QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —The 94th edition of the Memorial Cup tournament will see the Western Hockey League champion the Edmonton Oil Kings, the Ontario Hockey champion London Knights, the Quebec Junior Hockey League champion Saint John Sea Dogs and the Shawinigan Cataractes as the host team. The tourney is played as a round robin to determine the 2012 Memorial Cup champion beginning with first game on May 18, 2012 between the Western Hockey League champion Edmonton and the host team Shawinigan.
The Tournament is scheduled from May 17 to May 27th in Shawinigan.
In this first preview of the Memorial Cup, let’s have a look to the Western Hockey League champion the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Ontario Hockey League champions the London Knights.
Playing in the Eastern Conference, the Oil Kings opened their 2011-12 playoffs facing the Kootenay Ice in quarterfinal eliminating their first opponent in four straight games.
In the Eastern Conference semi-final, Edmonton swept the Brandon Wheat Kings in four games. In the Eastern Conference final, the team coach by Derek Lextal eliminated the Moose Jaw Warriors four games to one.
The Edmonton Oil Kings earned the right to represent the Western Hockey League as champion defeating the Portland Winterhawks in seven games.
In goal, Laurent Brossoit is the main guy in net for head coach Lextal. Ranked as second best goalie in playoff behind Bandon Glover of the Brandon Wheat Kings who only played four games, the Surrey British Columbia native showed a goaltending average of 2.04 with a save percentage of 0.941 in 20 games. Tristan Jarry is the back up.
On defense, Martin Gernat with 13 points (7g-6a) in 20 games and Mark Pysyk with 11 points (3g-8a) in 20 games are the two best offensive defensemen for the Oil Kings. Griffin Reinhart 8 points (2g-6a) in 20 games, Keegan Lowe 7 points (4g-3a) in 20 games (Kevin Lowe’s son), Cody Corbett 4 points (0g-4a) in 18 games and Ashton Sautner 2 points (0g-2a) in 19 games completes Edmonton defensive units.
Offensively, Curtis Lezar (19 points on 8g-11a) in 20 games and Martin St-Croix 19 points (7g-12a) in 20 games led the Oil Kings offense. Tyler Maxwell with 16 points (5g-11a) in 20 games, Stephane Legeault 14 points (5g-9a) and Henrik Samuelsson 14 points (4g-10a) in 17 games (Ulf Samuelsson’s son) completes Edmonton first five offensive forwards. Jordan Peddle 13 points (6g-7a) in 20 games, Rhett Rachinski 12 points (7g-5a) in 20 games, Kristians Pelss 10 points (5g-5a) in 17 games, T. J. Foster 10 points (3g-7a) in 20 games and Mitchell Moroz 8 points (4g-4a) in 20 games are the other offensive forwards on whom coach Lazar count on to go as far as they hope at the 2011-12 Memorial Cup tournament.
Representing the Ontario Hockey League at the 2011-12 Memorial Cup tournament the London Knights began their road to the Memorial Cup tournament by eliminating the Windsor Spitfire in four straight games.
In the second round, the team owned by the Hunter brothers, Mark and Dale, and co-own by Basil McRay needed six games to defeat the Saginaw Spirits before facing the Kitchener Rangers. The Knights went to the next round eliminating the Rangers in four straight games before disposing the Niagara Ice Dogs in five games.
In goal, ranked as the second best in the OHL behind Brandon Maxwell with the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors, Michael Houser will enter the tournament showing a goaltender average of 2.25 and a save percentage of 0.928 in 19 games played. Tyson Teichman is Houser back up.
On defense, Olli Maatta is London’s offensive leader from defense totaling 23 points in 19 games (6g-17a) with plus 11 in a plus/minus category. Drafted in first round by the Montreal Canadiens (22nd overall) in 2010 Jarred Tinordi is second best offensive defenseman with 8 points in 19 games (3g-5a). Tyler Ferrey 7 points (2g-5a) in19 games, Scott Harrington 7 points in 19 games (1g-6a), Tommy Hughes 4 points in 19 games (1g-3a) and Brett Cook 3 points in 19 games (0g-3a) completes London defensive units.
Offensively, Seth Griffith is best London offensive leader with 23 points in 19 games (10g-13a). Vladislav Namesnikov 18 points in 19 games (4g-14a), Austin Watson 17 points in 19 games (10g-7a), Ryan Rupert 15 points in 19 games (9g-6a), Greg McKegg 11 points in 15 games (4g-7a), Max Domi 9 points in 19 games (4g-5a), Jaret Knight 8 points in 15 games (4g-4a), Chris Tierny 7 points in 19 games (7g-2a), Josh Anderson 5 points in 19 games (2g-3a), Andreas Athanasious 5 points in 11 games (1g-4a) and Bob Horvat 4 points in 18 games (1g-3a).
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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