Windsor goes back-to-back after trouncing Brandon 9-1 in Memorial Cup final

The Brandon Wheat Kings entered the Canadian League history books with tonight’s 9-1 loss to the Windsor Spitfires in the final of the Mastercard Memorial Cup. It was the most lopsided championship bout since 1973 when the Toronto Marlboros of the old OHA defeated the Quebec Remparts 9-1.

Windsor made easy work of a Brandon squad who quickly fell from the emotional heights they scaled in Friday’s 5-4 overtime win to gain a berth in Sunday's game.

In typical Manitoba fashion, the heartbroken hometown crowd applauded the Spitfires performance despite the result not being what they had hoped for.

No play better demonstrated why the Spitfires are the first team since the 1994 and 1995 editions of the Kamloops Blazers to win consecutive Memorial Cups than Windsor’s second of the night, Eric Wellwood’s game winner.

Wellwood completed a picture perfect passing play between Scott Timmins and Cam Fowler with 33 seconds remaining in the first period.

Matt Calvert cut Brandon’s deficit to 3-1 on a power play goal with Ryan Ellis in the penalty box for hooking at 8:16 of the second frame.

That was the last of Brandon’s comeback attempt. Windsor’s Greg Nemisz, Marc Cantin, and Fowler scored in just less than eight minutes to give the Spitfires a commanding 6-1 lead.

Adam Henrique had two goals while Dale Mitchell and Zack Kassian scored one apiece.

Taylor Hall, who had one goal and two assists Sunday won the Stafford Smythe award for tournament MVP; the first player in league history to win it twice in a row.