Chilliwack’s Ethan Bowen picked up an assist in the championship game as Team B.C. topped Alberta 4-3 in the 2017 Western Hockey League Cup final.
Bowen’s British Columbians played the role of David vs Alberta’s Goliath.
The defending champs were undefeated in their last 16 WHL Cup games, dating back to Nov. 4, 2012, and burst out to a 2-0 lead in the gold medal match on goals by Kaiden Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders) and Connor McClennon (Kootenay Ice).
Then, B.C. roared back with three unanswered.
Vancouver Giants prospect Justin Sourdif got them on the board with a power play goal.
With 19 seconds left in the second period, Bowen had the puck on his stick behind the net and put it out front to 15 year old Yale Hockey Academy star Tyson Phare, who quickly popped it into the net to tie the score at 2-2.
Just twenty seconds into the final frame, Medicine Hat Tigers prospect Ryan Watson threw the puck on net from the point. It appeared to hit someone along the way, changing direction as it sailed over Alberta netminder Sebastian Cossa (Edmonton Oil Kings).
Alberta trailed for the first time in the tournament and pressed for the equalizer. It came with 1:44 remaining as McClennan buried the rebound of a Guhle shot to send the game to overtime.
In the extra session, Swift Current Broncos prospect Ben King got his stick on a Watson point shot, deflecting it past Cossa for the winner.
The five-day tournament ran Wednesday through Sunday at the WinSport Arena in Calgary.
Bowen collected one goals and two assists in five games, pumping 17 shots at opposing goalies.
See whl.ca for more info.