Vegas Golden Knights prospect Matyas Sapovaliv won the Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit after they defeated the London Knights in the final.

Vegas Golden Knights prospect Matyas Sapovaliv won the Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit after they defeated the London Knights in the final.

The Spirit jumped out to a 3-0 lead and were dominating the shot chart before the Knights stormed back to tie it in the third period. With 21 seconds left, Vancouver Canucks prospect Josh Bloom scored to give the Spirit a 4-3 lead. 

Sapovaliv recorded just one assist in five Memorial Cup games but played a crucial role as the Spirit's shutdown centre. He played against the opponent's top line and was critical to the success of the penalty kill. 

The 20-year-old is eligible to play for the Henderson Silver Knights next season and this step will be a crucial part of his development. His size and hockey IQ allow's him to be used in every situation but the organization will try to find more offensive upside that he's shown flashes of.

The Czech-born centreman was taken in the second round of the 2022 NHL draft. He uses his 6'4 frame to protect the puck and give him space to be a facilitator. He doesn't have the strongest shot but his playmaking skills shine when given time. 

The Golden Knights have already signed Sapovaliv to his entry-level contract worth $803,333. 

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