The 2002 Royal Bank Cup is underway in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The championship kicked off with an exciting opening game between the Halifax Oland Exports (Host) and the Chilliwack Chiefs (Pacific), with the Oland Exports coming out on top 4-3 in front of 2,246 fans at the Halifax Forum.
Halifax opened the scoring on a power play early in the first period when Francis Cloutier potted the championships first goal at the 2:20 mark. Halifax would maintain their one goal lead heading into the second period.
Both teams traded a pair of goals in the second period with Chilliwack out shooting Halifax 14-7. Richard Paul and B.J. Brown scored for Halifax while Jeff Tambellini and Matthew Gibbons replied for Chilliwack.
In the third, Tambellini added his second goal of the game at the 12:32 mark, tying things up at three and sending the game into overtime. In the extra frame, Francis Cloutier gave the Oland Exports the win with his second on the night just under five minutes in.
Andrew Sim made 30 saves for the win while Marc Narduzzi stopped 35 shots in a losing cause. Tambellini was named player-of-the-game for Chilliwack while Oland Export captain Matt Quinn took the honours for Halifax.
Day two of the 2002 Royal Bank Cup begins tomorrow with the Ottawa Junior Senators facing off against the Rayside Balfour Sabrecats at 2:00 pm. Sundays feature game will have the Oland Exports hosting the OCN Blizzard at 7:00 pm. All games are being played at the Halifax Forum.