Josh Bloom's goal with 21.7 seconds left in the third period broke a 3-3 tie, giving Saginaw Spirit a 4-3 win and its first Memorial Cup title.
Jorian Donovan managed to control the puck at the blue line and hit it towards the goal, where it bounced through various bodies to the goal line, where Bloom slammed it into the net.
The Knights fought back from a 3-0 deficit, but Saginaw’s strong defense held London to just one shot in the first quarter and five in the second.
SAGINAW, Mich. — London Knights goalie Michael Simpson hugs former teammate and Saginaw Spirit forward Owen Baker during a handshake following the 2024 Memorial Cup championship game.
Jim Van Horn / 980 CFPL
Montreal Canadiens rookie Owen Baker scored two goals for the Spirit early in the game and they led 2-0 going into the first half break.
The second goal came on a power play with less than a minute left when London forward Landon Sim was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for elbowing Saginaw defender Zayne Parekh after hitting him.
The Knights pulled the clock to 3:58 early in the second period with a big penalty on Sim, but the Spirit extended their lead when Joey Willis intercepted a puck at the London blue line and won the game and headed for the net, escaping a shot and backhanding it into the top corner to give Saginaw a three-goal lead.
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Less than two minutes later, Kasper Haltunen scored the Knights' first goal off a pass from Easton Cowan, who was hit hard to the left of midfield. Haltunen crossed the blue line and fired a wrist shot past Andrew Oak, giving the San Jose Sharks rookie his fourth goal of the Memorial Cup tournament, extending his scoring streak to seven games.
The Knights continued to charge in the third period, closing the gap to one goal on a Sam Dickinson drive that had the crowd rising from their seats. He started behind his own goal and sprinted across the ice. Dickinson cut to the left, got the puck behind the Spirit goal, and passed it to Easton Cowan from the right side. Cowan fired a wrist shot into the crowd in front to make it 3-2 with 12:12 left.
Dickinson didn't stop there. With 9:44 left, he received a pass from Max McCue and scored his second goal of the tournament to tie the game.
From that point on, the two teams engaged in a fierce battle, and as overtime approached and the puck reached the goal line, Bloom became the hero for the Spirit.
Dickinson finished the game with a goal and an assist.
Cowan had a goal and two assists, and Oliver Bunke had two assists.
Saginaw defeated London 31-13.
Baker was named tournament MVP.
Dickinson, O'Reilly and Woolley to compete in NHL combine
Three members of the London Knights, along with Jett Lucanco of London and Marek Vanak of Derry, Ontario, will attend the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft. Sam Dickinson, Sam O'Reilly and Jared Woolley will be in attendance at the event following the conclusion of the Memorial Cup Tournament. The Draft Combine brings together 100 of the top draft-eligible players and runs now through June 8.
O'Reilly leads all rookies
Sam O'Reilly's draft projection continues to climb in the 2024 NHL Draft, giving scouts reason to like him even more during the 2024 Memorial Cup Tournament. O'Reilly was the only rookie to score, and he actually contributed four points, including a goal and three assists, while also being a key puck-scrambler for the London Knights. The Toronto native assisted on Easton Cowan's game-winning goal to help the Knights advance directly to the Memorial Cup finals, and will now look ahead to Las Vegas and the NHL Draft at the Sphere on June 28-29.
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