Burning questions

For the first time in five years, the champions of the junior circuit hail from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The Saint John Sea Dogs not only became the first Maritimes team to win the MasterCard Memorial Cup last May, but the first team from their league since the 2006, when the Quebec Remparts captured the junior hockey crown. With a roster featuring many returning players, all eyes are on Saint John to see if they can become the ninth team in Canadian Hockey League history to repeat as national champions.

Note - Sportsnet.ca will preview the Ontario Hockey League on Wednesday and the Western Hockey League on Thursday.

League play may already be well underway, but with some of the QMJHL's top players only now returning from NHL camps (and many still away), here's a look at five burning questions and five players to keep an eye on.

Can the Sea Dogs repeat as Memorial Cup champions?

The Sea Dogs were the best from the start to finish last season, but with the MasterCard Memorial Cup being hosted in their league, Saint John is far from a rubber stamp to repeat as QMJHL champions. The Shawinigan Cataractes, who will host the tournament, will load up. As will the Victoriaville Tigres and many other teams figuring they have a chance with two teams from their league in the tournament. And of course, junior graduation will leave some major holes in Saint John. Jonathan Huberdeau is far from certain to return while the graduation of goalie Jacob De Serres will be hard to replace. There's no question the Sea Dogs will be in the equation, it's just getting more crowded at the top.

Can the Shawinigan Cataractes win their first league championship?

As an original member of the league, the Cataractes' history still has one major incomplete: Championship banners. No fan base has waited longer than Shawinigan's to see their team hoist the President's Cup. The team came close three years earlier, losing in Game 7 to rival Drummondville in the final, and is now reloaded for another shot at the Memorial Cup. They may not be the strongest team on paper, but GM Martin Mondou accumulated enough draft picks to address some needs at the Christmas trade period. If Montreal Canadiens first-rounder Louis Leblanc returns to junior, it will give them the major offensive threat they currently lack.

Are the Victoriaville Tigres ready to take the next step?

Perhaps due partly to their small market, the Tigres don't get the respect they deserve. Victoriaville made their five-game-series loss to the eventual champion Sea Dogs much more interesting than many anticipated in last year's playoffs and their core is still largely intact. The Tigres might have the best goalie in their league with Vancouver Canucks draft-pick David Honzik while Chicago Blackhawks first-rounder Phillip Danault is the heart and soul of the team. The franchise won three playoff rounds the last two years and is looking its best this season.

Are the Halifax Mooseheads ready to climb out of the league's basement?

It's been three long years in the Nova Scotia capital since the Brad Marchand-led Mooseheads stumbled and fell below expectations in 2008. The trade to land Marchand left the franchise in a state of rebuild that it is only recently beginning to overcome. The days of this cellar-dwelling hockey team appear to be over and there's a lot to be optimistic about in Halifax. First-overall pick Nathan MacKinnon -- acquired from Baie-Comeau -- appears to be the real deal while Czech teammate Martin Frk could be a lottery pick in the NHL draft. The Mooseheads may not be a complete team ready to contend, but they won't be a pushover, either.

Will Brandon Gormley and Sean Couturier headline the list of trade available players?

The top two picks in the 2008 QMJHL draft will likely be the hottest commodities on the trade market this December. Both Gormley and Couturier spent their entire junior careers with the teams that drafted them, but neither is likely to conclude their careers in the same city. Gormley, in fact, had been rumoured to be available last year. Neither Moncton nor Drummondville is in a position to contend, which makes this an easy decision. By trading their star players, both teams could position themselves for a big year next season. Look for these two stories to dominate headlines throughout the first half of the season.

Five players to watch:

1. Nathan MacKinnon, Halifax Mooseheads

Not since Sidney Crosby has a prospect received so many headlines before playing a game in the QMJHL. MacKinnon, who not only hails from Crosby's hometown of Cole Harbour, N.S. but has the same agent as Crosby, doesn't wish to be compared to the Penguins captain. Whether he wants those lofty comparisons or not, his game will be watched under a microscope all season long. His 10 points in his first four games could be a sign of things to come.

2. David Honzik, Victoriaville Tigres

The Vancouver Canucks returned Honzik to Victoriaville on Monday and he could make his first start of the season on Friday against Quebec. Honzik was the main reason the Tigres gave the Sea Dogs such difficulty closing out their second-round series last season. With a full year of North American hockey under his belt and the confidence gained, Honzik could be the best goalie in the QMJHL this season.

3. Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec Remparts

The Russian sniper is coming in with some high expectations after the Remparts traded up from the 11th pick in the CHL import draft to No. 2. Grigorenko is a very highly-touted prospect for the upcoming NHL draft and will be relied upon heavily by Patrick Roy. The Remparts aren't a very strong team offensively, which means Grigorenko should have the green light in terms of playing with creativity.

4. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Gatineau Olympiques

The Olympiques' little lightning in a bottle was among the top playoff and regular season scorers a year ago. Pageau makes up for his lack of size with a spirited approach to the game and a blend of skill and speed. He has some catching up to do in the league scoring race, but could lead the league if he remains healthy.

5. Mathieu Corbeil-Thériault, Saint John Sea Dogs

One way or another, Corbeil-Thériault is going to be a story this season. No player has bigger shoes to fill than the new Sea Dogs' starter after the graduation of De Serres. If he can play well and steady the ship, he can deliver another championship in Saint John. If he rocks the boat, the Sea Dogs may look for another goalie.