Thrash Head to Gold Medal Game

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Brendyn Illchuk was the overtime hero, scoring 10:16 into the second extra period, asthe Winnipeg Thrashers advanced to the gold medal game at the 2011 TELUS Cup with a 4-3 semifinal win overthe Lions du Lac St-Louis on Saturday afternoon.

Illchuk picked up the puck off a won face-off by Regan Stire and slipped a shot through the legs ofFrançois Brassard to send the Thrashers to the final (Sunday, 4 p.m. NT) for the second time in four years –they lost the 2008 gold medal game to the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves.

It’s also the eighth consecutive year that the West Region champions will play for TELUS Cup gold, datingback to 2004. Six of the first seven teams won the national title, all except the ’08 Thrashers.

GDI Prairies goaltender Teagan Sacher shut down every Quebec attack from the midway point of the game on. Keeping his game simple, Sacher was a wall in net. Quebec's frustrated offense fired 25 pucks on net from every angle within the third and overtime periods before the Thrashers put the game away.

Sundays afternoon game should be a game for the ages as the Thrashers take on the London Jr. Knights.

Thrash Head to Gold Medal Game