The Puck Stops Here

One of the most exciting annual hockey tournaments (especially in a non-NHL year) is the Memorial Cup. It is the championship tournament for the CHL junior leagues. This year, it will be fought between the WHL champion Kelowna Rockets, the OHL champion London Knights (who are also the host), the QMJHL champion Rimouski Oceanic and the OHL runners up Ottawa 67's who are the best non-host team in the OHL (as the host gets an automatic berth).

Most people are expecting a coming out party for 17 year old Sidney Crosby of Rimouski. Other players to watch include 2004 first round picks Corey Perry (Anaheim) and Robbie Schremp (Edmonton) of London, Marc-Antoine Pouliot (Edmonton) of Rimouski and Lukas Kaspar (San Jose) of Ottawa, as well as two defencemen with World Junior Championship experience for Canada, Shea Weber (Nashville) of Kelowna and Danny Syvret (undrafted) of London.

The tournament begins on Saturday.