Kitchener won a heated match.
Jussi Ahokas led the Kitchener Rangers to the Memorial Cup final with a clean sheet. Jaakko Stenroos/AOP
In the Memorial Cup match between the OHL champion Kitchener Rangers and the QMJHL champion Chicoutimi Sagueenens, the night before Wednesday saw an ugly overshoot, when Chicoutimi Jordan Tourigny trampled the Rangers forward Christian Humphreys on skates.
Tourigny got kicked out for his trick.
After the referee announced the verdict and the game was skating towards the exit, the Rangers players went to say a few choice words to Tourigny.
Finnish head coach of Rangers Jussi Ahokas didn’t appreciate the trick. He set the opponent in the media conference after the match.
– It’s a cowardly trick. Trampling with skates is not hard hockey, it’s cowardly hockey. It is not part of our values. It’s the lowest you can do in hockey, he stated.
Ahokas could not tell the situation of his player fresh after the match. Humphreys slid to the bench in pain after being trampled by Tourigny.
– I like hard and physical hockey, but that has nothing to do with it.
The trick happened in the third period when Rangers were leading 3–1. Rangers didn’t manage to score additional hits with superiority, but finally pulled away to win the match.
The Rangers won the match 3–2 and secured the victory in the Memorial Cup group stage and a place in the Memorial Cup final.
In the finals, it will face either the WHL champion Everett Silvertips or Chicoutimi.
Feedback
Tourigny has received a lot of negative feedback about his pedaling based on the QMJHL league announcement.
The QMJHL said in its press release that Tourigny regrets his decision.
– Tourigny made a reprehensible trick in the third set and deeply regrets it. However, the hate, threats and violent messages directed at him on social media have no place in our sport or in our community. Our players are young athletes aged 16–20. They deserve respect and support even in difficult moments. Ice hockey is a game. Treat these players with dignity, in the bulletin will be written.
