Memorial Cup Preview

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Courtesy C.H.L. Insider:

2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup Preview


The 2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup will commence on Friday, May 18, 2007 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, B.C. The following is a preview of each of the four competing teams.

Lewiston MAINEiacs - QMJHL President Cup Champions

The Lewiston MAINEiacs dominated the QMJHL during the regular season recording a league high 106 points and continued their fine play throughout the playoffs having lost only one game. The MAINEiacs captured the President Cup after skating to a four-game series sweep over the Shawinigan Catarates in the first round, a five-game series win over the Halifax Mooseheads in round two, a four-game sweep of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the third round and a four-game series sweep of the Val-d’Or Foreurs to earn their berth in the 2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

Rookie forward David Perron has capped off a brilliant playoff run leading all MAINEiacs in scoring with 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 17 games. Pierre-Luc Faubert scored 12 goals and 15 assists for 28 points while Marc-Andre Cliché finished with six goals and 16 assists for 22 points.

Defenceman Chad Denny led the rearguard for the MAINEiacs after recording 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points. Jonathan Bernier has played tremendous between the pipes for the MAINEiacs throughout the duration of the playoffs. Bernier posted a 16-1 record along with a 2.34 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. Bernier’s efforts were not overlooked as the netminder received MVP honours for the playoffs.


Plymouth Whalers – OHL J. Ross Robertson Cup Champions

The Plymouth Whalers finished second overall in the OHL with 103 points during the regular season and battled their way through the OHL playoffs. The Whalers clinched the J. Ross Robertson Cup after defeating the Guelph Storm in four consecutive games in the first round, a five-game series win over the Kitchener Rangers in round two, a five-game win over the London Knights in round three and a six-game win over the Sudbury Wolves qualifying the Whalers for the 2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

James Neal led all Whalers in playoff scoring with 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points in 20 games. Evan Brohey scored nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points while Dan Collins finished with nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points.

Steve Ward scored one goal and 19 assists for 20 points leading the defence corps for the Whalers. Rookie goaltender Michal Neuvirth showed he was playoff worthy posting a 2.45 goals against average and a .932 save percentage.


Medicine Hat Tigers – WHL President Cup Champions

The Medicine Hat Tigers finished second overall in the WHL with 107 points during the regular season and have played like a team possessed during the playoffs. The Tigers won the President Cup after beating the Red Deer Rebels in seven games in the first round, a four-game sweep of the Regina Pats in the second round, a five-game win over the Calgary Hitmen in the third round and a seven-game series win over the Vancouver Giants solidifying their spot in the 2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

Darren Helm led all Tigers in playoff scoring with 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 23 games. Chris Stevens recorded eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points while Brennan Bosch scored seven goals and nine assists for 16 points.

Kris Russell scored four goals and 15 assists for 19 points leading the way on the blueline for the Tigers. Matt Keetley has played brilliant in net for the Tigers posting a 2.18 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. Keetley’s efforts were recognized as the goaltender was named the MVP of the WHL playoffs.


Vancouver Giants – WHL Finalists and Host of the 2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup

The defending WHL Champions finished with 100 points during the regular season and were one goal away from repeating as champions. The Giants advanced to the WHL Finals after knocking off the Chilliwack Bruins in five games in the first round, a five-game win over the Seattle Thunderbirds in the second round, a five-game win over the Prince George Cougars in the third round and a seven-game loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Championship Final.

Michal Repik led all Giants and the entire WHL in playoff scoring with 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 22 games. Kenndal McArdle and Wacey Rabbit both finished with 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points respectively.

Brenden Mikkelson scored three goals and seven assists for 10 points on the backend for the Giants. Tyson Sexsmith played sensational in net for the Giants playoff run posting a 1.79 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.





© Canadian Hockey League 2007

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Let the Cup begin - Giants, Tigers, MAINEiacs and Whalers

By Roger Lajoie

In September 59 Canadian Hockey League teams opened training camp in hopes of playing in the Memorial Cup. Four of them made it.

The Vancouver Giants, Medicine Hat Tigers, Lewiston MAINEiacs and the Plymouth Whalers are the four teams that survived the long grind of the season and they'll be the ones on display starting Friday when the 89th MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament opens in Vancouver.

The host Giants were assured a spot in the tournament as the hosts, the Tigers advanced thanks to going to the WHL final, and Lewiston and Plymouth won their respective league championships to complete this year's four-team field.




WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

Champions: Medicine Hat Tigers

Teams eliminated: Vancouver Giants, Prince George Cougars, Calgary Hitmen, Prince Albert Raiders, Swift Current Broncos, Chilliwack Bruins, Kamloops Blazers, Spokane Chiefs, Tri-City Americans, Portland Winter Hawks, Kelowna Rockets, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Moose Jaw Warriors, Saskatoon Blades, Kootenay Ice, Red Deer Rebels, Brandon Wheat Kings, Regina Pats, Everett Silvertips, Seattle Thunderbirds.

There was nothing anti-climatic about the WHL final, even through the Medicine Hat Tigers and Vancouver Giants both knew before it started they had places in the Memorial Cup.

The Giants were already in as hosts and the Tigers had their spot assured after the Vancouver made it to the finals. There are always four teams in the tournament and if the host team makes a league final, as has happened several times in the past, then the runners-up also get a spot.

But winning a league title, getting your name on the trophy and getting a championship ring is still crucial to any CHL player and this year's WHL final is the perfect example of that.

The Tigers and Giants went seven games in their WHL championship series and Game 7 went into double overtime on Monday night, before Brennan Bosch scored at 7:16 of the second overtime frame to give the Tigers 3-2 win and the WHL championship.

The dramatic goal ended a fierce and dramatic series and denied the Giants a second straight WHL, as they will have to settle for their host role at the Cup this year despite coming so close to another WHL crown.

Vancouver managed a split of the first two games in the series in Medicine Hat, with the Tigers winning Game 3 in overtime in Vancouver. But Giants goalie Tyson Sexsmith then posted back-to-back shutouts to send the series back to Medicine Hat with the Giants leading 3-2.

But the Tigers won Game 6 by a 4-3 score, setting the stage for the epic double overtime game that finally nailed down the league title for the Tigers.

Medicine Hat had 107 points in the regular season and wound up with a 16-7 playoff record, while Vancouver had 100 points and a 15-7 post-season mark. The teams will collide again at the Memorial Cup.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

Champions: Plymouth Whalers

Teams eliminated: Sudbury Wolves, London Knights, Belleville Bulls, Owen Sound Attack, Guelph Storm, Sarnia Sting, Saginaw Spirit, Brampton Battalion, Mississauga Ice Dogs, Kingston Frontenacs, Ottawa 67's, Erie Otters, Windsor Spitfires, Toronto St. Michael's Majors, Peterborough Petes, Kitchener Rangers, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Barrie Colts, Oshawa Generals.

The Plymouth Whalers were full value for their OHL championship win, but the Sudbury Wolves put on quite a show throughout the OHL playoffs.

James Neal scored 3:22 into overtime to give the Whalers a dramatic 3-2 win Game 6 of the OHL Championship Series Sunday night in Sudbury, giving the Whalers the best-of-seven series 4-2 and the OHL championship.

Plymouth advances to the Memorial Cup with the win, capping a tremendous season in which the Whalers had 103 regular season points (second most in the OHL) and a post-season record of 16-6.

The Wolves were the Cinderella story of the entire CHL playoffs, entering the post-season as the sixth-seeded team in the Eastern Conference.

Sudbury upset Mississauga, Barrie and Belleville in the East playoffs before giving the Whalers all they could handle in a thrilling final, including forcing overtime in the last two games of the series after the teams split the first four games.

Plymouth fired 81 shots at Sudbury goalie Sebastian Dahm in Game 5, including out-shooting the Wolves 19-1 in the overtime period, before finally putting away the fifth game in overtime at home.

A sell-out crowd in Sudbury witnessed a thrilling Game 6, with Dahm again brilliant as the Whalers out-shot the Wolves 43-25.

Sudbury defenceman Marc Staal was selected as the OHL's Playoff MVP despite the loss, while the Whalers head to Vancouver for the Memorial Cup as OHL champions after a great season.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

Champions: Lewiston MAINEiacs.

Teams eliminated: Val-d'Or Foreurs, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Rouyn-Nornada Huskies, Shawinigan Cataractes, St. John's Fog Devils, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, Victoriaville Tigres, Gatineau Olympiques, Quebec Remparts, Rimouski Oceanic, Saint John Sea Dogs, Moncton Wildcats, PEI Rocket, Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Halifax Mooseheads, Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

The Lewiston MAINEiacs will certainly be a tough team to stop at the Memorial Cup.

They will also be well-rested, after Lewiston capped a great regular season with a 16-1 post-season run that gave the MAINEiacs their first QMJHL title which ended with a four-game sweep over the Val-d'Or Foreurs in the league final.

Lewiston was the dominant team in the Q all season, posting a 50-14-2-4 regular season mark for 106 points, 12 points better than any other club in the league during the regular season.

The playoffs were an even easier ride for the MAINEiacs, as they won their last nine straight playoff games including series sweeps in both the semi-finals and finals to claim the Q league title.

Lewiston will have had nine days off before its first tournament game in Vancouver, and that could turn out to be a big advantage at this time of year. The MAINEiacs also enter the tournament with just one loss in their past 27 games.

David Perron scored a pair of first period goals and goalie Jonathan Bernier made 41 saves to make those goals stand up as the MAINEIACS edged the Foreurs 2-1 to complete the series sweep last Wednesday night in Val-d'Or.

Bernier earned playoff MVP honours after the series finale and turned in a terrific playoff for the champions, who were clearly the class of the QMJHL all season long.

The MAINEiacs open up the Memorial Cup tournament Friday night when they play the host Giants in the tournament's first game at 6 p.m. local time and 9 p.m. ET All Memorial Cup games will be broadcast live on Rogers Sportsnet.