The Memorial Cup is here. The annual tournament to crown the CHL’s champion gets underway in Rimouski on Friday, as the host Oceanic will look to make it back-to-back host champions after Saginaw accomplished the feat last year [https://thehockeynews.com/news/how-the-saginaw-spirit-put-broken-hearts-back-together-to-win-memorial-cup-over-london]. It’s a loaded field in terms of strength of squads and high-end prospects that will be on display. This year’s tournament will have one returnee, with the London Knights looking to avenge their Memorial Cup final loss after winning their second straight OHL [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl] title. The WHL [https://thehockeynews.com/whl]-champion Medicine Hat Tigers will represent the West, bringing in a roster chock-full of talent. Rimouski made it to the QMJHL [https://thehockeynews.com/qmjhl] final but lost to a powerhouse Moncton Wildcats squad. For the first time in a few years, this year’s Memorial Cup group features four truly dangerous teams that could easily win the most coveted trophy in junior hockey. Each team has game-breakers and depth. There won’t be an easy out throughout the event. Let’s dive into each team, their X-factors and a sleeper to watch. LONDON KNIGHTS (OHL) The way the London Knights dominated the OHL this year was incredible. They led the league in goals-for and allowed the fewest goals, which gave them a plus-145 goal differential, 59 more than the second-place team. They eased into the top seed in the regular season, finishing 12 points ahead of the second-place team in the OHL. They did this with defenseman Sam Dickinson [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/san-jose-sharks-prospects-named-ohl-defenseman-of-the-year] (SJS) leading the team in scoring with 91 points and just three other players above 60. Their depth was incredible, with a dozen players recording at least 40 points on the Knights. No other team in the Memorial Cup has more than eight. The Knights have 12 NHL draft picks on their rosters, four more than any other team at the event. This is truly a loaded roster, and so many of the players have been on this stage before. The Knights have been on a mission over the last three years, building toward this moment. The core of Oliver Bonk [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-prospects-win-second-ohl-championship-with-london-knights], Easton Cowan [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/players/maple-leafs-prospect-easton-cowan-catching-fire-as-playoffs-loom], Denver Barkey and Dickinson has been to three straight OHL finals, winning last year and this season. Now, they are looking to capture the elusive Memorial Cup that they watched slip through their grasp in the dying seconds of the final last year. It’s going to be integral to have their stars firing on all cylinders, and the unreal depth will continue to play a big role for them. The London Knights knew they needed to take care of their players in a season where they expect to bring home the Memorial Cup. They had players rest a couple of extra games if an injury arose and they stayed patient with the health of their players. Players such as Cowan, Barkey and Kasper Halttunen [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/kasper-halttunen-wins-playoffs-mvp] all played 50 or fewer games in part due to injury or the world juniors, but the team ensured they weren’t rushing anyone back into the lineup in hopes of having the healthiest run in the playoffs. The London Knights Hang On To Win OHL Championship [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/641d0017-bb20-4be1-818e-2133fc4766e5.jpeg] The London Knights Hang On To Win OHL Championship For the second time since 2010, the London Knights are the winners of back-to-back OHL Championships. The Knights took game five of the OHL Final to hoist the J. Ross Robertson Cup on home ice. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/the-london-knights-hang-on-to-win-ohl-championship] X-FACTOR: EASTON COWAN, RW The Toronto Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs]' top prospect has been a monster in the playoffs – a trait they sorely need. Cowan’s 39 points in 17 games blew the competition out of the water. He’s found the scoresheet in every game of the playoffs except for one, the Knights' only loss of the post-season in Game 1 of the final. Cowan has led the OHL final in each of the last two years in scoring, and this year, he was a menace, putting up 12 points in five games. Cowan is the Knights' best player on most nights, and if they are to win the Memorial Cup, he is going to have to outduel the competition's top-end talent each night. Easton Cowan (Luke Durda/OHL Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1651b4f2-5fd5-45a9-a48a-9f77ced49854.jpeg] Easton Cowan (Luke Durda/OHL Images) SLEEPER: LANDON SIM, LW In what’s likely to be his final OHL season, Landon Sim has found a goal-scoring touch that gave opponents fits throughout the playoffs. The St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues]’ sixth-round pick has been the pivotal piece of London’s depth scoring for the past couple of seasons, and he has become the face of the Knights’ second wave of attackers beyond the core. If he can come up big in a couple of games in Rimouski, the Knights should have a good shot at coming home with the Trophy. MONCTON WILDCATS (QMJHL) Much like the London Knights, the dominance of the Wildcats had everyone pegging them as the QMJHL champions [https://thehockeynews.com/qmjhl/latest-news/wildcats-win-qmjhl-championship-beat-memorial-cup-hosts-oceanic-in-six] by the midpoint of the season. They led the league in goals for and goals against with a plus-150 goal differential, while no other team in the ‘Q’ had better than a plus-71. To put it kindly, Moncton tore the QMJHL apart this year with relative ease, losing just 14 games between the regular season and playoffs. The team received incredible goaltending all year, no matter who has been in net. Early in the year, Jacob Steinman was the backbone of their crease, but they decided to trade him for Mathis Rousseau, who picked up right where Steinman left off. It also helped that the Wildcats had Rudy Guimond join the team a few weeks before the trade, as he moved from the USHL [https://thehockeynews.com/ushl]’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. The tandem of Guimond and Rousseau has been arguably junior hockey’s best duo in net, and they’ll be a big part of Moncton’s success at this event. The team’s offensive leader has been their top line center, Caleb Desnoyers [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-draft-notebook-mckenna-desnoyers-and-wang-impress-in-the-chl-league-finals], an NHL draft-eligible forward who has a ton of buzz because of his consistent production and the habitual winning he’s done everywhere he’s gone. They’ve got depth down the middle with Markus Vidicek and Gabe Smith behind Desnoyers, and that helps make the life of their wingers much easier. The Wildcats have players who have fully bought into coach Gardiner MacDougall’s game plan. What really makes Moncton special is that they have a boatload of depth scorers and players who can step up in big moments. One of their most integral players in the QMJHL final was Vincent Collard, who had an overtime-winner in one game and four goals in another. Etienne Morin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/latest-news/flames-top-prospect-morin-wins-qmjhl-title-with-moncton-wildcats-shines-in-playoffs], Dylan MacKinnon and Dylan Gill are key pieces on the blueline who are able to provide excellent minutes in a variety of situations for Moncton. They have players up and down the lineup they can rely on every time they are on the ice, which is a luxury. X-FACTOR: CALEB DESNOYERS, C The best draft prospect to come out of the QMJHL in a few years, Desnoyers has been a constant presence for the Wildcats in the playoffs, ranking second in the league in post-season scoring behind Rimouski’s Jacob Mathieu [https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa/jacob-mathieu-commits-to-northeastern]. His game isn’t often incredibly flashy or high-paced, but he plays an effective brand of hockey that consistently connects the dots and generates good results for his team. Desnoyers is a tactician in the ‘Q.’ His game will be tested, going up against some of the most impressive collections of talent in junior hockey, especially in the games against London and Medicine Hat, where the pace is sure to increase. SLEEPER: MARKUS VIDICEK, C The Wildcats will need to win the minutes when Desnoyers and the top line aren’t on the ice. The player that will be most integral in doing so is Markus Vidicek. The 21-year-old must bring the veteran savviness he’s had all year with Moncton. He’s proven in the past that he can be a high-end scorer in his days with QMJHL Halifax, but the Wildcats will need him to be a true all-around force to help deal with the opposing teams' depth. MEDICINE HAT TIGERS (WHL) Medicine Hat was the only WHL team to reach 300 goals this season. While they didn’t finish atop the league in goals against, a third-place finish was good enough to ensure they had the best goal differential in the WHL. They did all of this without their top center, Cayden Lindstrom [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/blue-jackets-cayden-lindstrom-scores-first-whl-goal-in-411-days], for the regular season and one of their top offensive players, Andrew Basha, since Christmas. With key injuries and even absences for the world juniors, the Tigers had to put players in roles they may not have expected, and they had success doing so. When Lindstrom did finally return in the final, he hit the ground running with four points in as many games. His power and skill were back, and he looked like he was ready to make an impact. Although he didn’t play in the final game of the series, it seems like he should be good to go for the Memorial Cup, which almost seems unfair. The already loaded Tigers get to add one of the most impressive offensive prospects in hockey for their stretch run. Between Lindstrom and Basha’s returns, the Tigers are adding two-thirds of a legitimate top line just in time to take on the best teams in junior hockey. Gavin McKenna is a player some have deemed to be a generational superstar already, putting up 129 points in his draft-minus-one season. His skill and playmaking ability are second only to his ability to take over a game and dictate every moment when he is on the ice. He’s not the Tigers' only 100-point scorer, though. Captain Oasiz Wiesblatt finished fifth in league scoring with 103 points and second in the WHL with 148 penalty minutes. No other team at the Memorial Cup has the advantage of two players with over 100 points on the season. Only one other WHL squad, the Spokane Chiefs, which lost to Medicine Hat in the final, featured two 100-point players. The Tigers are a bit top-heavy offensively, but the returns of Lindstrom and Basha should help that. The returns give them a chance to take some of the offensive burden off the shoulders of players like Ryder Ritchie and Hunter St-Martin. Tanner Molendyk [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/predators-prospect-tanner-molendyk-headlines-whl-trade-deadline-blockbuster-deal] and Bryce Pickford help provide some offense from the back end as well, which also helps. The Tigers will likely need someone to step up in a big moment, and they have plenty of options to do so. Medicine Hat Tigers To Watch At The 2025 Memorial Cup [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/9c4cb414-d081-416a-b621-f7edf4c46c17.webp] Medicine Hat Tigers To Watch At The 2025 Memorial Cup After an exciting post-season, it is finally time for the 2025 Memorial Cup. This year's tournament features a stacked field, including the Medicine Hat Tigers, who will represent the WHL. While this will not be an easy tournament, the Tigers have built a deep roster and have a very good chance of lifting the trophy on June 1. [https://thehockeynews.com/whl/latest-news/medicine-hat-tigers-to-watch-at-the-2025-memorial-cup] X-FACTOR: GAVIN MCKENNA, LW The phenom will have the world watching as he looks to cap off his season with a big performance at the Memorial Cup. Often looked at as the most dynamic player in the CHL, McKenna has the chance to use this event as a springboard into a strong summer of training and an excellent NHL draft year next season. McKenna has absolutely dazzled at times this season, and his playoff performance has been unreal. If McKenna is playing at the top of his game, it’s going to be tough to stop Medicine Hat. SLEEPER: ANDREW BASHA, LW With the hype around McKenna and the joyous playoff return of Lindstrom, Basha’s return from injury has gone under the radar. Having been out of the lineup since December, the dynamic and high-octane Basha joined the Tigers in the WHL final alongside Lindstrom. He had five points in five games in his return, jumping onto the moving train that was the WHL final. With a few more practices under his belt in preparation for the Memorial Cup, Basha could be the secret weapon that Medicine Hat needs to win the tournament. RIMOUSKI OCEANIC (QMJHL - HOST) Although they are the hosts of the tournament, Rimouski proved its validity by making it to the QMJHL final before falling to Moncton in six games. The Oceanic loaded up for this season, knowing they were set to host the Memorial Cup, winning their division and finishing top five in every major team stat. They wound up with the second-best goal differential in the QMJHL, and they pushed Moncton in the final in a way no team had to that point. Much like last season when Saginaw hosted the tournament, Rimouski has a legitimate chance at winning the Memorial Cup on home ice. They feature just six NHL-drafted players, the fewest of any team at the event. That doesn’t mean that they don’t have talent, though. Arguably, their best player throughout the post-season has been netminder Mathis Langevin, an 18-year-old they acquired in December and eventually handed the keys to the crease. His insane .944 save percentage in the playoffs and 12 wins, matching his regular-season total, gave the Oceanic a player who can be the difference-maker on any given night. Rimouski hasn’t necessarily struggled to score this year, but in comparison to offensive machines London, Moncton and Medicine Hat, it does lack the game-breaking offensive threats those teams have. Alexandre Blais and Mathieu Cataford [https://thehockeynews.com/qmjhl/latest-news/nhl-affiliated-prospects-to-watch-in-the-qmjhl-finals] have had some really impressive stretches throughout the season. Mathieu has been a goal-scoring machine. A healthy Eriks Mateiko [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/latest-news/washington-capitlas-sign-eriks-mateiko-three-year-entry-level-contract] will go a long way for Rimouski. It’s going to be about finding a big scorer in every game, and it likely won’t be the same guy each night. It’s certainly not going to be easy for the Oceanic at this tournament, but with the home fans behind them, they will need to find ways to win. A good game from Langevin, a big performance from Blais or Mathieu or an unexpected hero will all likely need to arise at points in this event for Rimouski to challenge the three league champions for the Memorial Cup. What To Expect From QMJHL Teams At The Memorial Cup [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/dac60a79-224f-4089-bf0c-c4f4481c81c5.webp] What To Expect From QMJHL Teams At The Memorial Cup The Memorial Cup is set to start this Friday at 7 PM EST, featuring the CHL's three champions and the tournament's host team. With the Rimouski Océanic holding the eight day long tournament, the QMJHL will bring two teams to the tournament. [https://thehockeynews.com/qmjhl/latest-news/what-to-expect-from-qmjhl-teams-at-the-memorial-cup] X-FACTOR: ALEXANDRE BLAIS, LW The Rimouski Oceanic are at a disadvantage when it comes to NHL-drafted talent, so they will need arguably their most skilled prospect and regular-season leading scorer to step up in a big way. He wasn’t quite as effective in the playoffs, but he has an excellent opportunity to rectify that against the top teams in the nation. Blais only had three points in the QMJHL final, all coming in one of their two wins of the series. If the Oceanic wants to redeem themselves, Blais must lead the charge. SLEEPER: JACOB MATHIEU, C The team's captain and leading goal-scorer in the regular season took his game to another level in the playoffs, recording 17 goals and 31 points in 23 games. There were games in which Mathieu simply willed his team to victory in the post-season with his ability to find the back of the net. Mathieu must keep his red-hot stick alive in front of his home fans if Rimouski wants to make it back-to-back years where the host team celebrates on home ice at the end of the event. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
