SAGINAW, MICH – What looked like potentially a foregone conclusion turned into some late-game dramatics.
The 2024 Memorial Cup final came down to the final minute and it was Josh Bloom that was the hero as the Saginaw Spirit beat the London Knights 4-3 to capture the first tournament title in franchise history.
The Spirit looked to be in control throughout the opening two periods, taking a 3-1 lead into the final 20 minutes and outshooting the high-scoring Knights by a 24-6 margin.
The Knights turned the tide some in the third period, scoring goals just under three minutes apart to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 3-3 tie and setting the stage for Bloom’s final minute heroics.
Saginaw opened the scoring midway through the opening period as Owen Beck won a faceoff deep in the London zone and grabbed a loose puck before beating Knights goaltender Michael Simpson in traffic at 9:07.
Beck added to the lead on the power play after a major penalty to London’s Landon Sim. Beck beat Simpson high stick side from the right circle on a one-timer after a feed from Josh Bloom at 19:16.
Saginaw made it a 3-0 game at 7:47 of the second period as Joey Willis grabbed a London turnover just outside the Knights line and proceeded to beat Simpson high glove on a breakaway.
The Knights finally got on the board midway through the second period as Kasper Halttunen beat Spirit goaltender Andrew Oke with a shot from the left circle high shirt side at 9:45.
London cut into the lead further at 7:48 of the third period as Easton Cowan took a pass from Sam Dickinson and beat Oke from the top of the right circle through traffic.
The Knights then tied the game as Dickinson took a pass from Max McCue on an odd-man rush and beat Oke from the left circle short side at 10:16 to knot the gam up at three.
Bloom then scored the game winner with 21.7 seconds to go in regulation time. After Jorian Donovan intercepted a clearing attempt near the London blueline and was stopped initially by Simpson before Bloom poked in the loose puck during a scramble.
Bloom finished the night with a goal and two assists to pace the Spirit offensively while Willis added one of each in addition to the two-goal night from Beck, who was named the tournament MVP.
Oke made 10 saves for Saginaw.
Cowan had a goal and two assists for the Knights. Dickinson chipped in with a goal and an assist for London. Oliver Bonk assisted on a pair of goals.
Simpson made 27 saves.
Game Notes
Lines
London
Denver
Barkey-Jacob Julien-Ruslan Gazizov
Max
McCue-Sam O’Reilly-Easton Cowan
Landon
Sim-Kaleb Lawrence-Kasper Halttunen
Evan Van
Gorp-William Nicholl-Sawyer Boulton
Isaiah
George-Jackson Edward
Sam Dickinson-Oliver
Bonk
Jared
Woolley-Henry Brzustewicz
Michael
Simpson
Owen
Willmore
Saginaw
Josh
Bloom-Owen Beck-Alex Christopoulos
Joey
Willis-Matyas Sapovaliv-Calem Mangone
Michael
Misa-Hunter Haight-Nic Sima
Sebastien
Gervais-Ethan Hay-Lincoln Moore
Jorian
Donovan-James Guo
Braden
Hache-Zayne Parekh
Rodwin
Dionicio-Will Bishop
Andrew Oke
Nolan
Lalonde
Scratches
London – Ryder Boulton, Noah Jenken, Alec Leonard (injury), Kaeden Johnston
Saginaw – Kaleb Papineau, Josh Glavin, Graydon Jones, Carson Harmer, Liam Storch, P.J. Forgione, Jacob Cloutier, Aidan Castle
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Coverage
Saginaw vs. Moose Jaw - May 24, 2024
Drummondville vs. London - May 25, 2024
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vs. Saginaw – May 26, 2024
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Jaw vs. London – May 27, 2024
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Jaw vs. Drummondville – May 28, 2024
London
vs. Saginaw – May 29, 2024
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