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puckhead
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thought I'd start a new one for the tourney:
Kootenay Ice (WHL Champions)
Final MasterCard CHL Top-10 Ranking: NR
How they got here: The Kootenay Ice won the Ed Chynoweth Cup (named for the former WHL Commissioner and Ice owner) in a five game series over the Portland Winterhawks but it was their second round sweep of the first place Saskatoon Blades that was the biggest upset of the CHL playoffs. They opened the playoffs with a six-game series win over the Moose Jaw Warriors and swept the Medicine Hat Tigers in the semi-finals to earn their berth in the league championship series. This is their third appearance at the MasterCard Memorial Cup - they won in Guelph in 2002.
Who to watch: Overage forward Matt Fraser led all WHL scorers with 17 goals in the playoffs.
Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL Champions)
Final MasterCard CHL Top-10 Ranking: 1
How they got here: After winning the QMJHL’s regular season title and tying the league record with 58 wins, the Sea Dogs had a relatively easy trip to their second straight league championship series. After losing to the Moncton Wildcats in six games one year ago, the Sea Dogs beat the Gatineau Olympiques in six games to claim their first QMJHL championship and first berth in the MasterCard Memorial Cup. They opened the playoffs with a sweep of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles followed by a five game win over the Victoriaville Tigres. They swept the Lewiston Maineiacs in the semi-finals to set up their championship series against the Olympiques.
Who to watch: Jonathan Huberdeau was named the MVP of the QMJHL playoffs after leading all post-season scorers with 16 goals to go along with 14 assists for 30 points in 19 games.
Owen Sound Attack (OHL Champions)
Final MasterCard CHL Top-10 Ranking: 8
How they got here: The Owen Sound Attack rallied from a 2-0 deficit to the St. Michael’s Majors in the OHL Championship Series and capitalized on an overtime win in Game 7 of the series on Sunday to claim the Robertson Cup as OHL champions for the first time in team history. The Attack knocked off some giants along the way to their OHL title, including a six game series win over the London Knights in the opening round. They swept the Plymouth Whalers in the second round before a five game series win over the two-time defending OHL and Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires in the conference finals.
Who to watch: Robby Mignardi won the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL playoff MVP after sharing the league scoring lead with 15 goals and 24 points in 22 games.
Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (Host)
Final MasterCard CHL Top-10 Ranking: 3
How they got here: The Majors have known for more than a year that they would open the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup on home ice this Friday but that didn’t keep them from racking up the best regular season record in the OHL and following that up with a championship playoff run. They swept through the Belleville Bulls and Sudbury Wolves in the first two rounds and then knocked off the Niagara IceDogs in five games in the second round. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Attack in the OHL Championship Series before falling to them in overtime in Game 7 on Sunday.
Who to watch: Majors’ netminder JP Anderson put up a stellar 2.11 goals against average in playing every minute of the post-season for the Majors. He made headlines by posting three straight shutouts in the opening round against Belleville.
Kootenay Ice (WHL Champions)
Final MasterCard CHL Top-10 Ranking: NR
How they got here: The Kootenay Ice won the Ed Chynoweth Cup (named for the former WHL Commissioner and Ice owner) in a five game series over the Portland Winterhawks but it was their second round sweep of the first place Saskatoon Blades that was the biggest upset of the CHL playoffs. They opened the playoffs with a six-game series win over the Moose Jaw Warriors and swept the Medicine Hat Tigers in the semi-finals to earn their berth in the league championship series. This is their third appearance at the MasterCard Memorial Cup - they won in Guelph in 2002.
Who to watch: Overage forward Matt Fraser led all WHL scorers with 17 goals in the playoffs.
Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL Champions)
Final MasterCard CHL Top-10 Ranking: 1
How they got here: After winning the QMJHL’s regular season title and tying the league record with 58 wins, the Sea Dogs had a relatively easy trip to their second straight league championship series. After losing to the Moncton Wildcats in six games one year ago, the Sea Dogs beat the Gatineau Olympiques in six games to claim their first QMJHL championship and first berth in the MasterCard Memorial Cup. They opened the playoffs with a sweep of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles followed by a five game win over the Victoriaville Tigres. They swept the Lewiston Maineiacs in the semi-finals to set up their championship series against the Olympiques.
Who to watch: Jonathan Huberdeau was named the MVP of the QMJHL playoffs after leading all post-season scorers with 16 goals to go along with 14 assists for 30 points in 19 games.
Owen Sound Attack (OHL Champions)
Final MasterCard CHL Top-10 Ranking: 8
How they got here: The Owen Sound Attack rallied from a 2-0 deficit to the St. Michael’s Majors in the OHL Championship Series and capitalized on an overtime win in Game 7 of the series on Sunday to claim the Robertson Cup as OHL champions for the first time in team history. The Attack knocked off some giants along the way to their OHL title, including a six game series win over the London Knights in the opening round. They swept the Plymouth Whalers in the second round before a five game series win over the two-time defending OHL and Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires in the conference finals.
Who to watch: Robby Mignardi won the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL playoff MVP after sharing the league scoring lead with 15 goals and 24 points in 22 games.
Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (Host)
Final MasterCard CHL Top-10 Ranking: 3
How they got here: The Majors have known for more than a year that they would open the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup on home ice this Friday but that didn’t keep them from racking up the best regular season record in the OHL and following that up with a championship playoff run. They swept through the Belleville Bulls and Sudbury Wolves in the first two rounds and then knocked off the Niagara IceDogs in five games in the second round. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Attack in the OHL Championship Series before falling to them in overtime in Game 7 on Sunday.
Who to watch: Majors’ netminder JP Anderson put up a stellar 2.11 goals against average in playing every minute of the post-season for the Majors. He made headlines by posting three straight shutouts in the opening round against Belleville.
