Titan shut out Pats to win Memorial Cup

REGINA, Sask. – Through 40 minutes the Regina Pats kept themselves in it but in the end the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan got the job done.

A pair of third period goals and a strong frame from goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick led the Quebec champs to a 3-0 win over the host team to win the 2018 MasterCard Memorial Cup Sunday evening at the Brandt Centre.

“We had a lot of energy at the start of the game,” said Titan Coach Mario Pouliot. “Mentally we were fresh, and we played our game probably for the first time in the tournament. We created time and possession and we had a lot of speed. We wanted to play fast and use our speed to put pressure on their defencemen.

“Every time we didn’t have the puck, we were chasing them and forcing them to turn the puck over,” Pouliot added.

A goal by defenceman Adam Holwell with just under four minutes to go in the opening period was the eventual game-winner but Pouliot calls a goal by Samuel Asselin with 6:58 to go in regulation an important one. The goal came as the Pats were pressuring the Titan looking to tie the game.

Fitzpatrick stopped 28 shots for the shutout, which included 17 in the third period.

“In the third period he made some important saves when the game was on the line,” Pouliot said. “Every mistake we made, he made some important saves.

“It doesn’t matter if the game is on the line, he stays composed,” Pouliot added.

Ethan Crossman had the other goal for the Titan.

“Being the smallest market in the CHL, it’s a huge accomplishment,” Pouliot said. “Four years ago, we started from the bottom. I’m so proud of our players.

Max Paddock, who was named a tournament all-star, stopped 41 shots, including 24 in the second period.

“Acadie deserves full marks for their win,” said Pats Coach John Paddock. “I would describe (the game) best by saying we needed a second puck on the ice because for two periods, they didn’t let us have it.”

“They were on us all the time, they were faster,” Paddock also said. “When we did have (the puck), they made hard plays on us, so we couldn’t get it out. It was a tough go.”

Pats forward Sam Steel was named the tournament most valuable player.

Rounding out the all-star team were Steel, Asselin, and Jeffrey Viel (Acadie-Bathurst), and defencemen Noah Dobson (Acadie-Bathurst), and Josh Mahura (Regina).