2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup Preview
The battle for national supremacy is about to begin, with the puck dropping on the 97th MasterCard Memorial Cup on Friday May 22.
The 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Québec City features four clubs that have emerged from their respective leagues as among the best in the nation as the QMJHL Champion Rimouski Oceanic, OHL Champion Oshawa Generals, WHL Champion Kelowna Rockets and QMJHL Finalist and host Québec Remparts hit the ice this week at the 15,000-seat Colisée Pepsi.
Each team features their own distinctive strengths and methods for success. Here, we take a look at each of the four clubs and what has brought them to ‘the place where the river narrows.’
- Meet the Coaches – 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup Opening Press Conference
- 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup Preview
QUÉBEC REMPARTS
The 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup hosts are as deserving as any team competing in the tournament, taking the QMJHL President Cup Final to seven games before dropping a 2-1 double overtime decision against the Rimouski Océanic in Game 7.
Coached by former NHL defenceman Philippe Boucher, the Remparts accelerated into the second round of the QMJHL Playoffs following a seven game duel with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Québec proceeded to collect four-game series sweeps over Charlottetown and Moncton before a date with Rimouski in the President Cup Finals.
Though they held 2-0 and 3-2 series leads, the Remparts couldn’t put the Océanic away, and will have a score to settle when the two teams to wrap up round robin play on Wednesday May 27.
Featuring high-end offensive threats in Arizona Coyotes prospect Anthony Duclair and Tampa Bay Lightning draftee Adam Erne, the Remparts excel on the powerplay. They’ll look to puck-moving defenceman Nikolas Brouillard, who led the QMJHL in scoring among blueliners this season, and QMJHL Rookie of the Year Dmytro Timashov to find openings for offense.
Canadian World Junior gold medalist goaltender Zachary Fucale has game-stealing potential, and could be a big factor for the Remparts down the stretch. The Montréal Canadiens prospect went 14-3-3 in the playoffs with a 2.56 goals against-average and a .913 save percentage.
The Remparts will have one advantage that none of the other three competing clubs will have in their favour. The fans will be behind them all the way, as they try and become the second consecutive QMJHL host to raise the Memorial Cup after the Shawinigan Cataractes did so in 2012.
Québec Remparts
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Philippe Boucher (2nd season)
Regular season record: 40-25-1-2 — 83 pts.
Regular season standing: 2nd East Division / 4th QMJHL
Playoff record: 15-7-0
Playoff finish: QMJHL Finalists
BMO CHL Top 10 final ranking (March 25): Honourable mention
BMO CHL Top 10 best ranking: 4th (Once – Sept. 10)
BMO CHL Top 10 number of weeks ranked (26 weeks): 3
QMJHL ranking (GF): 4th (267)
QMJHL ranking (GA): 5th (232)
QMJHL ranking (powerplay): 6th (24.2%)
QMJHL ranking (penalty kill): 6th (79.7%)
Individual Highlights
QMJHL Awards: Dmytro Timashov (Rookie of the Year)
QMJHL Second Team All-Stars: Nikolas Brouillard (D)
QMJHL Rookie All-Star Team: Dmytro Timashov (LW)
Season leader (points): Dmytro Timashov, 19-71-90 (66 GP)
Season leader (goals): Adam Erne, 41 (60 GP)
Season leader (assists): Dmytro Timashov, 71 (66 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Nikolas Brouillard, 17-40-57 (61 GP)
Season leader (points by a rookie): Dmytro Timashov, 19-71-90 (66 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Callum Booth, 23-13-1-1, 3.05 GAA, .900 SV%, 2 SO (41 GP)
MasterCard Memorial Cup History
Appearances: 5th*
Last appearance: 2006
All-time record: 7 wins, 7 losses / 58 GF, 62 GA*
Best result: 2-time Champions (2006, 1971)
* – since introduction of round robin format in 1972
RIMOUSKI OCÉANIC
The QMJHL Champion Rimouski Océanic are riding high into the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup, overcoming a pair of President Cup Final deficits to defeat the Québec Remparts on Michael Joly’s double overtime winner in Game 7.
A fleet-footed club, the Océanic enter their fourth MasterCard Memorial Cup with a diverse cast of talent, ranging from big NHL prospects in centreman Frédérik Gauthier and rearguard Samuel Morin to 5’8″ sparkplug Anthony DeLuca who led the team with 44 goals this season.
Offense has come from a variety of sources in a range of circumstances in Rimouski this season. Overage winger Christopher Clapperton has earned a reputation for providing timely goals and Winnipeg Jets prospect Jan Kostalek elevated his game to lead the QMJHL Playoffs in scoring by defencemen. A powerplay is never safe against the Océanic, who led the CHL in shorthanded goals this season with 25.
The Océanic are in the hunt for their first MasterCard Memorial Cup title since Brad Richards led the way to the national crown back in 2000.
Rimouski Océanic
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Serge Beausoleil (4th season)
Regular season record: 47-16-3-2 – 99 pts.
Regular season standing: 1st East Division / 1st QMJHL
Playoff record: 16-4-0
Playoff finish: QMJHL Champions
BMO CHL Top 10 final ranking (March 25): No. 6
BMO CHL Top 10 best ranking: 1st (3 weeks – Sept. 10 to Oct. 8)
BMO CHL Top 10 number of weeks ranked (26 weeks): 26
QMJHL ranking (GF): 3rd (279)
QMJHL ranking (GA): 2nd (198)
QMJHL ranking (powerplay): 9th (22.7%)
QMJHL ranking (penalty kill): T-1st (83.1%)
Individual Highlights
QMJHL Awards: Philippe Desrosiers (Jacques-Plante Trophy, Lowest GAA),
Jan Kostalek (Defenceman of the Year)
QMJHL First Team All-Stars: Jan Kostalek (D)
Season leader (points): Alexis Loiseau, 35-61-96 (68 GP)
Season leader (goals): Anthony DeLuca, 44 (68 GP)
Season leader (assists): Alexis Loiseau, 61 (68 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Jan Kostalek, 7-36-43 (57 GP)
Season leader (points by a rookie): Samuel Laberge, 15-11-26 (61 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Philippe Desrosiers, 29-9-1-2, 2.50 GAA, .901 SV%, 5 SO (44 GP)
MasterCard Memorial Cup History
Appearances: 4th
Last appearance: 2009
All-time record: 8 wins, 5 losses / 51 GF, 43 GA
Best result: 2000 Champions
OSHAWA GENERALS
They’ve already been referred to as “the most physical team in the tournament,” a billing that most OHL clubs would likely have to agree with.
Featuring the 6’6″ frames of Michael McCarron and Hunter Smith on the wing and the solid defensive presence of captain Josh Brown and overage veteran Dakota Mermis on the back end, the Generals have the system and personnel in place to be a tough matchup on any given night.
After wearing down Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters in five games to win the Rogers OHL Championship Series, Generals coach DJ Smith enters the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup knowing full well that the task at hand isn’t a simple one.
“We’re going to be in tough every night,” he said. “It’s a different style of play from league to league and there’s an element of unfamiliarity with the other team’s players, so we’re going to have our work cut out for us.”
The Generals surrendered a CHL-low 157 goals this season, setting a new franchise record behind the strong goaltending of Ken Appleby and Jeremy Brodeur.
Oshawa Generals
Team Statistics
Head Coach: DJ Smith (3rd season)
Regular season record: 51-11-2-4 – 108 pts.
Regular season standing: 1st East Division / 1st Eastern Conference
Playoff record: 16-5-0
Playoff finish: OHL Champions
BMO CHL Top 10 final ranking (March 25): No. 3
BMO CHL Top 10 best ranking: 1st (16 weeks – Nov. 26 to Mar. 18)
BMO CHL Top 10 number of weeks ranked (26 weeks): 23
OHL ranking (GF): 3rd (292)
OHL ranking (GA): 1st (157)
OHL ranking (powerplay): 4th (25%)
OHL ranking (penalty kill): 1st (85.7%)
Individual Highlights
OHL Awards: Ken Appleby, Jeremy Brodeur (Dave Pinkney Trophy – Lowest Team GAA)
OHL Second Team All-Star: Ken Appleby (G)
OHL Third Team All-Stars: Michael Dal Colle (LW), DJ Smith (Coach)
Season leader (points): Michael Dal Colle, 42-51-93 (56 GP)
Season leader (goals): Michael Dal Colle, 42 (56 GP)
Season leader (assists): Cole Cassels, 51 (54 GP) / Michael Dal Colle, 51 (56 GP)/
Mitchell Vande Sompel, 51 (58 GP)
Mitchell Vande Sompel, 12-51-63 (58 GP)
Season leader (points by a rookie): Anthony Cirelli, 13-23-36 (68 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Ken Appleby, 38-7-0-4, 2.08 GAA, .924 SV%, 6 SO (50 GP)
MasterCard Memorial Cup History
Appearances: 5th*
Last appearance: 1997
All-time record: 12 wins, 7 losses / 77 GF, 72 GA*
Best result: 4-time champions (1990, 1944, 1940, 1939)
* – since introduction of round robin format in 1972
KELOWNA ROCKETS
Few teams can match the WHL Champion Kelowna Rockets in terms of pedigree on the blueline. Featuring a pair of Canadian World Junior gold medalists in Madison Bowey and Josh Morrissey, the Rockets continue to churn out defencemen that are following in the footsteps of Rockets alumni Duncan Keith, Shea Weber and Tyler Myers.
Kelowna completed a four game sweep of the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL Championship Series as Edmonton Oilers prospect Leon Draisaitl was named WHL Playoff MVP with 10 goals, 18 assists and 28 points in 19 contests.
Featuring the WHL’s best powerplay this season, the Rockets have received strong contributions from draft eligible playmaker Nick Merkley, crafty forwards Rourke Chartier and Tyson Baillie, and most recently, some good secondary scoring from 16 year-old former first round pick Dillon Dube.
“Québec is a great hockey city in a great hockey province,” said Rockets coach Dan Lambert. “We’re excited for the challenge. We want to play our game and our style and show people what we can do.”
The Rockets hit the ice on Friday against the Québec Remparts.
Kelowna Rockets
Team Statistics
Head Coach: Dan Lambert (1st season)
Regular season record: 53-13-5-1 – 112 pts.
Regular season standing: 1st B.C. Division / 1st Western Conference
Playoff record: 16-3-0
Playoff finish: WHL Champions
BMO CHL Top 10 final ranking (March 25): No. 4
BMO CHL Top 10 best ranking: 1st (4 weeks – Oct. 15 to Oct. 29, Nov. 19)
BMO CHL Top 10 number of weeks ranked (26 weeks): 26
WHL ranking (GF): 2nd (305)
WHL ranking (GA): 1st (183)
WHL ranking (powerplay): 1st (26.2%)
WHL ranking (penalty kill): 13th (79.5%)
Individual Highlights
WHL Award Winners: Rourke Chartier (Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year)
Western Conference First Team All-Stars: Madison Bowey (D), Rourke Chartier (F)
Western Conference Second Team All-Stars: Josh Morrissey (D), Nick Merkley (F)
Season leader (points): Nick Merkley, 20-70-90 (72 GP)
Season leader (goals): Rourke Chartier, 48-34-82 (58 GP)
Season leader (assists): Nick Merkley, 70 (72 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Madison Bowey, 17-43-60 (58 GP)
Season leader (points by a rookie): Dillon Dube, 17-10-27 (45 GP)
Season leader (goalie): Jackson Whistle, 34-10-5-0, 2.55 GAA, .909 SV%, 4 SO (50 GP)
MasterCard Memorial Cup History
Appearances: 5th
Last appearance: 2009
All-time record: 7 wins, 8 losses / 36 GF, 36 GA
Best result: 2004 Champions