Host Spitfires win to clinch place in final

Windsor defeats Erie 4-2 in final game of round robin

WINDSOR, Ont. (CP) — Jeremiah Addison skated past his bench after scoring in the third period with a message for his teammates.

“Make the hats rain baby,” he told them.

Addison scored three times as the Windsor Spitfires beat the Erie Otters 4-2 on Wednesday to advance straight to the Memorial Cup final.

Gabriel Vilardi set up all three of Addison’s goals, plus earned an assist on Mikhail Sergachev’s first of the tournament.

“I couldn’t do it without my linemates,” said Addison, Windsor’s 20-year-old co-captain. “I think I owe (Vilardi) a coffee.”

The Spitfires went 44 days between games after being eliminated in the first round of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. But they haven’t looked out of sync as tournament hosts, finishing roundrobin play at 3-0.

The championship game is set for Sunday.

“Three days (rest) to us is nothing,” said Windsor coach Rocky Thompson. “It’s a well-deserved rest now. We’re excited about the opportunity to play for the Memorial Cup.”

OHL champion Erie (2-1) plays the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Saint John Sea Dogs (1-2) in Friday’s semifinal, with the winner grabbing the second spot in the final.

The Otters hammered Saint John in record-setting fashion in the preliminary round — which coach Kris Knoblauch said played into their loss to Windsor.

“I think we felt really good about ourselves after the 12-5 (win over the Sea Dogs) . . . I don’t think our work ethic was where it needed to be. We didn’t work as hard as we had been.”

Michael DiPietro made 33 saves against Erie, and has the best numbers of any of the goalies at the tournament. His play has been a major contributor to Windsor’s success.

“We wouldn’t be anywhere without (him),” said Addison. “He’s good, a good young goalie all year. Each day he comes like a pro.”