Following a dramatic Game 7 victory last night, Maple Leafs prospect Ian Scott and the Prince Albert Raiders punched their ticket to this year's Memorial Cup in Halifax.
After recording five shutouts in the postseason, earning all 16 Raiders wins and posting a 1.96 goals against average (GAA) and .925 save percentage (SV%), Scott was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2019 WHL Playoffs.
Earlier this month, Scott was named winner of the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the top goaltender in the Western Hockey League.
The Raiders now head to the Memorial Cup after claiming their first WHL title in 34 years. They defeated the Vancouver Giants in seven games in the Finals, after beating Edmonton, Saskatoon and Red Deer in the first three rounds.
Scott will go head-to-head against Leafs defensive prospect Fedor Gordeev, who won the OHL Championship with the Guelph Storm, knocking off the top-seeded Ottawa 67's in six games.
Gordeev was acquired by the Storm midway through the season, after putting up 19 points (3-16) in 32 games. After joining Guelph, Gordeev recorded another 13 points (4-9) in 31 games and played a pivotal role on the point in the playoffs, skating in 23 of 24 postseason games and contributing a pair of goals and three points.
The Storm fought back from the brink twice this postseason, overcoming a 3-0 deficit to London in the second round and a 3-1 deficit against Saginaw in the Western Conference Finals. The championship is Guelph's first since 2014.
Scott was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round (#110) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year entry level contract on December 14. He was also a member of the 2018 Calder Cup champion Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.
Gordeev was drafted in the fifth round (#141) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
