Entwistle Helps Hamilton Capture OHL Championship

GLENDALE --Coyotes prospect MacKenzie Entwistle notched a goal and an assist on Sunday afternoon to help the Hamilton Bulldogs win the Ontario Hockey League championship and advance to the 2018 Memorial Cup.
Trailing Sault Ste. Marie, 2-1, Entwistle scored his 11th goal of the OHL playoffs at 17:37 of the second period. Underdog Hamilton, playing on home ice, won the game, 5-4, and the best-of-seven series 4-2.
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"This is great," Entwistle said of his team's success. "This is my third year in the OHL, and in the first two, not to say they weren't fun, but we never made it this far in the postseason. We're still playing hockey in May. It's fun."
The 2018 Memorial Cup will pit Hamilton (OHL champ), Swift Current (Western Hockey League champ), Acadie-Bathurst (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champ) and host Regina. The annual tournament, which will be staged for the 100th time, will run from May 18-27. Hamilton will open the tournament against Regina on Friday.
"It means everything," Entwistle said of qualifying for the annual event. "As a kid you dream about being able to go to the Memorial Cup. I'm beyond excited and can't wait for the opportunity to play there."
The city of Hamilton, Ontario, will be a participant in the Memorial Cup for the first time since 1976.

"It's a great group of guys and everyone just kind of jelled," Entwistle said. "It's just fun to go to the rink every day and be with these guys. None of us want this to end. That's the biggest thing. Everyone wants to keep playing and is doing whatever it takes to win. That's what's really motivating us. The summer can wait."
The Coyotes chose Entwistle with the 69th overall pick at the 2017 NHL Draft. The right-handed forward notched 13 goals and 25 assists in 49 games in the regular season. A shoulder injury he suffered at Arizona's rookie camp and a hand injury he suffered early in the OHL season kept him sidelined for stretches.
"It was a tough way to start the season," Entwistle said. "I started off pretty slow, but I slowly started picking up and now I'm peaking at the right time."
Entwistle produced 18 points (11 goals, seven assists) in 22 OHL playoff games.
"There's a different vibe going around the room during the playoffs," Entwistle said. "Every game is so important and feels like every game is a Game 7. That's how you have to treat it. It's such a fun atmosphere to be part of. I like that ... I don't see myself as a goal scorer. That's not really my game. I'm a two-way forward and I take a lot of pride in my 'D' zone skills."