Flyers Prospect Update: Ratcliffe Scores 2, But Season Ends in Semis

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

A magical season for Isaac Ratcliffe and the Guelph Storm came to an end on Friday night in the semi-final game of the Memorial Cup in a 6-4 loss to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Ratcliffe finished his junior career strong with a pair of goals.

Guelph trailed early in the game as the Huskies scored on a power play for a high-sticking minor to Ratcliffe. Alex Beaucage got the goal at 4:58. Ratcliffe scored the equalizer at 6:28 of the first. One minute later, Jack Hanley gave Guelph the lead. Joel Teasdale answered for Rouyn-Noranda at 9:31 and the first period ended in a 2-2 tie.

Both teams scored one goal in the second, separated by 56 seconds. Cedric Ralph gave Guelph the 3-2 lead at 5:53 but was quickly answered by Tyler Hinam at 6:49.

Felix Bibeau scored at 5:40 of the third to put Rouyn-Noranda ahead for good in the third. Bibeau added a second goal at 12:33 to make it 5-3 Huskies. Ratcliffe scored with 1:13 remaining in the game to cut the lead to one, but Rouyn-Noranda held on and got an empty-net goal from Rafael Harvey-Pinard.

Ratcliffe's two goals gave him 68 goals over 93 games and added 50 assists for 118 points. Ratcliffe also captained Guelph to the OHL championship, earning the berth in the Memorial Cup. On the way to the Memorial Cup, Guelph rallied back from a 3-0 series deficit, a 3-1 series deficit and a 2-0 series deficit, playing in 24 of a possible 28 playoff games.

The Memorial Cup will be decided on Sunday night with the host Halifax Mooseheads taking on the QMJHL champions the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.