The Portland Winterhawks will not be heading to London for the Memorial Cup Tournament, as they fell one win short in a 4-3 series loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings. The series played out exactly how the previous two finals went, as the two teams went back and forth. Portland gained the upper hand in the first two games and appeared to be on their way to a 3-0 series lead after the first period of game 3. However, the Oil Kings would come back and with it, had the momentum going into game 6 and were 20 minutes away from claiming the title then. However, three goals and 20+ minutes later, the Winterhawks forced a game 7 thanks to a furious comeback. In the end, the Oil Kings would win the title thanks to a four goal outburst in the second period to take back the title they won in 2012 and represent the WHL in the Memorial Cup Tournament that begins Friday. The Oil Kings will join Guelph and London, as well as the winner of the Val D'Or/Baie-Comeau game tonight. As for the Winterhawks, it was a disappointing end to another magnificent season, but making the Finals four straight years is nothing to dismiss. Next year, they hope to make it into rarefied air, as they will shoot for five straight appearances.
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