For the OHL Champion Windsor Spitfires, three's were wild during their tie-breaking game at the 2009 Memorial Cup.

Dale Mitchell scored three times in a 3:33 span of the third period, leading the Spitfires to a thrilling 6-4 come-from-behind win over the host Rimouski Oceanic.

The win was the second straight for Windsor who staved off tournament elimination for the second time in three nights.

The pre-tournament favourites erased a 1-0 deficit in beating the Kelowna Rockets 2-1 just to force Thursday’s tie-breaker.

Against the Oceanic, Mitchell’s third period heroics lifted the Spitfires off the mat again as Windsor trailed the hosts 4-2 heading into the final 20 minutes.

Greg Nemisz closed the scoring on a two-man advantage with just under a second left in the game.

The Oceanic jumped out to a 3-2 lead after a wild opening 20 minutes which featured three different lead changes and numerous scoring chances as both teams appeared to leave the defensive part of their game in the dressing room.

Patrice Cormier extended the lead to 4-2 with a power-play goal late in the second.

Trailing by a single goal with under two minutes left in regulation time, Rimouski’s Emmanuel Boudreau was sent off for hooking.

Oceanic head coach Clément Jodoin, attempting to even the odds, called for a stick measurement on Windsor goaltender Andrew Engelage.

The stick was legal and the Oceanic were assessed a delay of game penalty, effectively ending their tournament and season.

The Spitfires will now take on Drummondville in Friday’s semi-final with the winner meeting the Rockets in Sunday’s final.

For Windsor, the game will be their fifth in seven days.