Titan blank host Pats to win their first Memorial Cup

REGINA — Evan Fitzpatrick stopped 28 shots as the AcadieBathurst Titan shut out the host Regina Pats, 3-0, on Sunday to win their first Memorial Cup in franchise history.

It’s the first time since 2013 that a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team captured the Canadian major junior championship.

Adam Holwell, Samuel Asselin and Ethan Crossman, into an empty net, scored to win the 100th edition of the tournament.

Max Paddock turned away 41 of 43 shots for Regina, which was vying for its fifth Memorial Cup in franchise history.

Asselin provided insurance at 13:02 of the third when he tapped in a pass from Titan captain Jeffrey Truchon-Viel. Truchon-Viel made a nice move on Regina defenceman Cale Fleury in order to make the pass.

Fitzpatrick faced increased pressure in the third as the Pats pressed, but he wasn’t fazed.

Regina’s Sam Steel — the tournament MVP — almost tied the game midway through the third after a juicy Fitzpatrick rebound, but the goaltender pushed across to stop the Pats’ captain.

Holwell opened the scoring at 16:10 of the first when his wrist shot from the left faceoff circle beat Paddock five-hole.

Asselin nearly made it a twogoal lead shortly after, when he picked up the puck from a Nick Henry turnover and hit the post. Acadie-Bathurst’s German Rubtsov also had a shot ring off the post midway through the first.

Paddock took over in the second with his team heavily outshot and made several highlightreel saves to save the Pats.

Crossman had two glorious chances nine minutes into the second, but Paddock stopped him on both — a partial breakaway and a glove save off a nice wrist shot.

The host Brandt Centre crowd started to chant “Go Pats Go” to try and get their team in the game. The crowd gave a big jeer when Regina recorded its first shot of the second period — and sixth of the game — 11 minutes into the second.

Paddock made another spectacular save on TruchonViel after he received a saucer pass from Crossman during a two-on-one.

The Pats started to press near the end of the second, but Fitzpatrick stood tall. Jared Legien had Regina’s best chance on a two-onone with Steel, but Legien’s shot rang off the post.

Steel entered the game with 13 points — three off the tournament record held by Kitchener’s Jeff Larmer and Hull’s Guy Rouleau.

Acadie-Bathurst held on to beat the Pats, 8-6, when the two teams faced each other in the round robin.

NOTES: The 2005 London Knights, who won the Memorial Cup that season, were named the Canadian Hockey League’s team of the century in the second intermission.