Titan hold off Pats rally for victory

REGINA — The Acadie-Bathurst Titan talked in their dressing room during the second intermission about continuing to press the Regina Pats despite a four-goal advantage.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion went on to allow four goals in the third Sunday, but held on for an 8-6 victory over the hosts at the Memorial Cup.

Titan captain Jeffrey Truchon-Viel said his team let up in the third.

“We talked about it after the second that we cannot stop working and that’s what we did,” said Truchon-Viel, who had two goals and an assist.

“It’s a good lesson for us.” Acadie-Bathurst (2-0) earned a berth in Friday’s semifinal of the Canadian major junior championship with the victory.

Noah Dobson led the Titan offensive attack with two goals and two assists, including an empty-netter in the dying seconds. Ethan Crossman struck twice and Liam Murphy added a goal and two assists apiece for Acadie-Bathurst. Samuel Asselin also chipped in.

Dobson said that his team fell asleep in the third period.

“But a win’s a win in this tournament,” he said.

The Pats’ rally started shortly after Crossman’s second goal to make it 7-2. Cameron Hebig’s second of the game followed by a power-play goal from Nick Henry closed the deficit to three. Josh Mahura and Matt Bradley then made it 7-6 with under two minutes remaining.

“We didn’t do anything. Their best players outplayed every one of ours from the goaltender on out,” Pats coach John Paddock said.