Learn as much as you can about each team competing in the 2023 Memorial Cup, including X-factors and sleeper players, along with analysis from THN's podcast hosts.
The champions of the three CHL leagues convene in Kamloops this weekend for the annual four-team event to crown a champion among champions.
The Kamloops Blazers were granted entry into the event as hosts with a strong roster and a legitimate chance to contend. Their WHL competitor, the Seattle Thunderbirds, has a loaded roster and comes into the tournament as a favorite to capture the title.
The Peterborough Petes peaked at the right time in the OHL to take down a couple of league favorites and win their league title. In the QMJHL, the Quebec Remparts captured the title in coach Patrick Roy’s final season behind the bench with hopes of sending him out as he finished his first season as coach – a Memorial Cup champion.
The storylines and rosters of these squads run deep and give the CHL’s year-end tournament as much intrigue as ever. Let’s dive into each club and take a look at their shot at the Memorial Cup, along with some analysis from our hosts on The Hockey News On The 'Dub', The Hockey News On The 'O' and The Hockey News On The 'Q'. A full audio version of the Memorial Cup team previews is available at the bottom.
Kamloops Blazers - Hosts
The hosts will be looking to avenge their third-round loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL playoffs by not only beating them at the Memorial Cup but taking the title from their grasps. The Blazers have a roster ready to rumble with any of the league champions, highlighted by Logan Stankoven and Olen Zellweger – the top two scorers in the WHL playoffs despite not making it to the final.
Kamloops may not be quite as deep as Seattle or even Peterborough, but with Zellweger and Stankoven, they may have the best player at both forward and defense at the Memorial Cup. Stankoven was the only full-time WHL player not named Connor Bedard to top two points per game during the regular season, and he plays with tenacity in all three zones that made him one of the most dangerous and complete players in the WHL this season.
Forwards like Caeden Bankier and Matthew Seminoff have been outstanding complementary players while working with Stankoven. Bankier plays in the middle and does an excellent job of getting the puck to his linemates, making smart passes, and getting it up ice. Seminoff understands his role as a finisher and bumper to move play to the next step. Stankoven drives play, but these two ensure he’s able to be as dangerous as he is.
While Zellweger leads the blueline group, players like Kyle Masters and Logan Bairos have played important roles. The defensive unit is the weak point on the team, with no real impact players beyond Zellweger, but they have a number of steady defenders who just do their jobs and play a quiet game.
X-Factor: Olen Zellweger, D
Not only did the Anaheim Ducks’ prospect lead the Blazers in goals during the playoffs, he was third in the WHL with only Dylan Guenther and Connor McClennon ahead of him, two forwards who played in the final.
Zellweger is one of, if not the best defensemen in junior hockey. He controls the game when the puck is on his stick and does what he wants when he wants, it seems. The level of poise and manipulation that he plays with is comical as he toys with his competition at the WHL level.
Zellweger’s defensive game has been a welcome sight as well, using his elite mobility to simply cut off opposing attackers and lift the puck off of their stick before quickly looking to leave them in the dust while moving up ice. He still isn’t a physically imposing defender and likely never will be, but he is simply smarter and quicker than just about anyone in the CHL.
Sleeper: Fraser Minten, C
The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect dealt with injuries in the WHL playoffs, and that limited his offensive game, but the young power forward is excellent away from the puck and provides a ton of value as a penalty-killer and depth attacker. If his offensive game can rebound a bit and he can showcase the shooting talent that made him a 30-goal scorer, Minten could help Kamloops break through and capture the Memorial Cup.
Seattle Thunderbirds - WHL Champions
The Thunderbirds have to be considered favorites coming into the tournament, with three NHL first-round prospects on the top line in Brad Lambert (WPG), Dylan Guenther (ARI), and Reid Schaefer (NSH) absolutely destroying the competition.
Guenther was in the NHL this season and looked like a capable pro before being sent back to the WHL and traded to Seattle, where he tore up the league. His 16 goals in 19 games during the playoffs led the league. Lambert is a game-breaking talent that blends speed and skill to amaze fans watching. Schaefer is a big body who does the dirty work on the line and provides capable offensive instincts as well.
The depth of the Thunderbirds is what makes them special, though. Jared Davidson leads the second line and ranked third in team scoring through the WHL playoffs. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Colten Dach plays a hard-nosed game and has displayed some of his offensive talents with cheeky passing and timely scoring. WHL veterans Kyle Crnkovic and Lucas Ciona have provided secondary scoring in timely moments.
The defensive corps is talented and deep. Led by Chicago prospect Kevin Korchinski and 20-year-old Jeremy Hanzel, the Thunderbirds are outstanding at moving the puck out of their own end of the ice. Nolan Allan has been a welcome addition to the squad, providing steady play in his own end while capably moving the puck and activating in the offensive zone to chip in offensively. Luke Prokop has been a stalwart and calming presence on the blueline, acting as the team’s defensive conscience.
In net, they have Thomas Milic, the Canadian World Junior Championship netminder, who was outstanding from start to finish in the WHL. Milic is looking to be drafted this season as a 20-year-old, and a Memorial Cup to cap a strong season could earn him a pick. If he falters in any way, the Thunderbirds have an excellent backup in Scott Ratzlaff, a draft-eligible netminder who posted a .918 save percentage in 34 games this year.
X-Factor: Kevin Korchinski, D
The 2022 No. 7 overall pick is one of the premier puck-movers in the CHL, and if Zellweger wasn’t at the Memorial Cup, Korchinski would have been the best defender at the event. Korchinski attacks the middle of the ice with the puck on his stick and creates offense whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Korchinski has excellent puck skills and moves as well as just about anyone in junior hockey. The Thunderbirds' top blueliner is cerebral, picking apart opposing defenses with crisp passing and a willingness to take any space given to him. If he is given room to run, Korchinski could take over at the Memorial Cup.
Sleeper: Gracyn Sawchyn, RW/C
Relegated to a lesser role down the lineup with the additions made throughout the season to bolster an impressive roster, Sawchyn is an incredible luxury on the third line. His skill and creativity are on the high end, which makes him entertaining to watch for fans, but his work ethic and processing speed are what make him one of the most underrated prospects in the 2023 NHL draft class. If an opponent manages to shut down the lethal top line of the Thunderbirds, having Sawchyn attack lesser defenders will be an opportunity for Seattle to flourish.
Peterborough Petes - OHL Champions
Sometimes it’s a team peaking at the right time that ends up winning the title, and Peterborough has done just that. They underwhelmed during the regular season, especially after the trades for New York Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann and OHL vet Avery Hayes. They boast eight NHL prospects and looked outstanding on paper. Unfortunately, they didn’t really find their groove during the regular season. They certainly made up for it in the playoffs, as their physical play style and defensive system won them a title – with a little help from a great performance from Michael Simpson in net.
The Petes had a number of impressive performances during the OHL playoffs as they defeated the league's top two teams en route to the finals, where they took on perennial contenders, the London Knights. Tucker Robertson was a beast in the playoffs, just as he was all regular season, playing a tough game and getting to the hard areas around the net. Hayes was an outstanding addition at the trade deadline and then led them in goal-scoring through the playoffs. Othmann was his usual feisty self, playing the role of super pest while leading the team in scoring during the postseason. Timely goals from J.R. Avon, Chase Stillman, and Owen Beck were all pivotal to the OHL title run.
Speaking of Beck, he was suspended two games for a slew foot in the OHL final. With Peterborough closing the series out in the first game of that suspension, there was a question as to whether he would miss time during the Memorial Cup. That will not be the case as he will be in the lineup for Game 1 against Seattle. He will have to complete the suspension if he is in the OHL next season.
On the blueline, the Petes are a band of merry men who work as a unit to defend with effort and positioning. The blueline group doesn’t have a standout stalwart, but guys like captain Shawn Spearing, Gavin White and Brian Zanetti have all played a pivotal role in leading this group. Spearing missed time after taking a puck to the face in Game 7 of the conference final but battled through the injury to play for the Petes in the league final.
X-Factor: Tucker Robertson, C/RW
The Petes’ leading scorer during the regular season and second in scoring in the post-season, Robertson is showing that the Seattle Kraken made an excellent choice in taking him after a good draft-plus-one season after missing his draft year because of COVID-19 shutting down the OHL. Robertson plays with energy and physicality, wreaking havoc around the net and disrupting goalies' sightlines while showcasing excellent hand-eye, deflecting pucks on goal.
Robertson isn’t the most fleet of foot, but he is a very good junior player and should be a strong presence at the Memorial Cup. He plays playoff-style hockey, and when you are in a tournament that doesn’t leave much room for error, Robertson can force those errors. With strong defensive play as a team from the Petes, it could be Robertson’s grittiness that powers the offense.
Sleeper: J.R. Avon, LW
While the Petes as a team aren’t the fastest squad, J.R. Avon could be the player that ends up being a headache for opposing teams because of his speed. Avon can burn just about anyone when he gets going, and he showed how much of a difference-maker he can be with two massive goals in the final, both coming on breakaways. Avon is a player you have to be aware of whenever he’s on the ice. The hometown kid’s speed could easily be a major reason that Peterborough is able to find a way to win some games.
Quebec Remparts - QMJHL Champions
The last time the Quebec Remparts were in the Memorial Cup was in Patrick Roy’s first season behind the bench. They were the QMJHL runners-up, but because they lost to the host Moncton Wildcats in the final, they were granted a seat at the table for the Memorial Cup. They captured the CHL championship that year. Now, in Roy’s final season behind the bench, he will be looking to leave the way he came in.
The Remparts had an incredible year with 52 wins and a 16-2 record in the playoffs en route to the QMJHL title. They have an offensive juggernaut and added to it during the season. Zach Bolduc and Theo Rochette both eclipsed the 100-point mark in the regular season, and they didn’t even lead the team in playoff scoring. That would be Justin Robidas, who had 27 points in just 18 games. Malatesta was the team’s best player in the final, which earned him the MVP honor, but the list of contributors is long, with names like Nathan Gaucher and Pier-Olivier Roy also playing at nearly a point-per-game in the post-season.
The blueline group is led by Evan Nause and Nicolas Savoie. A defense-by-committee approach is what they employ, as Vsevolod Komarov and Charle Truchon make contributions as well. The team thrives on recovering loose pucks and quickly moving them to their loaded forward corps. They don’t waste time, but they also don’t have the star power to be difference-makers in their own right.
X-Factor: Justin Robidas, C
The leading scorer for the Remparts in the playoffs found a new gear after playing at just a point-per-game pace in his 36 games with Quebec after being acquired mid-season. Robidas is undersized, but he should be able to use his offensive tools to be a difference-maker at the Memorial Cup. He has a good shot, but it’s his facilitation ability that allows him to help make his teammates better. Whoever is on Robidas’ wings is going to be put in a position to succeed.
With all of the offensive talent in the fold for Quebec, getting Robidas going put the Remparts over the top in the QMJHL. It’s going to be a tougher task at the Memorial Cup with two powerhouses from the WHL and a feisty and physical OHL squad as competition. If the Remparts have a chance, it’s likely because Robidas continues to be an offensive force.
Sleeper: William Rousseau, G
If the Remparts are going to accomplish their goal, they are going to need someone to shut down the juggernaut offenses of the other teams. William Rousseau is going to have to be that guy. Rousseau almost made Team Canada’s U-20 squad this past winter but was left off despite many feeling like he was the best goalie in camp. He was very good the rest of the way for Quebec and stellar in the playoffs. They will need more stellar play from Rousseau in order to leave their mark on the 2023 Memorial Cup.
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