The Oshawa Generals struck early in overtime to beat the Kelowna Rockets 2-1 for their first Memorial Cup title since 1990.
The game was a nail-biter from beginning to end, and the raw emotion was on full display.
Anthony Cirelli provided the offence for the Generals, scoring the tying goal in the second period and the winner in OT. The 17-year-old was an unlikely hero for the Generals.
Goaltending was also a major storyline in this game, with Oshawa’s Ken Appleby and Kelowna’s Jackson Whistle going save for save.
As solid as the goaltenders were on Sunday, they couldn’t stop everything.
Both sides had some terrific opportunities to pull ahead, but none closer than Hunter Smith’s waved-off goal late in the third period.
The high stick even triggered a small argument between John Shannon and Doug MacLean.
It didn’t end up mattering in the end, however, and following the game a number of Generals alumni took to Twitter to congratulate their alma mater.
Sunday’s victory was the 12th straight Memorial Cup win for Generals head coach D.J. Smith, who won two titles as an assistant coach with the Windsor Spitfires in 2009 and 2010.
All in all it was a successful season for the Generals, who were one of the best teams in the OHL all season and went undefeated in the Memorial Cup to bring home the franchise’s fifth CHL title.
Sunday’s final also marked the last game ever to be played at the historic Colisée, the 66-year-old home of the Remparts and former stomping grounds of the Quebec Nordiques.