Chicago Blackhawks prospect Alex DeBrincat capped his third season with the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League with the J. Ross Robertson Cup.
The Otters won Game 5 4-3 in overtime over Mississauga to capture the Cup on Friday at Erie Insurance Arena in Erie. It’s the first OHL championship since 2002 for the Otters.
DeBrincat had the secondary assist on the game-winning goal in the series-clinching game. He had 13 goals and 38 points in the postseason.
DeBrincat signed a three-year entry-level contract with Chicago in April. The deal will begin in 2017-18.
The Otters now advance to the Memorial Cup, a four-team round-robin tournament from May 19-28 to determine the Canadian Hockey League’s champion. DeBrincat won’t be the only Chicago prospect competing in the tournament. Forwards Matthew Highmore and Nathan Noel will play for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s champion Saint John Sea Dogs while Graham Knott will suit up for OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, who earn a berth in the tournament by hosting it.
The fourth and final team in the tournament will be the Western Hockey League champion. Seattle holds a 3-2 series lead over Regina after a 7-4 win Friday in Game 5. The Thunderbirds look to claim the first WHL championship in the franchise’s 40-year history when they visit Regina on Sunday for Game 6.
*Post will be updated
Memorial Cup, Windsor, Ontario; May 19-28
Round-robin Game 1: Saint John vs. Windsor, May 19
Round-robin Game 2: Erie vs Seattle/Regina, May 20
Round-robin Game 3: Windsor vs. Seattle/Regina, May 21
Round-robin Game 4: Erie vs. Saint John, May 22
Round-robin Game 5: Seattle/Regina vs. Saint John, May 23
Round-robin Game 6: Windsor vs. Erie, May 24
*Tie-breaker: Teams TBD, May 25
Semifinal: Teams TBD, May 26
Final: Teams TBD, May 28