2017 TELUS Cup

EISFELD STOPS 40, LEADS REBELS TO BRONZE MEDAL AT TELUS CUP

JASON LA ROSE

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Josh Eisfeld made 40 saves in his first start of the tournament, backstopping the Mississauga Rebels to the bronze medal at the 2017 TELUS Cup thanks to a 4-1 win over the Regina Pat Canadians on Sunday morning.

It’s the first medal ever for the Rebels, who were making their first-ever trip to Canada’s National Midget Championship. The loss left the Pat Canadians off the podium for just the second time in 10 all-time appearances.

After giving way to Christian Purboo – who was named Top Goaltender at the awards banquet Saturday night – for the first six games, Eisfeld made the most of his lone start, turning away 33 of 34 shots in the final two periods.

His team gave him the lead just past the midway mark of the opening frame on the power play; Carter Lund beat Regina goaltender Nathan Moore from the half-boards on the first Mississauga shot of the game.

Massimo Petricca needed just 70 seconds of the second period to make it 2-0, wiring a shot over the glove of Moore, and Ryan Madigan took advantage of a mishandled puck behind the net for a three-goal lead at 9:45.

That was all for Moore, who was replaced by Dean McNabb.

The Rebels stretched their advantage to four near the eight-minute mark of the third on another miscue; McNabb couldn’t get his glove down quick enough, and Benwell poked it free before scoring the 4-0 goal.

McNabb headed back to the bench after the goal, as Moore re-entered the game.

Regina finally solved Eisfeld when Alex Kannok-Leipert and Lukas Sillinger worked the puck around to Preston Brodziak, who knocked in a centering pass from in close, but the Pat Canadians would get no closer.

The West Region champions finished with a 41-33 advantage in shots on goal.