Saginaw Dominates Moose Jaw, Secures Dream Memorial Cup Final Against Rival London

The Saginaw Spirit weren’t about to let Moose Jaw obstruct their path to a final showdown with the London Knights.

In Friday’s semi-final, the Memorial Cup hosts dominated the Warriors with a resounding 7-1 victory, securing their spot in the championship game.

Their opponent on Sunday night will be none other than London, marking the 12th encounter between the two teams this season.

“We’re eager to face London again. They seem to have our number, that’s no secret. We’ve got a bunch of guys in the locker room who can solve Rubik’s cubes, but figuring out how to beat London is the real puzzle we’re trying to crack before Sunday,” remarked Spirit head coach Chris Lazary.

While the score was deadlocked at 1-1 after the first period, the Spirit unleashed an onslaught in the second, netting five goals in just over 12 minutes to establish a commanding 6-1 lead heading into the final frame.

The outcome of the game was never in doubt in the third period.

The stage is now set for a dream final—a matchup organizers could only have imagined. The atmosphere at the Dow Event Center on Wednesday was electric, and the action on the ice matched the fervor in the stands.

“To have a final showdown against the London Knights, the top team in junior hockey, is a dream come true for all of us. In our 22 years as a franchise in Saginaw, we’ve always harbored the dream of facing off against the iconic London Knights in the Cup final—it’s truly remarkable,” expressed Spirit President Craig Goslin.

Come Sunday, the spectacle is bound to be replicated.

Two closely matched teams, now fierce rivals, will clash on the national stage for junior hockey supremacy.

“As many of our games have shown, it often comes down to the wire, with third-period battles and one-goal differentials,” noted Knights forward Max McCue. “It’s about who gets the crucial bounce late in the game. Thankfully, seven out of the 11 times we’ve faced Saginaw, we’ve managed to secure that bounce.”

London goaltender Michael Simpson, while unaware of their previous record against Saginaw, acknowledged the Spirit’s formidable play. “They consistently bring a tough game; they’re a formidable team. It’s often a coin flip, but if we stick to our game plan, we usually end up in a favorable position.”

With a sellout crowd expected, Saginaw supporters will rally behind their home team, though London fans will also be well represented in the stands.

“The last game here was electric—their fans really fueled their team’s energy. But we’ll be ready to face both Saginaw and their passionate crowd,” affirmed Knights forward Kaleb Lawrence.

For London, it’s an opportunity to claim their third Memorial Cup title, while Saginaw seeks its inaugural championship.

Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, the Ontario Hockey League will crown a new champion, marking the first winner since the Windsor Spitfires in 2017.