Tkachuk, Dvorak lead Knights to Memorial Cup win

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, and Knights co-captain Mitch Marner, was named tournament MVP. The 19-year-old had an assist in the win on Sunday.

Matthew Tkachuk scored the overtime winner as the London Knights edged the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 3-2 to capture the franchise’s second Memorial Cup.

Tkachuk beat Chase Marchand short side from the face-off dot at 7:49 of the extra frame for his fifth goal of the tournament and second of the game.

“This is the best feeling I’ve ever had playing hockey,” Tkachuk told Sportsnet post-game. “Everybody bought in. We wanted to be like the ’05 team. Not many people talk about the past couple Memorial Cups because of how they ended. We wanted to come here and make a splash.”

Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak tied the game with 4:11 remaining in regulation to force overtime. Goaltender Tyler Parsons made 29 saves as the Knights won a 17th consecutive game. Dvorak also had an assist in the win. Huskies captain Francis Perron tied the game 1-1 at 9:34 of the second period and Julien Nantel had the other goal for the QMJHL champions. Marchand made 30 saves in the loss. “It was a great game. The Huskies goalie, props to him, he played an amazing game,” Parsons said. “He kept them in the game. Being down a goal in the third there, we gave it our all and we got that goal, went in the dressing room and just had a feeling we were going to win that game. “The connection that we have, we’re brothers here. This is an unbelievable experience.”

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, and Knights co-captain, Mitch Marner, who had two goals and 12 assists in four games at the Memorial Cup, was named tournament MVP.

The 19-year-old finished the regular season with 39 goals and 116 points in 57 games taking home the Ontario Hockey League’s regular season MVP award. He was also named the OHL playoff MVP and Canadian Hockey League MVP.

“It’s been a great year,” Marner said. “I’ve never had more fun with a group of guys. We were down 2-1 late in the third, the best thing about this team is we never give up and it showed again tonight.”

London also beat Rouyn-Noranda 5-2 during round robin play at the Memorial Cup.