Montreal Canadiens: Cole Fonstad and Joël Teasdale steal the show

By Omar L | May 21, 2019

KELOWNA, BC - JANUARY 19: Cole Fonstad #24 of the Prince Albert Raiders warms up against the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place on January 19, 2019 in Kelowna, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /

Montreal Canadiens prospects Cole Fonstad and Joël Teasdale stole the show Monday at the Memorial Cup with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies getting the last bow.

It was an exciting Victoria Day in Canada filled with explosive sounds from the fireworks as well as the screams of the crowd in Halifax at the Memorial Cup. The Montreal Canadiens were well-represented on Monday’s contest with Cole Fonstad suiting up for the Prince Albert Raiders while Joël Teasdale led the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on to the ice.

Both teams were looking for their first win after dropping their tournament openers. The Halifax Mooseheads did away with the Raiders on Day One of the Memorial Cup while Nick Suzuki and the Guelph Storm continued from where they left off at the end of the OHL playoffs.

The game between the Raiders and Huskies wound up being an exciting one with Fonstad and Teasdale finding their names on the scoresheet twice.

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Tyler Hinam got things started for Rouyn-Noranda four minutes into the game with a sharp angle shot at the offensive goal line. A tough goal for goaltender Ian Scott to give up but a deflection along the way didn’t help.

Prince Albert eventually scored their first four minutes after. Ozzy Wiesblatt was doing his part to advance the puck in the neutral zone but was held up by Teasdale along the boards. However, the puck Fonstad got to it and maintained possession despite defensive efforts from Justin Bergeron.

Fonstad continued on skating behind the net and eventually tucked it in on the wrap around to tie the game at two. That was the 2018 fifth-round pick’s second goal in as many games.

Teasdale took his turn to stand out not wanting to be surpassed when the Raiders were up 2-1. A late penalty in the first put the Huskies on the power play and they didn’t take long to capitalize. Teasdale was left alone by the right side of the net as captain Brayden Pachal gave him way too much room.

It wasn’t the prettiest tic-tac-toe play, but it got the job done. Peter Abbandanato passed the puck over to Fèlix Bibeau in the slot who backhanded it over to Rafaël Harvey-Pinard. Another backhand pass from him got the puck to Teasdale down low who put it past Scott to tie the game.

Fonstad added an assist to his night in the second period after the Huskies went up 3-2. Breaking into the offensive zone skating in front of Noah Gregor, Fonstad quickly peeled off to the left dropping the puck for the centre. Gregor’s initial shot went off Samuel Règis but he followed it getting the second one past goaltender Samuel Harvey.

That marked Fonstad’s third point in the Memorial Cup which is solid given he had six points throughout the WHL playoffs.

Teasdale, on the other hand, earned his second point in the third after going pointless against Guelph. A backhanded centring attempt from Alex Beaucage ricocheted off Zack Hayes’ skate right to Teasdale who sent the puck past Scott with a slapshot.

Teasdale was awarded the goal at first, but upon closer review, you could see the puck deflected off Abbandanato’s stick. The tally further cemented the Huskies’ victory and Noah Dobson’s empty-netter was the final nail in the coffin.

Rouyn-Noranda earned its first win of the Memorial Cup and punch a ticket to the playoff round. Prince Albert head into their next game in a must-win situation. If they lose, their season is over, but if they win and the Huskies lose to Halifax on Wednesday, they would play a tie-breaker match on Thursday.

Next. Patrick Roy in Ottawa. dark

The odds are stacked against the Raiders, however, they had a number of solid scoring chances in this contest. If they bring that same intensity and execution, they’ll put themselves in a good position to do it.