For a third straight season, Cyle McNabb will have his name etched on the Legends Cup Trophy.
On Sunday morning in Ladner, Team Howe skated to a 4-3 regulation victory over Team Quinn in the annual Legends Cup Game to conclude the WHL Vancouver Giants four-day training camp.
The 17-year-old Winnipeg native paced the Team Howe attack with three goals, two of which came 26 seconds apart in the third period breaking open a 2-2 tie. Evan Patrician had the other tally for Team Howe while Tyler Ho, Zack Ostapchuk and Aidan Barfoot responded for Team Quinn. Final shots favored Team Quinn by a 40-27 margin.
Both teams struck once in the opening period. Sophomore forward Aidan Barfoot put Team Quinn on the board first at 7:25 mark. Joel Sexsmith and South Delta’s own Matthew Peterson both registered helpers. Late in the frame, Team Howe responded with a marker from Evan Patrician.
Starting goaltenders Braedy Euerby (Howe) of Ladner and Drew Sim (Quinn) were sharp for their respective teams. Shots after one period were 12-7 for Quinn.
McNabb then netted his first of three on the day with an unassisted effort 2:51 into the middle frame, to move Team Howe ahead 2-1.
Midway through the period both teams switched goaltenders. Euerby finished with 16 saves for Team Howe and gave way to Jake Kovinsky for the final half. Sim left the Quinn net with 13 saves to his credit before giving way to Jack Ford.
Team Quinn got back even shortly after the goaltending change when 2018 first-round pick Zack Ostapchuk pounced on a Krz Plummer rebound and shovelled it home. Brenden Pentecost had the second assist.
Neither team could solve the other one through the first 14 minutes of the third period with an aggressive, tight-checking approach and overtime seemed imminent.
McNabb had other ideas though with his two tallies to make it 4-2.
A late goal from Kyle Bochek at 16:29 moved Quinn back within one, but that’s as close as they’d come. Despite being outshot 40-27, Team Howe held on to earn the 4-3 victory.
Up next for the Giants is a week of preparation ahead of their pre-season opener which goes Friday morning against the Seattle Thunderbirds — one of three games next weekend in Everett, WA.
