The OHL champion Oshawa Generals defeated the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic 4-3 yesterday in round robin play at the 2015 Mastercard Memorial Cup in Quebec City.
Hunter Smith scored the deciding goal midway through the third period, with the lone assist going to Bradley Latour, to snap a three-all tie.
The Generals took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Tobias Lindberg and Michael Dal Colle. Lindberg’s goal came at the 4:07 mark and was set up by Michael McCarron. Dal Colle’s marker came at 9:27, with the assists going to Matt Mistele and Mitchell Vande Somple.
Later in the frame, Tyler Boland and Alexis Loiseau scored within 44 seconds of each other as Rimouski roared back to even the tilt at two. Andrew Picco and Anthony Chapados drew the helpers on Boland’s goal.
Stephen Desrocher scored the only goal of the second perid, from Cole Cassels, to put the Generals back on top.
Florida Panthers prospect Chris Clapperton combined with Frederik Gauthier to set up Jan Kostalek‘s power-play tally early in the third, which forged a 3-3 tie.
Clapperton finished the game with one shot on goal, four hits and an even rating. Fellow Florida draftee Josh Brown, the Generals captain, had one shot on goal, two hits and finished with a +1 rating.
Ken Appleby made 19 saves to post the win while losing goaler Philippe Desrosiers finished with 33 stops.
The Generals will get right back at it today, taking on the host Quebec Remparts at 4:30 pm.