Hunter St. Martin scored with 2:21 left to play to lift the Medicine Hat Tigers over the the host Rimouski Océanic 5-4 on Friday in the first game of the Memorial Cup.
Bryce Pickford had a pair of goals for Medicine Hat, the Western Hockey League champions. Ryder Ritchie and Gavin McKenna also found the back of the net and Oasiz Wiesblatt had three assists.
Harrison Meneghin made 20 saves for the win.
Mael Lavigne, Jacob Mathieu and Jonathan Fauchon all had power-play goals for Rimouski and Mael St-Denis scored at even strength.
Mathis Langevin turned aside 33 shots for the Océanic, who are hosting Canada’s major junior hockey championship.
Before the game started, there was a very emotional moment shared between a member of Océanic and his father.
Capt. Erick Théberge surprised his son Olivier Théberge by coming onto the ice as part of the game’s opening ceremony and puck drop.
Capt. Théberge, who has served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 36 years, received special permission to return from his deployment in Latvia in time to watch his son play in this first game of the Memorial Cup.
The round-robin portion of the tournament continues on Saturday when the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats face the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights.
