Rookie Goalie Leads Hull To Memorial Cup Crown Lethbridge Runs Out Of Gas After Ot Win Saturday Night

The Hull Olympiques rode a brilliant performance from rookie goaltender Christian Bronsard to a 5-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Memorial Cup final Sunday.

Power-play goals by Martin Menard and Donald MacLean in the first-period - the first of two for each player - were all the Quebec-champion Olympiques would need with Bronsard’s performance.

The 19-year-old rookie stopped 26 shots, including a handful of the week-long junior hockey championship’s best saves scattered throughout the afternoon.

It was Hull’s first Memorial Cup win in four appearances. Lethbridge, the Western-league winner, was playing its first Cup final.

The Hurricanes stormed back from a 6-1 deficit to shock Hull 7-6 in overtime during the round robin, but couldn’t muster another miracle under the withering noise of Guertin Arena’s capacity crowd of 4,197 - the largest of the week in the 3,800-seat building.

Lethbridge won a bruising semifinal against the Oshawa Generals 5-4 in overtime Saturday and used mainly two forward lines against the Olympiques.

The Olympiques scored three power-play goals in nine chances as Lethbridge was called for a string of undisciplined stick fouls.

The Hurricanes failed to score in six power plays.