BY JONATHAN BRAZEAU – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
The 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup could end up being one of the best tournaments ever.
While the powerhouse Saint John Sea Dogs aim to defend the title, the energetic London Knights and dynasty-in-the-making Edmonton Oil Kings will make it a tough challenge. It’s also easy to forget about the Shawinigan Cataractes, but they’re hungry and out to prove that they’re a contender.
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SAINT JOHN SEA DOGS
After a slight bump in the road in Game 1 of the QMJHL final against the Rimouski Oceanic — grabbing a quick 2-0 lead only to squander it and having to win in OT — the Sea Dogs got right back on track and rolled past the Oceanic for the sweep.
The Sea Dogs look even better than the team that won the Memorial Cup a year ago and any team that goes 16-1 in the playoffs has a great chance to win it all.
Players to watch: How about all of them? Captain Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida Panthers) hasn’t been dominant in the playoffs and missed two games due to a suspension but he could turn it up a notch as he aims for a second straight tournament MVP award.
Defenceman Nathan Beaulieu (Montreal Canadiens) is a solid force on the blue line. Stanislav Galiev (Washington Capitals) scored a hat trick and two assists in Game 4 of the QMJHL final and finished tied for first in the Q playoff points. Zack Phillips (Minnesota Wild) and Tomas Jurco (Detroit Red Wings) also provide the team with firepower.
The Sea Dogs also have a not-so secret weapon in Charlie Coyle (Minnesota Wild). Brought in from Boston College in January, the wild card addition to the already strong core had 15 goals and 19 assists in 17 playoff games. Mathieu Corbeil (Columbus Blue Jackets) served as the backup goaltender last year and has been solid in net this season, giving the Sea Dogs a stronger last line of defence in net.
Big question: Can they repeat as champions?
Fun fact: Only eight teams have won back-to-back championships with the Windsor Spitfires being the latest in 2009 and 2010. Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall won the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy both times and is the only two-time tournament MVP winner in CHL history.
Prediction: Sea Dogs win the Memorial Cup for the second consecutive year.
LONDON KNIGHTS
Youth has been a blessing for the Knights.
Many thought their inexperience in big game situations would finally catch up to them in the OHL final, but they didn’t have much trouble with the Niagara IceDogs after all, winning the series in five games. They do have veteran presence on the team in the form of Austin Watson (Nashville Predators) and captain Jarred Tinordi (Montreal Canadiens).
Players to watch: Michael Houser has been solid between the pipes and it wasn’t much of a surprise when he won the OHL’s most outstanding player award. Houser earned the W in 48 of London’s 49 wins this season and they’ll continue to rely on his stellar play in the Memorial Cup.
Defensive prospect Olli Maatta is a power-play quarterback in the making, showing back-of-the-net flair with 23 points in 19 playoff games.
Rookie forward Max Domi is looking to be the next young gun in the long line of offensively gifted players to pass through London (see Rick Nash, Corey Perry, Patrick Kane, John Tavares etc.) and has turned it up a notch lately with a point in seven of the team’s last nine games. Tinordi has been the team’s quiet leader and the 6-foot-7 defenceman can make an impact with his physical presence. Also be on the lookout for the Rupert twins — Matt and Ryan — as they’re a dynamic pair on the ice.
Big question: Are the Knights really built to win this year?
Fun fact: The Knights might be knocked for their youth but they do have Austin Watson, who won the Memorial Cup with the Windsor Spitfires in 2009.
Prediction: Finalist
EDMONTON OIL KINGS
The nearly unstoppable Oil Kings looked human in their WHL final series against the Portland Winterhawks, going the distance to seven games. However, the team’s well-balanced attack was on full display in Game 7, as if they reignited the flame. This team is also young like the Knights and most of the team is expected back next year.
Players to watch: Griffin Reinhart and captain Mark Pysyk (Buffalo Sabres) are a formidable combo on the blue-line and were a pain for the Winterhawks’ forwards, especially the top duo of Ty Rattie and Sven Bartschi. Reinhart and Pysyk will be counted on to do it again.
Henrik Samuelsson plays so much like his father Ulf that it’s scary, but his punishing hits will wear down the other team’s players fast in the short tournament.
Goaltender Laurent “LB” Brossoit (Calgary Flames) has stolen games along the way for the Oil Kings and could help the team reach the final if he continues to shut the door.
Curtis Lazar plays like a veteran despite not being draft eligible until next year.
Big question: Which version of the Oil Kings will show up; the team who won 22 in a row this year, or the team that struggled to get past the Winterhawks?
Fun Fact: The Oil Kings have only allowed more than two goals nine times since Feb. 22. That’s a span of 31 games, in which they went 27-4.
Prediction: Semifinalist
SHAWINIGAN CATARACTES
The Memorial Cup hosts were embarrassed with a second-round exit in the QMJHL playoffs, but the Cataractes are refreshed and recharged, something the other three teams might not be. They’ll also have home-ice advantage in their favour. Still, the other three teams are stacked beyond belief and it’ll be an uphill battle.
The Cataractes are an unlikely sleeper pick in the tournament after finishing second in the Q with 97 points. If it wasn’t for an upstart Chicoutimi Sagueneens team that saw the series stretch to seven games and decided by a single goal in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss, the Cataractes would have gone deeper in the playoffs.
This team could come out flying in their first game and they face an ideal opponent in the Edmonton Oil Kings, who just finished an exhausting seven-game WHL final and will have to overcome a two-hour time zone adjustment.
Players to watch: Brandon Gormley (Phoenix Coyotes) is a solid defenceman at both ends of the ice and will be the catalyst to spark the team’s push.
Michael Bournival (Montreal Canadiens) is crafty with the puck and could put away that special goal the team will need.
Big question: Can the well rested Cataractes pull off the upset?
Fun fact: Since the inclusion of a host team in 1983, only four host franchises have won the Memorial Cup without winning their respective league championship: the Portland Winter Hawks (1983), the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (1993), the Ottawa 67’s (1999) and the Kelowna Rockets (2004).
Prediction: Fourth
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