2018 TELUS Cup

CANTONNIERS PULL AWAY IN THIRD, BEAT FLYERS IN TELUS OPENER

MACKENZIE DEMPSTER

SUDBURY, Ont. – Simon Pinard scored the game-winning goal and added an assist, and the Cantonniers de Magog got the first win at the 2018 TELUS Cup, beating the Moncton Flyers 4-1 on Monday afternoon.

The Flyers had the advantage in the first period with 13 shots against Magog goaltender Rémi Poirier, who held his ground and was quick to make all 13 saves.

The second period brought the first goal of the tournament, from Cantonniers forward Charles Beaudin, assisted by Jérémy Lapointe and Zachary Cadorette, a mere two minutes into period.

Pinard doubled the lead, assisted by Zackiel Couture and Isaac Belliveau, to give the Cantonniers a 2-0 lead with only 42 seconds left in the second period.

The Flyers started the third off with some powerful determination and Evan Jackson landed them their first goal of the game, a shorthanded tally just shy of the five-minute mark.

But the Cantonniers bounced back on the same power play and Patrick Guay restored the two-goal lead just over a minute later, with assists from Jérémy Rainville and William Villeneuve.

Specials teams struck again for Magog with under eight minutes to go; with a shorthanded goal by Gabriel Fontaine, with an assist to Pinard, bringing the score to 4-1.

Both goaltenders displayed remarkable effort; Magog netminder Rémi Poirier made 35 saves, while Thompson stopped 20 of 24 shots for the Flyers.

The Cantonniers go for consecutive wins against the Toronto Young Nationals on Tuesday afternoon (12 p.m. ET), right before the Flyers take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes (3:30 p.m. ET).