VIDEO: CALGARY BUFFALOES LOSE TOUGH ONE TO NOTRE DAME IN TELUS CUP FINAL 4-0, SETTLE FOR SILVER

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VIDEO: CALGARY BUFFALOES LOSE TOUGH ONE TO NOTRE DAME IN TELUS CUP FINAL 4-0, SETTLE FOR SILVER

Posted on 26 April 2009 by Markham Hislop.

Traffic around the Calgary Buffalo net during the gold medal game of the Telus Cup

There is no joy in Mudville today. The Calgary Buffaloes gave it their all, but struck out in the gold medal match of the Telus Cup Sunday evening in Selkirk, MB. The team’s undoing was its usual nemesis, a slow start in the first period. Notre Dame struck early at 18:40 and never looked back.

The Hounds added a second goal at 12:16, outshot the Buffs by a wide margin and it appeared the championship game might become a rout.

But like they have so often in the past, the plucky Calgarians refused to die. After the second goal they furiously pressed their Saskatchewan rivals and for the most part carried the play for the remainder of the first period and most of the second.

They soon drew even on the shot clock and had they not rung a few pucks off the iron, might have evened the score. Alas, it was not to be.

Notre Dame struck again at 19:01 of the final frame and the fans could see the fight seeping out of their champions. The Buffs continued the valiant battle, but the fourth and final goal at 9:24 sealed their fate.

In the end, they actually outshot their opponents 44-43. Unfortunately, Hound goalie Chris Gibson did everything but stand on his head to keep Calgary pucks out of his net. He was rewarded for his effort with the Notre Dame player of the game award.

Buffs coach James Poole said after the game that the Hounds were just too strong for his squad and probably the toughest team they had played during the playoffs. However, on opening day of the preliminary round the Buffs tied Notre Dame 4-4 and were leading with only a few minutes left in the game when penalties gave the Western reps a five on three powerplay.

This was the final game for the 2008-2009 edition of the Calgary Buffaloes. Many of the players are headed to Junior A teams or college next season. It will be a fresh group of faces in training camp come fall.

If the new youngsters are looking for inspiration, they could do worse than the team that preceded them – winners of the Mac’s Midget Tournament and now silver medalists at the 2009 Telus Cup.