JR Avon (PHI) scored the winner in overtime as the Peterborough Petes advanced to the semi-finals of the 2023 Memorial Cup presented by Kia after a 5-4 win over the host Kamloops Blazers, a team they suffered a 10-2 loss to that effect. last Sunday.
Avon scored the winner at 10:54 of the extra frame on a pass from Owen Beck (MTL) as Bates completed a stunning comeback after trailing 4-1 in the second period.
“It was an unreal feeling,” Avon said. “I don’t think anything is going to beat that for a while.”
JR AVON OVERTIME WINNER‼️#MemorialCup | #fulldebelly pic.twitter.com/XDUogN8MS0
– Canadian Hockey League (CHLHockey) June 2, 2023
Connor Lockhart, Brennan Osman (NY), Samuel Mayer and Brian Zanetti (PHI) each scored in regulation while Michael Simpson stopped 43 shots. Kamloops scored goals from Logan Stankoven (D), Olene Zellweger (ANA), Harrison Broneck and Logan Bayros while Dylan Ersent made 25 saves.
“We had this ‘it’s not over’ attitude,” said Peterborough coach Rob Wilson. “We adopted that at the start of the playoffs and we [ran] with her.
After being down by three at 4:23 of a second, Osman started the race at 7:50 stealing the puck from Bayros and then racking up a forehand high for his first play on the course.
Meyer cut it to 4-3 with a one-timer on the power play at 17:37 before Zanetti redirected a Tucker Robertson (SEA) pass 73 seconds later.
After a scoreless third, Avon sent the OHL champions to the semifinals where he tapped a pass from Beck for his third championship.
#NYR The possibility of Brennan Osman doing everything himself 😤 #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/apwhx2oYRh
– Canadian Hockey League (CHLHockey) June 2, 2023
“It shows the character of the team,” Simpson said of Peterborough’s resilience. “We’re an older group, the guys have been through different situations and for some reason this season it’s like when we’re down, we find extra equipment to go forward and get the win.”
Bates took a 1-0 lead at 7:52 in Lockhart’s second of the tournament before Kamloops scored four straight goals, started by Stankoven at 11:15. Zellweger came up for the first 1:26 later before Broneck picked him up at 17:23 to give the Blazers a 3-1 lead after 20. Byros extended his lead to 4-1 at 4:23 of the second.
“When it was 4-1, I said to them, ‘If you don’t allow another goal, you can win this,'” Wilson said. “The muddier the water, the better for us.”
Peterborough will now face Seattle in the semi-finals on Friday at 10pm EST / 7pm PT.