Inside the 2009 OHL Cup: Sunday Edition
At early afternoon Sunday, 46 games are complete at the 2009 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament with one more outcome to be determined. Regardless of which team floods the ice in celebration following the final buzzer, either the Toronto Marlboros or the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs, the event has undoubtedly proved successful in bringing together the top 20 Minor Midget teams from across Ontario and the United States.
“Without question the week has lived up to all expectations” said the OHL’s Director of Central Scouting and Player Development Rob Kitamura. “There were great team and individual performances in every division with lots of close and exciting results” added Kitamura. In fact, it took until the final minutes of round-robin regulation time to determine the playoff round matchups.
Moving through the playoff round, the OHL Cup top-10 rankings held true with the top four ranked teams (Toronto Marlboros, York Simcoe Express, Elgin Middlesex Chiefs, Quinte Red Devils) all advancing to the semi-finals. “The four teams in the final all had great tournaments and definitely played the best hockey this week, but each of them faced their share of obstacles which just goes to show the depth of talent this tournament offers from top to bottom” added Kitamura.
Outside of the playoff round, players still walk away from this event better equipped for high performance hockey at the OHL level. “The competition here is excellent and is a great opportunity for our guys to face top notch players since the GTHL and this area have the strongest minor hockey leagues in North America” said TPH Thunder coach Uwe Krupp. Krupp is also the Head Coach of the German Men’s National Team. For the third year in a row Krupp has brought this Atlanta based team, which combines a base roster with some highly touted imported regional players, to the OHL Cup. “The players and parents are always excited to come, they really appreciate the opportunity” said Krupp. “It is important for players at this age to know and understand all of their options and that there are many doors available including the OHL and Canadian University hockey to pursue different careers.”
Many players, including defenceman Dougie Hamilton of the St. Catharines Falcons, walk away from the event better understanding the key components of player development and player education that are prioritized by the OHL. “I have grown up watching this tournament through my older brother (Freddie)” says Hamilton. Freddie plays with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs as a rookie, drafted after competing at the 2008 OHL Cup. “You know you have to work hard and have fun with hockey, but education is also really important to me and my family so I want to keep following that. It takes lots of time management but the league makes it possible and it would be a dream to play in the OHL with my brother.”
Back on the ice, game 47 of the 2009 OHL Cup takes centre stage Sunday afternoon and both the Toronto Marlboros and Elgin Middlesex Chiefs will be hoping to walk away from the Hershey Centre with an OHL Cup Championship.
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