1994 Lewis Cup Finals

Heading into the 1994 Lewis Cup Finals, Vincent Ducharme was playing the best hockey of his career after scoring nine goals in the Eastern Conference Finals. Meanwhile, the Chicago Shamrocks were coming off one of the most successful seasons for any team in PHL history. On their way to the Finals, the Shamrocks lost only two games in the entire playoffs.

Ducharme continued his strong play in game one, scoring twice in a 4-1 Montreal win in Chicago. The Shamrocks responded with a win in game two, thanks to an early third period goal from Vladimir Kozakov. Chicago hung on for a 4-2 win to tie the series. In Montreal for game three, the teams battled to a 2-2 tie and the game went into overtime. Halfway through the overtime, JC Girard’s shot beat Chicago goaltender John Gage and appeared to go into the net before Gage grabbed it with his glove. Officials reviewed the play and ruled that the puck never crossed the line and the game went on. With just three minutes left in the first overtime, Ducharme entered the Chicago zone and released a slapshot on net. The puck dipped and beat Gage to give Montreal a 3-2 win.

Unable to get a step ahead of the Royale, the Shamrocks were desperate for a win in game four. “We know we can beat them, we just need to keep our game simple” said Theo Sprouse. The Shamrocks committed to tighter defensive play in game four, stifling the Royale as they only managed two shots in the first period. Meanwhile, Vladimir Gaganov scored twice to give Chicago a 2-0 lead. Martin Vannier scored early in the second just before Kevin Trainor made it 4-0. Frustration took over for Montreal, as several scrums broke out near the end of the second period. Montreal managed to score once in the third period but it was too little too late, as Chicago won the game 5-1. Game five would be pivotal, with the winner getting an opportunity to claim the title. It would be a high scoring affair, as the teams were tied 3-3 with time winding down in the third. With just six minutes left, Sergei Vetrov gave the Royale the lead. Chicago entered desperation mode once again, pulling Gage with a minute to go. Martin Vannier failed to beat Jonathan Bouret, but Vladimir Kozakov banged in the rebound and the game was tied. It appeared that the game would go into overtime when suddenly, Kozakov stripped Montreal defenseman Evan Flowers of the puck and got on a breakaway. Kozakov beat Bouret with a deke to give Chicago the lead. Montreal scrambled to try to tie it but it was too late. The Shamrocks now led the series 3-2 and had a chance to claim the championship.

With the Lewis Cup in the building for game six, the burning question was whether or not the Royale could rebound from the devastating loss in game five. The question would soon be answered when Ducharme and Sylvain Landry each scored to make it 2-0 for Montreal. Gaganov scored late in the second period, closing the gap to a goal. Montreal then had a chance to increase the lead to two goals once again when Trevor Ramsey hit the post on a breakaway. Chicago withstood intense pressure from Montreal to extend the lead until Ted McDougal tied the game with just four minutes left. The game would go into overtime, where Chicago hoped to repeat their dramatic OT Cup victory from 1983. However Montreal would ensure that would not happen this time when 19-year veteran Ron Borden scored midway through the extra frame, forcing a game seven back in Chicago.

“This series has been one for the ages, we all knew it had to go to seven” said commentator Don Gillis just prior to the deciding game. 62-year-old Lincoln Sports Arena was as loud as it had ever been on June 6, 1994, the night of game seven. As the game began, both teams were clearly tense. No goals were scored in the first period, but there were some close calls. Valdimir Gaganov had a golden opportunity with a wide open net but fanned on the shot and it went wide. With just seconds left in the first period, Trevor Ramsey had a breakaway chance for Montreal. He beat Gage but failed to score as the puck went off the crossbar. Montreal would finally strike first, eight minutes into the second period when Ducharme took a pass in the slot from Ramsey and deked Theo Sprouse before beating John Gage to give the Royale the lead. Montreal would nurse the lead through the rest of the period despite constant pressure from the Shamrocks. Early in the third, Chicago finally broke the deadlock when Alexander Orlov tied the game. Chicago continued to press, but Bouret met every challenge. The 20-year-old from Granby, Quebec had been absolutely brilliant throughout most of the series and now seemed almost unbeatable. Finally with seven minutes to go in regulation, Gaganov found himself on a 2-on-1 alongside Martin Vannier. Gaganov slipped Vannier the puck and Vannier immediately redirected it into the gaping net as the crowd erupted. Chicago now held the lead. Montreal made a push, pulling Bouret in a desperate attempt to tie the game. JC Girard nearly tied it with a wide open net and just 38 seconds left but just missed. Finally, Ted McDougall got the puck in the open and dumped it toward the empty Montreal net. The puck rolled into the net with just nine seconds to go, sealing the victory for Chicago. As the crowd counted out the final seconds, the Shamrocks poured off the bench. Vladimir Gaganov, the first-ever European player to captain his team to a championship, accepted the Cup from Darryl Byrd and immediately handed it off to Emmett Blake, a 20-year veteran playing in his final game. For Don Saleski, who had served as Coach/GM since 1969, the win was his second at the helm of the franchise. The 66-year-old was expected to retire, but insisted he would be back the following year to defend the title. “We’re just getting going, I would be insane to quit now” said Saleski.