The 2012 Baggataway Cup weekend was filled with entertainment as the semi finals and finals were each decided by a goal in all three games. The Western Mustangs knocked off the Brock Badgers 4-3 in an outstanding defensive battle. McGill’s Brandon McLean scored with four seconds remaining to put the Redmen up 9-8 over the Gryphons and secure a spot in the CUFLA championship finals.
The action continued in Peterborough as the Baggataway Cup finals was another close contest. McGill jumped out to a quick lead with freshmen Tayler Sipperly opening the scoring in the contest. Western replied with two markers by freshmen Ryan McCrory to bring the Mustangs up 2-1 to end the first quarter.
The second did not see much scoring as senior Scott Watson had the lone goal at 13:09 to extend the Western lead to 3-1.
Senior Ryan Besse opened the second half with a powerplay goal to bring the Redmen within one. Sophomore Leland de Langley found the back of the cage for McGill to make tie the game up at three. Kyle Childerhose answered on the powerplay to bring the Mustangs up by one goal and end the third quarter.
McGill opened the final frame with an unassisted marker from senior Kyle Robinson 28 seconds in. The Redmen added two more goals from sophomore Connor Goodwin and Sipperly to go ahead 6-4.
With under a minute left, the Redmen were up by two goals and looked like they were on their way to capture their first Baggataway Cup in program history, but the Western Mustangs weren’t going down just yet.
With 25 seconds left, senior Watson scored his second goal of the game bringing Western in within one goal. With just under six seconds, freshmen Sam Need found the back of the cage to tie the game up at 6 and send the CUFLA finals into overtime.
The overtime was back and forth with great defense, big saves but no scoring until senior captain Joshan Sharples became the hero for McGill and scored with 15 seconds left in second overtime. Sharples beat his man behind the cage, turned back around the right side of the cage and ripped a shot in the left corner past Western netminder Zach Grace. The BC native was named the game MVP for putting away the championship clinching goal.
Sophomore McLean was named tournament MVP for putting away the semi final game winner and his dominance at the X on faceoffs.
McGill will be bringing their first Baggataway Cup back to Montreal in program history. This is the sixth time in as many years that a different school to be crowned the CUFLA champions.
