By Brendon Crossman
Photo via @OHLGoldCup

Team GTHL Blue skated to a 6-2 win over Team ALLIANCE on Sunday – and an unblemished 5-0 record – en route to winning the 2015 OHL Gold Cup in Kitchener.

Tied 1-1 after 40 minutes, GTHL Blue roared to victory with five goals in the third period, including back-to-back shorthanded tallies by Matthew Strome and Brett Neumann.

Strome and Neumann – who captained the Toronto Marlboros and Don Mills Flyers, respectively, to the 2015 OHL Cup championship game in March – each notched two points in Sunday’s final (1-1—2).

Robbie Burt (2-0—2), C.J. Clarke (1-1—2) and Joseph Garreffa (0-2—2) also recorded multiple points for GTHL Blue, while Ben Garagan provided the sixth goal late in the third period.

Neumann (3-4—7) and Garreffa (3-4—7) tied for the team lead with seven points in five games. Clarke and Garagan paced the club with four goals apiece.

Marlboros netminder Jacob McGrath was in net for the gold medal victory, finishing the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record. Toronto Titans goaltender Brendan Bonello was 2-0 in his two appearances.

Team GTHL Blue opened the tournament with victories over Team HNO (4-1 W) and Team HEO (4-3 W) on Thursday and also defeated Team OMHA White (6-4 W) on Friday morning. In the semi-final on Saturday afternoon, Neumann (2-1—3) and Markus Phillips (1-2—3) each tallied three points in the team’s 8-5 victory over Team OMHA Navy. 

Overall, GTHL Blue outscored opponents 28-15 in the tournament (5.6 GF per game, 3.0 GA per game).

The tournament features Ontario’s top under-16 talent and is an opportunity for Hockey Canada staff to evaluate potential players for Canada’s three teams that will compete in the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge.

BY THE NUMBERS
160 – Players that participated in the 2015 OHL Gold Cup.
37 – GTHL Gold Cup players selected in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.
14 – Players that represented the Mississauga Rebels, Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Mississauga Reps and Toronto Red Wings (combined).
10 – Players that represented the Kraft Cup champion Toronto Titans.
9 – Players that represented the Scotiabank GTHL Playoffs and OHL Cup champion Toronto Marlboros.
5 – Players that represented the Scotiabank GTHL Playoffs and OHL Cup finalist Don Mills Flyers.
1 – Players that represented the Vaughan Kings and North York Rangers, respectively.

2015 OHL GOLD CUP CHAMPIONS – TEAM GTHL BLUE
* denotes players selected in 2015 OHL Priority Selection. Click here to see a list of GTHL players drafted.
Click here to see the Team GTHL Red roster.