WINDSOR, Ont. — Sea Dogs coach Danny Flynn repeatedly pointed to his team's lack of discipline when assessing its 6-3 semifinal loss to the Erie Otters on Friday at the Memorial Cup.
Saint John matched a season high, giving up seven power plays to Erie and the Ontario Hockey League champions capitalized, scoring twice with the man advantage to move on to Sunday's final against the host Windsor Spitfires in the first all-OHL final since 1993.
"We took a lot of penalties. Two penalties for shooting the puck into the crowd ended up being power-play goals for them," Flynn said. "They were on the power play seven times. Seven penalty kills against a team like that… It gave 'em a lot of momentum in the second period and it took away a lot of our energy.
"They had seven looks on the power play and that was the turning point of this game."
Ottawa Senators prospect Thomas Chabot, who likely played in his final game as a member of the Sea Dogs, was assessed three minor penalties in the loss.
The 20-year-old had just 12 penalty minutes in 18 QMJHL playoff games, but finished with a team-high 14 penalty minutes in four games at the Memorial Cup.
"I play physical at some points of games, but I'm not someone that's always going to be in the box. It was just one of those games," said Chabot who briefly cut Erie's lead to two with his third period goal. "Tonight, I turn around and his stick got caught in his leg and obviously it's a trip. I dunno one of those things that everything… I turn around and then I slew foot a guy. After I turn around, my stick was right in his skates - obviously it's not something I want to do in a game."
Chabot had a tremendous fourth season in Saint John. The six-foot-two, 188-pound defenceman had 45 points in 34 regular season games taking home the Emile Bouchard Trophy as the league's top defenceman.
The Ste. Marie-de-Beauce, Que. native was awarded the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the league's playoff MVP after scoring five goals and 23 points in 18 playoff games leading the Sea Dogs to a 16-2 record and a berth in the Memorial Cup.
"You walk in there as a 16-year-old, for me, I wasn't speaking a word in English," Chabot said of his time in Saint John. "Get in with a new family, totally different city than what I'm used to. You get in there as a young kid and you leave there as a young adult."
Internationally, the Senators 2015 first-round pick, registered 10 points in seven games helping Canada win a silver medal at the world juniors. Chabot was named the tournament MVP, top defenceman and a first-team all-star.
Following Friday's loss Chabot admitted it was difficult to look too far ahead, but after making his NHL debut with the Senators in October, his goal is clear.
"Obviously going to train this summer and yeah my goal is to play (in Ottawa) next year," he said.
Dhiren Mahiban, The Canadian Press
