4-2.  Saskatoon made it to the final by going 4-0-1 in the round robin and beating the Don Mills Flyers in the semi-finals.  Gatineau went 2-3 in the round robin and beat arch rival Levis Commandeurs in the other semi-final.  The game started out as expected, fast paced with both teams playing physical to set the tone.  The Contacts had an early power play chance but Maxim Gougeon was solid between the pipes.  After they killed off the power play, Gatineau’s Guillaume Mailloux had a great backhand chance that was kicked away by Travis Yonkman.  Mailloux was in alone a few minutes later, but lost control of the puck before he could get a shot away.  Right after, Nicolas Morin was in alone as well, but also lost control before he got a shot off.  The Contacts’ Dustin Cameron intercepted a pass and fired a shot on a 2-on-1 and Gougeon kicked the big rebound to Makstr Lacoursiere who put it into the gapping net for the crucial first goal at 10:50.  Gougeon fought back and made a big stop not long after on a Kyle Bortis one-timer from the slot.  Saskatoon went to the power play late in the period and made it count as Brady Wacker made a nice cross-ice feed to Nick Kalnicki to make it 2-0 at 16:12.  21 seconds later, Cody Danberg fed David Richard who beat Gougeon glove side, making it 3-0 Contacts.  Gatineau got a big goal when Olivier Donovan’s shot went of Maxim Langelier-Parent’s skate and in the net with 67 seconds left in the period. 

The second period saw the Intrepide on the power play twice in the first five minutes, but were unable to capitalize as Yonkman robbed François Lebeau with the glove.  Both teams were much tighter defensively in the second and there were fewer good chances to be had.  With 3:29 left in the period Russell Goodman put the Contacts ahead 4-1 when he finished off a nice 3-on-2 with Wacker and Kalnicki by totally fooling Gougeon from the slot.  Gatineau had a late power play, but solid penalty killing by Saskatoon sent them to the dressing room ahead 4-1, with 20 minutes between them and a national championship. 

Gatineau started the third with some early pressure, but Yonkman was up to the task, turning away the Intrepide shots.  The Contacts tightened up their defence and Gatineau could not generate anything more than perimeter chances.  Saskatoon did a great job of keeping the puck in the Gatineau end and killed off the remaining minutes on their way to a national championship.  The Player of the Game for the Silver medalist Gatineau Intrepide was Guillaume Mailloux and for the Gold medalist Saskatoon, Nick Kalnicki (1 Goal, 2 Assists).  The Contacts capped off a remarkable year, which saw them lose only 3 regular season game, 3 play-off games, win the prestigious Mac’s Midget Tournament and the TELUS Cup as National Champions.