Josh Bloom scored the game-winning goal with just 21.7 seconds left, lifting the host Saginaw Spirit to a 4-3 victory over the London Knights on Sunday, securing their first Memorial Cup. The dramatic finish came after Bloom tucked in a rebound from a Jorian Donovan point shot, igniting a frenzied celebration among the home fans.
Saginaw’s triumph marks them as the eighth first-time participant to win the Memorial Cup since 1972, the first since 2011. This victory also makes Saginaw just the fifth American team in the 104-year history of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) to win the Memorial Cup, joining the ranks of the Portland Winterhawks (1983, 1988) and the Spokane Chiefs (1991, 2008). They are the third host team in the last six tournaments to claim the title.
The Spirit’s offense was powered by Owen Beck, who scored twice, and Joey Willis. Goaltender Andrew Oke contributed by stopping 10 shots. For the Knights, Kasper Halttunen, Easton Cowan, and Sam Dickinson found the back of the net, while Michael Simpson made 27 saves.
Sunday’s final was the 12th meeting between these two teams this season. They split their four regular-season encounters before clashing in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Western Conference finals, where London triumphed in six games and went on to win the OHL title. The round-robin finale on Wednesday saw the Knights earn a 4-2 victory, securing their place in the final, while the Spirit overwhelmed Moose Jaw 7-1 in Friday’s semifinal to set up the rematch.
The game began with Beck opening the scoring at 9:07 of the first period. Winning a faceoff in the left circle, he managed to find the puck in the ensuing scramble and fired it past Simpson, sending the home crowd into a roar. Later in the period, London’s Landon Sim received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for an elbow to the face of Saginaw’s star defenseman Zayne Parekh, who fortunately got up after a few tense moments.
Beck extended Saginaw’s lead on the power play with just 44.3 seconds left in the first period, netting a one-timer from the right faceoff circle off a feed from Bloom. The Spirit dominated the first period, outshooting the Knights 13-1.
Willis made it 3-0 at 7:47 of the second period, driving through London’s defense and beating Simpson with a backhand shot. London’s Halttunen responded at 9:45, picking up a loose puck at the blue line and beating Oke with a wrist shot.
Despite trailing, London rallied in the third period. Cowan made it 3-2 at 7:48, firing a shot past Oke from the right faceoff circle. Dickinson then tied the game at 10:16, capitalizing on a 2-on-1 feed from Max McCue.
The game seemed destined for overtime until Bloom’s heroics in the final seconds. His game-winning goal, a rebound from Donovan’s point shot, secured Saginaw’s place in history and set off jubilant celebrations throughout the Dow Event Center.
“This victory is the result of our hard work and determination all season,” said Bloom. “It’s an incredible feeling to bring the Memorial Cup to Saginaw for the first time.”
With this historic win, the Saginaw Spirit have solidified their place among junior hockey’s elite, and their first Memorial Cup victory will be remembered as a defining moment in the franchise’s history.
