Quebec Remparts dominate Seattle Thunderbirds to win 2023 Memorial Cup

KAMLOOPS – For the third time in franchise history, the Quebec Ramparts have won the Memorial Cup, beating the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-0 on Sunday.

The win likely caps off the junior hockey coaching career of Patrick Roy, who is set to leave the Ramparts. It’s his second Memorial Cup title after winning it back in 2006.

Columbus Blue Jackets prospect James Malatesta was named MVP of the tournament.

As the first period started, both teams were buzzing with energy in front of a packed Kamloops crowd. Seattle goaltender Thomas Millic came up big early on in the game with a save on a slap shot from Charle Truchon, followed a minute later by a stop on a Nathan Gaucher breakaway.

Not long after that, the Remparts found themselves on a 2-on-1 with Kassim Gaudet and Vsevolod Komarov. Komarov buried the feed from Gaudet to open the scoring six minutes into the game. A big stop by Remparts goalie William Rousseau on a Kyle Crnkovic backhander kept the Remparts in the lead as the period winded down.

The Remparts and Thunderbirds started the second period at 4-on-4 following a cross-checking call to Malatesta near the end of the first. Early on in the frame, Malatesta found the back of the net for his fifth goal of the tournament, making it 2-0.

Throughout the start of the third, the Remparts were all over the Thunderbirds with a multitude of scoring chances. Zachary Bolduc had an ample opportunity to stretch the lead on a pickpocket, but couldn’t find the back of the net.

While on the penalty kill, Quebec’s Justin Robidas and Gaudet found themselves on a 2-on-1, with Gaudet burying the puck into the back of the net on a cross-crease from Robidas. Dylan Guenther would then take a penalty for cross-checking following an altercation with Remparts defenseman Evan Nause. It didn’t take long for Bolduc to notch a goal as he buried a one-timer from the point to make it 4-0.

Not long after that, Remparts Charles Savoie notched his first tournament goal to make it 5-0 Remparts, finishing off the evening.