Avon's OT winner lifts Petes over Blazers for Memorial Cup semifinal berth

J.R. Avon scored the game-winning goal 10:54 into overtime and the Peterborough Petes beat the host Kamloops Blazers 5-4 on Thursday, earning a semifinal berth at the Memorial Cup.

Connor Lockhart, Brennan Othmann, Samuel Mayer and Brian Zanetti had the others for Ontario Hockey League champion Peterborough. Michael Simpson made 43 saves.

Logan Stankoven, Olen Zellweger, Harrison Brunicke and Logan Bairos replied for host Kamloops. Dylan Ernst stopped 25 shots.

The Petes will next meet the Western Hockey League champion Seattle Thunderbirds in Friday's semifinal for a chance to face the Quebec Remparts in the final on Sunday.

J.R. AVON SENDS THE PETES TO THE <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MemorialCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MemorialCup</a> SEMIS! <a href="https://t.co/jSz4WKpE7s">pic.twitter.com/jSz4WKpE7s</a>

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Remparts earned a berth into the final after opening the tournament with wins over Kamloops and Seattle.

Lockhart opened the scoring 7:52 into the first period. Chase Lefebvre sent the puck across the end boards to Jax Dubois, who found Lockhart with a slick pass into the slot and he beat Ernst five-hole.

Stankoven evened it up 11:20 into the frame, sending the Sandman Centre crowd into a frenzy. Connor Levis took a point shot and the rebound came out to the Blazers captain, who scored his second of the tournament.

Zellweger put Kamloops ahead 12:45 into the frame on the power play. The CHL Defenceman of the Year nominee saved the puck from getting out of the Petes' zone, moved into the slot and wired one past Simpson for his first.

With 2:27 remaining in the first, Brunicke piled it on for the Blazers. Peterborough's Konnor Smith attempted to clear it