Whalers eliminated in Vancouver

A slow start was the demise of the Plymouth Whalers at the 2007 Memorial Cup in Vancouver

Wacey Rabbit scored 55 seconds into the first period to lead the hometown Vancouver Giants to an 8-1 victory over the Whalers. The Giants opened a 2-0 lead after one period and broke the game open with a three goal second period and added three more in the final frame to seal the win.

The Whalers, who looked like they were getting back on track during the tie-breaker game when they defeated the Lewiston MAINEiacs 5-1, struggled for the most part against the Giants. Michal Repik scored two goals and added an assist to pace the Giants. James Wright also scored a pair of goals in the win. Milan Lucic had three assists, Mario Bliznak added two and J.D. Watt had a goal and two assists in the rout.

Andrew Fournier scored the lone Plymouth goal.

Plymouth goaltender Michal Neuvirth lasted until the 4:55 mark of the second period before being pulled in favour of Jeremy Smith. Neuvirth stopped10 of 13 shots while Smith Smith gave up five goals on 28 shots.

Tyson Sexsmith stopped 19 of 20 shots for Vancouver before being pulled for the final 4:08 in favour of young Blaine Neufeld. Neufeld did not face any Whalers shots as the Giants outshot the Whalers 40-20.

The Giants now move on to face the Medicine Hat Tigers, also of the Western Hockey League, in the Memorial Cup final on Sunday afternoon. Game time if 4 p.m. eastern. The game makes the first time since 1989 that two WHL teams have face each other in the final.