2011 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Participating Teams
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League in association with the Greater Toronto Hockey League today announced the 20 participating teams that will compete in the 2011 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament hosted by the GTHL. The event takes place March 22-26 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, ON, with the Championship Final set for Sunday March 27, 2011, at 2:00 pm at Herb Carnegie Arena in Toronto, ON.
The 20 participating teams include the champions and finalists from minor hockey associations across Ontario including Ontario Hockey Federation Member Partners the GTHL, OMHA, ALLIANCE, and an NOHA representative, along with champion and finalist from the Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association, and a representative from Hockey Northwestern Ontario. Additional participating teams from Ontario and the United States received invitations from the Tournament Selection Committee.
“The 2011 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament is shaping up to be extremely competitive,” said OHL Director of Central Scouting and Player Development Rob Kitamura. “Last year’s event showed that a wildcard team can excel and win the Championship by coming together and outperforming the rest of the competition at the right time. This year’s group is very similar with talent across the entire 20-team field which should make for an exciting event.”
The complete tournament schedule will be released later this week upon the completion of the GTHL Championship Series between the Toronto Marlies and the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, and the ALLIANCE Finals featuring the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs and the Waterloo Wolves.
2011 OHL Cup Participating Teams:
Barrie Colts (OMHA Finalist)
Don Mills Flyers (GTHL Invite)
Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs (ALLIANCE Finalists)
Great North Midget League Wolves (NOHA Representative)
Halton Hurricanes (OMHA Invite)
Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs (OMHA Invite)
Markham Majors (GTHL Invite)
Mississauga Senators (GTHL Invite)
North Jersey Avalanche (USA Invite)
Oakville Rangers (OMHA Invite)
Ottawa Jr. 67’s (ODMHA Champion)
Ottawa Valley Titans (ODMHA Finalist)
St. Catharines Jr. Falcons (OMHA Invite)
Thunder Bay Kings (HNO Representative)
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL Finalists)
Toronto Marlies (GTHL Finalists)
TPH Thunder (USA Invite)
Waterloo Wolves (ALLIANCE Finalists)
Welland Tigers (OMHA Champion)
York-Simcoe Express (OMHA Invite)
The Mississauga Rebels made history last March becoming the first wildcard entry to win the championship final when they defeated the Toronto Marlboros 2-1 to capture their first OHL Cup title. The Rebels were led by tournament MVP and top scorer Sean Monahan who was later selected 16th overall by the Ottawa 67’s in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection.
A total of 175 players that competed in the 2010 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament were selected in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. 14 of those players were chosen in the first round including four players among the top five picks such as Brendan Gaunce of the Markham Waxers selected second overall by the Belleville Bulls, Scott Laughton of the Toronto Marlboros chosen third overall by the Oshawa Generals, Jarrod Maidens of the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs selected fourth overall by the Owen Sound Attack, and Matthew Campagna of the Toronto Young Nationals chosen fifth overall by the Sudbury Wolves.
Each of the last three players selected first overall in the NHL Entry Draft are OHL and OHL Cup graduates including Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning, John Tavares of the New York Islanders, and Taylor Hall of the Edmonton Oilers.