J.R. Avon scored in overtime and the Peterborough Petes beat the Kamloops Blazers 5-4 in the Memorial Cup tiebreaker.
The Blazers, who host the tournament this year, are therefore eliminated.
Connor Lockhart, Brennan Othmann, Samuel Mayer and Brian Zanetti scored the other goals for the Petes in the win. Michael Simpson made 43 saves.
Logan Stankoven, Olen Zellweger, Harrison Brunicke and Logan Bairos scored for the Blazers. Dylan Ernst stopped 25 shots.
Lockhart scored the first of four goals in the first period. The Petes winger completed the play of Jax Dubois and Chase Lefebvre to give his team the lead after 7:52 of play.
Stankoven tied the game a few minutes later by picking up a loose puck in the slot. A shot from the point that didn’t go to the destination allowed Stankoven to take a quick shot at the net, when the Petes goalie had no idea where the disc was.
Zellweger gave the Blazers a 2-1 power-play lead after Chase Stillman was kicked out for a cross-check.
After 17:33 of play in the second period, defender Brunicke advanced into offensive territory and fired a precise shot to make it 3-1.
Bairos, who had an assist on Stankoven’s goal, made it 4-1 after less than five minutes played in the second period.
The Petes didn’t give up, however. After 7:50 of play in the second period, Othmann scored a fine goal, completing his throw on his knees after stealing the puck from the opposing defenseman, to beat the goalkeeper and reduce the deficit to 4-2.
Mayer and Zanetti then scored twice at 1:13 in the dying minutes of the period and the Petes quickly tied the game 4-4.
Midway through overtime, Owen Beck moved into the offensive zone and delivered a nice pass behind him to Avon, who scored to complete the Petes’ comeback and propel his team into the Memorial Cup semifinals.
