2007 National U18 Club Championship

Red Deer Optimist Rebels  0 -  Prince Albert Mintos  2
 

MINTOS PLAY STREAK-BUSTERS IN WIN OVER OPTIMIST REBELS

After 207:34 of shutout hockey, someone finally got to Marc Boulanger and the Red Deer Optimist Rebels.

Tyler Fiddler scored the first goal on Boulanger and the Optimist Rebels at the 2007 TELUS Cup, converting on a powerplay close to the midway point of the second period in what ended up as a 2-0 win for the Prince Albert Mintos on Thursday night.

In addition to snapping Boulanger’s shutout streak, the Mintos also snapped Red Deer’s 27-game home-ice winning streak, handing the tournament hosts their first loss at Red Deer Arena since the 2006 Alberta Midget Hockey League playoffs.

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Fiddler took a pass from Brandon Herrod and beat a stretching Boulanger for the game’s first goal.

Mitchell Peeke got the insurance goal for the West Region champions eight minutes later, tipping a Herrod shot through the legs of Boulanger. Fiddler picked up his second point of the game with an assist on the goal.

The Mintos extremely aggressive forecheck was present up until midway through the third period, when they dropped back to protect the lead.

The Optimist Rebels failed generate any sustained momentum, and the Mintos aggressive forecheck and physical presence enabled them to get the all-important two points.??That was us (on the ice tonight),” said Mintos head coach Tim Leonard following his team’s 11th consecutive win at the National Midget Championship, dating back to last year. “When we play like that, you can see the results. I am extremely proud of out boys for the way they played tonight. This is a tough building.”

Prince Albert goaltender Carsen Chubak was named his team’s Player of the Game after stealing the show with a 24-save shutout. Defenseman Kaare Odegard, who was a physical presence all night, picked up the honour for the Optimist Rebels.

The Mintos will look to wrap up their second consecutive perfect round-robin at the TELUS Cup when they face the winless Sault Ste. Marie North Stars on Friday afternoon, while the Optimist Rebels face the Séminaire Saint-François Blizzard on Friday night, in what will be a battle for semi-final positioning.

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PREVIEW: UNBEATEN VS. UNBEATEN – OPTIMIST REBELS TAKE ON MINTOS

The 2007 TELUS Cup round-robin’s marquee match-up – a battle of two unbeaten teams – take place on Thursday night at Red Deer Arena as the host Optimist Rebels take on the Prince Albert Mintos.

The defensive clinic continued for the Optimist Rebels on Wednesday night as they recorded their third straight shutout in a 5-0 win over Vancouver. They are just the second team in the last 12 years to record three shutouts at a National Midget Championship. The other? Last year’s Prince Albert Mintos.

Red Deer has really spread around the scoring, much as they did during the Alberta Midget Hockey League season. Fourteen players have recorded at least a point, led by tournament scoring leader Kyle Reynolds’ seven (four goals, three assists).

The Mintos may not be the dominating team they were in 2006, when they went 7-0 on the way to their first national championship, but they are undefeated and in a great spot to try and be the first team ever to go back-to-back.

The two-headed monster of Carsen Chubak and Jordan Washburn between the pipes for Prince Albert has been spectacular, allowing only four goals in three games, while the powerplay is the second-best at the TELUS Cup, converting at a 17.4 per cent clip (four goals in 23 chances).

One impressive streak will end on Thursday night – the Optimist Rebels are unbeaten in 27 games on home ice, while the Mintos have won 10 games in a row at the National Midget Championship. The winner has the inside track at first place, while the loser faces a tougher test in Saturday’s semi-final.

 

Game Information
Game Number 11  Round Preliminary
Arena Red Deer Arena City, Country Red Deer, Alta., Canada
Month / Day / Year 04/26/2007 Time (local) 07:00 PM MT
Attendance 1690 Game Status Final

Box Score   1     2     3   Total
Red Deer Optimist Rebels (PAC) 0 0 0 0
Prince Albert Mintos (WST) 0 2 0 2
Goals/Penalties
First Period
Goals:

Penalties:
   01:01 PAC 7 Colin Archer (Cross Checking)
   03:08 PAC 17 John Digness (Roughing)
   03:08 WST 2 Mitchell Peeke (Roughing)
   03:08 WST 4 Lewis Laczko (Roughing)
   08:49 PAC 4 Casey Mitchell (Unsportsmanlike Cnd.)
   08:49 WST 16 Brant Henry-Norton (Unsportsmanlike Cnd.)
   09:05 PAC 21 Dallas Goodrunning (Unsportsmanlike Cnd.)
   09:05 WST 11 Curtis Kulchar (Unsportsmanlike Cnd.)
   09:05 PAC 21 Dallas Goodrunning (Boarding)
   09:23 PAC 3 Jeff Einhorn (Unsportsmanlike Cnd.)
   13:11 WST 10 Tommy Brown (Holding)
   14:32 WST 7 Sterling Labatte (Hooking)
   17:34 PAC 16 Cass Mappin (Roughing)
   18:07 PAC 17 John Digness (Interference)
   18:38 PAC 5 Kaare Odegard (Roughing)

Second Period
Goals:
   07:34 WST 23 Tyler Fiddler (20 Travis Statchuk, 14 Brandon Herrod) PP
   15:48 WST 2 Mitchell Peeke (23 Tyler Fiddler, 14 Brandon Herrod)

Penalties:
   02:27 WST 14 Brandon Herrod (Slashing)
   03:23 PAC 21 Dallas Goodrunning (Hooking)
   05:49 PAC 21 Dallas Goodrunning (Elbowing)
   10:25 PAC 21 Dallas Goodrunning (Hooking)
   18:54 WST 23 Tyler Fiddler (Holding)

Third Period
Goals:

Penalties:
   02:07 WST 9 Ryan Fox (Slashing)
   12:21 PAC 16 Cass Mappin (10-Minute Misconduct)
   12:21 PAC 16 Cass Mappin (Checking to the Head)


Goaltenders
Red Deer Optimist Rebels
1 Marc Boulanger On 1/00:00   Off 3/20:00
Prince Albert Mintos
35 Carson Chubak On 1/00:00   Off 3/20:00

Shots on Goal   1     2     3   Total
Red Deer Optimist Rebels 9 10 6 25
Prince Albert Mintos 8 16 2 26

Player of Game
Red Deer Optimist Rebels 5 Kaare Odegard
Prince Albert Mintos 35 Carson Chubak
Officials
Referee Greg Sarauer
Lines People Mark Woytkiw, Dustin Zelenak
Goal Judge Gerry Paquette, Gerry Winina
Videos
Photos
2023 Men’s U18 Club Nationals: Day 7 – Sunday, April 30
The Blizzard defeat the Gaulois for gold and the Blazers take home bronze
2023 Men’s U18 Club Nationals: Day 6 – Saturday, April 29
The Blizzard and Gaulois win to set up an all Quebec U18 Club Nationals final.
2023 Men’s U18 Club Nationals: Day 5 – Friday, April 28
The Flames, Blazers and Jr. Canadiens won to wrap up the preliminary round.
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