2018 TELUS Cup

HOUNDS BEAT FLYERS, FINISH PERFECT PRELIMS

OLIVIA BULLEN

SUDBURY, Ont. – Ethan Ernst had a goal and two assists as part of a four-goal first period, and the Notre Dame Hounds beat the Moncton Flyers 5-1 on Friday to cap off a 5-0 run through the preliminary round at the 2018 TELUS Cup.

The Hounds are now unbeaten in 20 consecutive games at Canada’s National Midget Championship, one back of the all-time record held by the Prince Albert Mintos.

Notre Dame did not waste any time getting on the scoreboard. A feed from Ernst to Brad Morrissey caught the Flyers flat-footed, and Morrissey raced away on a breakaway to give the Hounds the lead just 1:54 after the puck dropped.

It was only 17 seconds later that Drew Englot peeled out of the corner and went top shelf on the short side of Moncton goaltender Brandon McKenna to double the lead.

Strong puck possession led to the third Notre Dame goal; Morrissey controlled the puck deep in the Flyers zone before sending a backhand pass to Ernst, who tucked another one past McKenna.

The Hounds capitalized on a power play before the end of the first period when Cordel Larson cleaned up a Quinn Schmiemann shot that had squeezed through McKenna, chasing the Moncton netminder.

The Flyers found their legs in the second period, but couldn’t find a way past Notre Dame goaltender Aaron Randazzo. Lukas Cormier came closest, chiming a shot off the post.

Another man-advantage goal pushed the lead to five early in the third period; Luke Mylymok found an open lane from the point, beating Daniel Thompson to cap the scoring for the Hounds.

Moncton finally beat Randazzo on a two-man advantage midway through the final frame, with quick puck movement leading to a one-timer from Yannic Bastarache to make it 5-1.

The Hounds will return to the Sudbury Community Arena for the semifinals Saturday (time TBD) against either the Toronto Young Nationals or Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves, while the Flyers saw their season come to an end.