Dupont scores twice as Everett powers past Chicoutimi in Memorial Cup semifinal

Photo by Steve Dunsmoor / CHL


KELOWNA, B.C. — Calgary's Landon Dupont scored twice as the Everett Silvertips defeated the Chicoutimi Saguenéens 6-1 on Friday night, advancing to the Memorial Cup championship game and setting up a winner-take-all showdown with the Kitchener Rangers.



Returning to the lineup after missing Everett's final round-robin game, the exceptional-status defenceman wasted little time making his presence felt. Dupont scored late in the first period to restore Everett's lead and added another in the second as the Silvertips gradually turned a close contest into a one-sided semifinal victory.



Everett opened the scoring when Jaxsin Vaughan capitalized on a turnover created by Spruce Grove product Lucas Kaplan, beating Chicoutimi goaltender Lucas Beckman from the slot.



The Saguenéens responded midway through the first period when Utah draft pick Tomas Lavoie produced a highlight-reel individual effort, circling through the offensive zone before wiring a shot under the crossbar to tie the game 1-1.



The tie lasted less than two minutes.



Dupont snapped a shot past Beckman at 13:59 of the opening period to give Everett a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission.



From there, the Silvertips took control.



Carter Bear extended the advantage to 3-1 early in the second period, finishing off a long lead pass on a delayed penalty sequence. Sucker Creek, Alberta native Zachary Shantz made it 4-1 later in the frame before Dupont struck again at 18:38, blasting home his second goal of the night to push Everett's lead to 5-1.



The second period also featured rising tensions between Vaughan and Chicoutimi forward Liam Lefebvre. After an earlier confrontation, the two finally dropped the gloves at centre ice late in the period in one of the game's most spirited moments.



Any remaining doubt disappeared just 45 seconds into the third.



Julius Miettinen converted on the power play to make it 6-1, forcing Chicoutimi to replace Beckman after six goals against on 28 shots.



While Everett's offence grabbed the headlines, goaltender Anders Miller continued his strong tournament play. The Silvertips netminder turned aside several quality Chicoutimi chances, including multiple dangerous looks on first-period power plays, helping Everett maintain control whenever the Saguenéens threatened to build momentum.



Everett outshot Chicoutimi 36-26 and dominated the middle frame 18-6, a stretch that ultimately decided the game.



The 6-1 victory sends the Silvertips into Sunday's Memorial Cup final against the Kitchener Rangers. Kitchener handed Everett its only loss of the tournament during round-robin play, setting the stage for a championship rematch with the Memorial Cup on the line.