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Ex-Bulls in OHL Finals

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Five months ago, Jake Marchment never dreamed he'd be playing in the OHL Finals.

The former Belleville Bulls captain scored the tying goal as the Erie Otters wiped out a 2-1 deficit en route to a 7-3 home-ice win over the Soo Greyhounds to capture the Western Conference playoff title in Game 6 of the best-of-seven series Saturday night in Erie.

Another former Bull, Remi Elie, drew an assist on Marchment's first-period goal and the Otters never looked back, going ahead for good on the first of three markers by OHL Rookie of the Year Alex DeBrincat before the midway mark of the second stanza.

“Remi made a great play, I just had to get it on net and fortunately it went in,” said Marchment.

Elie finished the night with three assists.

Earlier this season, Marchment violated the OHL's social media policy and was slapped with a 15-game suspension. In January, he was stripped of his captaincy by Bulls GM-coach George Burnett and dealt to Erie — along with Elie.

While leaving Belleville was difficult, Marchment said he's thrilled to be part of a winning organization in Erie.

“It's definitely nice when you get traded to a team that has a chance to win a championship,” he said. “It feels great.”

Marchment said he misses Belleville but Erie has its perks.

“The gas is cheaper,” he said.

The rangy centre said the Otters, led by the probable No. 1 pick at the 2016 NHL draft — Connor McDavid — are a tight-knit, young and hungry unit.

“We're about as close to a family as you can get without actually being one,” said Marchment. “We're all pulling the same rope. We have the same goal. We're playing and practicing hard — every day.”

Marchment said Otters head coach Kris Knoblach has had a huge hand in his development in Erie.

“He's great,” said Marchment. “He's real technical — we watch a lot of video. He makes adjustments when he needs to and he doesn't panic on the bench. He has great composure and we feed off that. We're still a pretty young team, so that helps.

“He brought me in and worked a lot with me on things every day after practice when I first got here. He's a first-class coach, that's for sure.”

Marchment said Elie transitioned nicely into the Erie lineup and brings valuable playoff experience form his time as a London Knight.

“Everybody loves Remi,” said Marchment. “He's just doing his thing. He's a playoff player. He's been here before, so his experience definitely helps. He's helped me a lot too.

“It was nice to be able to come down here in the trade with someone else.”

And McDavid?

“He's amazing,” said Marchment. “You can't talk enough about him and you really can't do justice to what he does on the ice every night for us. You know he's going to score every night, so if we get secondary scoring we're usually OK.

“He's a heck of a guy off the ice too.”

Erie Insurance Arena was packed to the rafters Saturday night with 6,581 in attendance. Marchment expects similar crowds when the OHL Finals begin.

Otters will face the winner of the Oshawa vs. North Bay Eastern Conference final. Generals held a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven affair with Game 6 set for Sunday at 2 p.m. in North Bay.

“It'll be a tough series,” said Marchment. “Our coaches will get us prepared and we'll have a game plan. Hopefully we can keep rolling.

“It won't be easy, but we believe we can do it.”

 

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