Game seven victory sends Oshawa Generals to Ontario Hockey League championships

The Oshawa Generals ended a roller coaster Eastern Conference final in emphatic fashion Monday night, downing the North Bay Battalion 6-1 to win the series in seven and book a date with the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League final.

To the winner goes a berth in the 2024 Memorial Cup, which begins May 24 in Saginaw, Michigan.

The Generals started the series smartly winning the first three games to put a stranglehold on the series. But a late tying goal in game four sent the game into extras and North Bay’s OT winner gave the club new life. Game five was even harder to swallow for Generals fans, with North Bay winning in double overtime – on Oshawa’s home ice, no less – to get right back in the series.

An 8-1 thrashing in game six gave all the momentum to the Battalion and putting the character of the Oshawa players – all but five still in their teens – to the test.

The players passed with flying colours, drawing first blood 14 minutes into the opening period on a seeing eye point shot from David Bedkowski – his first of the post-season – and adding second period goals from Rasmus Kumpulainen and Connor Lockhart to stake themselves to a 3-0 lead heading into the third.

The Oshawa Generals celebrate Rasmus Kumpulainen’s second period goal, en route to a 6-1 win to earn a spot in the OHL final. Photo Goodall Media

Dylan Roobroeck – with his first of two – made it 4-0 early in the third with Generals legend and hockey hall of famer Eric Lindros in the house to send the hometown fans into a frenzy and after North Bay got on the board a few minutes later Oshawa sealed the victory, the series and the Bobby Orr Trophy with empty-net goals by Roobroeck (his tenth of the playoffs) and Ethan Toms – his first.

The Generals, who were without injured star Beckett Sennecke for the crucial game seven, will be looking for their 14th J. Ross Robertson Cup – their 13 titles are already the most in OHL history – when they take on top-ranked London in the league championship series, starting later this week, with game three at the Tribute Centre scheduled for next Monday.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m.