The Connecticut Jr. Rangers, 2019 Brick Invitational champions.
As it so often happens in overtime, the game-winning goal was the ugliest of the contest.
Early enough in the extra session where the fans lining the rail along the ice had barely put their smartphones away during the break after the third period, Matthew Koch of the Connecticut Jr. Rangers whacked a puck forward from the blue line. As the puck turned over and over in the air, Kaden McGregor parked himself in front of the Team Brick Alberta net and deftly tipped the disc past Team Brick Alberta’s Leif Oaten to clinch the title for the Americans.
Team Brick Alberta got on the board first with a Landon Dupont blast from the blue line, but the 1-0 advantage didn’t last long, as the Jr. Rangers got goals from James Jackson, and Ethan King put the boys from Connecticut up 2-1 after the first frame.
A scoreless second period followed before Ben Harvey tied the game at 2-2 just 15 seconds into the third stanza for Team Brick Alberta, setting the stage for McGregor’s heroics in front of a packed house at the West Edmonton Mall.
Luke O’Neil made 21 saves on 23 shots in the win for the Jr. Rangers, the program’s second Brick title and the first title won by an American team since 2002, when the organization won as the Connecticut Yankees.
The Jr. Rangers were literally perfect throughout the tournament, winning eight games in regulation and outscoring their opposition 42-18. Team Brick Alberta went 7-1 for the week, winning twice in overtime during round robin play.
James Jackson recorded a goal for the Connecticut Jr. Rangers in Sunday's championship game.
Player | Team | Position |
---|---|---|
Lilly MacLeish | Detroit Red Wings | Goaltender |
Landon Dupont | Team Brick Alberta | Defense |
Zackary Horvat Edouard | Team Quebec | Defense |
Nolan Fitzhenry | Team Minnesota | Forward |
Caden Pellegrino | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | Forward |
Colin Varady | Chicago Jr. Blackhawks | Forward |
Lilly MacLeish, Detroit Red Wings.
Player | Team | Position |
---|---|---|
Leif Oaten | Team Brick Alberta | Goaltender |
Brayden Scali | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | Defense |
Lucas Quain | Toronto Bulldogs | Defense |
Rocco Pelosi | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | Forward |
Tyler Lee | Toronto Pro Hockey | Forward |
Kingston Harris | Toronto Bulldogs | Forward |
Tyler Lee, Toronto Pro Hockey.
Landon Dupont of Team Brick Alberta was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Team Minnesota's Nolan Fitzhenry tied for the scoring lead at the Brick with 13 total points.