SCHEIDL GETS WINNER AS CONTACTS TAKE BRONZE WITH WIN OVER OIL KINGS

LEDUC, Alta. – Branden Scheidl scored the game-winning goal with 7:03 to go as the Saskatoon Contacts won the bronze medal at the 2012 TELUS Cup with a 3-2 victory over the Leduc Oil Kings on Sunday morning.

It is the third time in the Contacts’ last three trips to the National Midget Championship they have left with a medal – Saskatoon won gold in 2005 and bronze in 2000 – while Leduc came up short in its bid to become the first host team in five years to finish on the podium.

On a delayed penalty, Scheidl blasted a shot from the point that went far post and in past Oil Kings netminder Brett Zarowny, who was under fire from Saskatoon in the third period, facing 21 shots.

Dawson Leedahl scored in the first period and Carson Stadnyk tied the game two minutes before Scheidl’s winner for the Contacts, who became the ninth consecutive West Region team to win a medal. Vukie Mpofu added two assists in the victory, while Mack Shields made 31 saves between the pipes.

Hayden Dawes and Doug Morris had the goals for Leduc, which led 1-0 and 2-1 but couldn’t hold a third-period lead against the Contacts for the second time in four days. Zarowny starred in the Oil Kings’ goal, making 45 stops as Leduc was outshot 48-33.

The Oil Kings were looking to become the first host team to win the bronze medal since the North Kamloops Lions finished third in 1996, and the first to win a medal of any colour since Red Deer took silver in 2007.