Inside the CHL
Upsets were abound in the third round of the Canadian Hockey League playoffs last week when the number four rated Vancouver Giants and number six rated Belleville Bulls were both knocked off in their respective league conference final series.
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In the Western Hockey League, the Kelowna Rockets will face the number one rated Calgary Hitmen in the league finals for the Ed Chynoweth Cup after the Rockets eliminated the Giants in six games. The series starts Friday in Calgary.
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The Rockets cruised past the Kamloops Blazers in four games in the opening round of the playoffs and then advanced to the Kal-Tire Western Conference finals after beating the Tri-City Americans in six games. Meanwhile, the Hitmen continue to be the hottest team in the CHL with a third straight playoff sweep – this time over the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Husky Eastern Conference championship.
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The Rockets are looking to make their fourth appearance in the Memorial Cup in the past eight years. They played in the 2003 tournament in Quebec City, won in 2004 on home ice and then played in the tournament again the following year in London.
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The Hitmen are hoping to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their last WHL championship with another trip to the MasterCard Memorial Cup next month in Rimouski, Quebec.
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In the Ontario Hockey League, the Brampton Battalion ousted Belleville in six games in the Rogers Eastern Conference championship series and will face the number two rated Windsor Spitfires for the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions. The series opens Wednesday in Windsor.
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The Battalion coasted to a four-game sweep of the Peterborough Petes in the first round before a six-game series win over the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors earned them a trip to the conference finals for the first time in their 11-year franchise history.
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After an opening round win over the Owen Sound Attack and then a six-game win over the Plymouth Whalers, the Spitfires eliminated the London Knights in five games in the Rogers Western Conference championship. All five of those games went to overtime with hometown hero Eric Wellwood scoring two game-winners, including the overtime winner in the deciding game.
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There were fewer upsets in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the number three rated Drummondville Voltigeurs advancing to the championship series against the number five ranked Shawinigan Cataractes. The series opens Friday in Drummondville.
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Like Calgary, the Voltigeurs have been a perfect 12-0 so far in the playoffs, including sweeps over the Lewiston MAINEiacs and Montreal Juniors before wiping out the Memorial Cup host Rimouski Oceanic in four straight.
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After winning the QMJHL scoring title in the regular season, Drummondville forward Yannick Riendeau continues to be the top scorer in the post-season with 19 goals and 35 points in 12 games.
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The Cataractes had a little more trouble along the way, scoring a four-game sweep over the Victoriaville Tigres before five game series wins over the Gatineau Olympiques and Quebec Remparts.
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Both teams are looking to win the President’s Cup for the first time in team history.
Photo (QMJHL) – Dmitry Kulikov, Drummondville Voltigeurs