Winnipeg Thrashers and London Jr. Knights set to meet in Telus Cup final

<p>ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Brendyn Illchuk scored 10:16 into the second overtime period as the Winnipeg Thrashers advanced to the final at the Telus Cup men’s national midget championship with a 4-3 win over the Lions du Lac St-Louis on Saturday afternoon.</p> <p>Winnipeg will take on the London Jr. Knights in Sunday’s gold medal game. London defeated the Vancouver North West Giants 4-3 in overtime in Saturday’s other semifinal. </p> <p>After Regan Stire won the face-off, Illchuk picked up the puck off and slipped a shot through the legs of Francois Brassard to send the Thrashers to the final for the second time in four years. Winnipeg lost the 2008 gold medal game to the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves.</p> <p>Patrick Walsh opened the scoring for the Lions at the 7:37 mark of the first period, but Lac St-Louis found itself in a 3-1 hole just four minutes later thanks to goals from Tanner Quinn, Corey Petrash and Tyrenn Bauer in a span of 1:53.</p> <p>But just like one day earlier, when Winnipeg blew a 3-1 lead and had to settle for a 3-3 draw with Halifax, the Thrashers allowed their opponents back into the game.</p> <p>Lac St-Louis pulled even at 3-3 thanks to goals from Jonathan Drouin and Anthony Cortese 2:06 apart midway through the second period.</p> <p>That would be it for scoring for the next 47 minutes, as both teams exchanged chances but could not get the go-ahead goal in regulation time.</p> <p>Lac St-Louis will meet Vancouver in Sunday’s bronze medal game.</p> <p>In the other semifinal Saturday, Adam Rzeszutko scored the winner at 3:34 of overtime to advance the Jr. Knights.</p> <p>Stuart King and Wyatt Coghill each scored to put London up 2-0 going into the first intermission, but Vancouver goals by Jackson Houck and Alex Kerfoot in the second had the game tied heading into the third.</p> <p>Nicholas Erb scored at 6:43 as London pulled ahead, but once again the Giants rallied as Jackson Houck scored on the power play to force overtime.</p> <p>Both London’s Craig Wood and Vancouver’s Daniel Cotton each faced 27 shots. </p>