Memorial Cup Notebook: Tournament action kicks off

QUEBEC – An empty net goal proved to be the game-winner for the Quebec Remparts on Friday night.

Adam Erne’s empty net goal with 1:04 left in regulation time was the winning goal as the Remparts opened the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup with a 4-3 win over the Kelowna Rockets.

The Remparts entered the game on the heels of losing game seven of the Quebec League final on Monday night but started the game strong, putting the Rockets on their heels at points in the opening period, taking a 1-0 lead in the process.

“We had a great first period and really got our legs going,” said Quebec forward Anthony Duclair. “We played our style of hockey. We don’t know too much about them and they don’t know too much about us but we just wanted to stay focused on how we play.”

Duclair, who started the season in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers before being sent back to junior, picked up an assist in the win but had a pair of breakaways in the contest as well.

Nikolas Brouillard, Ryan Graves and Matt Murphy also scored for the Remparts.

Goaltender Zach Fucale, who won a Memorial Cup with the Halifax Mooseheads in 2013, stopped 26 shots.

Nick Merkley had a goal and an assist for the Rockets while Tyson Baillie chipped in with two assists. Gage Quinney and Leon Draisaitl also scored.

Goaltender Jackson Whistle stopped 27 shots for the Rockets.

Rockets defenceman Josh Morrissey told reporters discipline and a slow start were issues in the loss.

“They had a great start and a really good first period,” said Kelowna defenceman Josh Morrissey. “We weren’t as sharp as we wanted to be in the first period. We came on more as the game went on. I liked our second period and a lot of our third but we played undisciplined tonight. Against a skilled team like that, or any team in this tournament you just can’t get away with it.”

The tournament continues on Saturday as the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals open the tournament against the Quebec League’s Rimouski Oceanic. Rimouski beat the Remparts in the QMJHL final. Puck drop is slated for 4:30 p.m.

The Rockets have two days off as they return to action on Monday night against the Oceanic while the Remparts are back in action on Sunday night against the Generals.

(Photo: Le Colisee Pepsi, the host rink of the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images)