OHL Showcase Cup Championship game

In today's London Fress Press... Marlies stun Chiefs with blitz in second period Mon, March 23, 2009 Elgin Middlesex surrendered four goals in six minutes on the way to a 5-1 loss in the OHL Cup final
By SUN MEDIA STAFF

The stingy Elgin Middlesex Chiefs allowed just five goals in a six-game march to the OHL Cup final.

But in the minor midget hockey showcase championship game, they surrendered five more.

The Toronto Marlies stunned the Chiefs with a four-goal blitz in a six-minute span early in the second period and rode it to a 5-1 win yesterday at Mississauga's Hershey Centre.

Toronto's Zach Mitchell, Evan Rodrigues, Michael Curtis, Justin Rasmussen and Brett Richie each scored singles on Elgin Middlesex goalie Taylor Speed. Forward Jordan Drury was the only Chief to beat Marlies keeper Malcolm Subban, whose older brother PK is a star defenceman with the OHL's Belleville Bulls.

Elgin Middlesex went 0-for-4 on the power play. The Marlies were 0-for-1.

It's the second straight season Elgin Middlesex fell to the Toronto club at the Cup. Last year a Chiefs team that included Erie Otters forward Greg McKegg and Steve Shipley of the Owen Sound Attack lost in double overtime to the Marlies in the semifinals.

The Marlies organization lost the previous two finals. They last captured the Cup in 2004-05 when Sam Gagner and John Tavares topped Drew Doughty and the London Junior Knights 5-0 in the final.

The Matt Jenner-coached Chiefs qualified for the final yesterday by beating the Quinte Red Devils 2-1 in the semis for their sixth straight win. After falling behind in the second, Elgin Middlesex rallied for a pair of third-period goals, including Drury's winner with five minutes left.

Chiefs goalie Michael Roefs, the semifinal MVP, finished 3-0 with a shutout and allowed two goals in the tournament. Before facing the Marlies, Speed went 3-0 with a shutout and just three goals surrendered, including a 3-2 double-overtime win over the Mississauga Senators.

Jon Sims bagged the dramatic winner.

Elgin Middlesex forward Boone Jenner finished second in tourny scoring with six goals and 11 points in seven games. He was shut out in the final.

Quinte's Nick Cousins ended up scoring champ with five goals and 13 points in six games. He was held scoreless by the Chiefs.

The London Junior Knights finished 1-2-1 in the tournament featuring the top 20 minor midget teams in Ontario and the United States.