4 Teams in 4 Days – Journey to the MasterCard Memorial Cup

The 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup is slated to get under way Friday May 20, 2011 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, ON.

This is the 93^rd Anniversary of the Memorial Cup.  A trophy donated by the Ontario Hockey Association in March, 1919 in remembrance of the Canadian soldiers who fought and sacrificed in the First World War.  The trophy was originally known as the OHA Memorial Cup.

Mississauga will welcome the champion teams from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and the Ontario Hockey League.

Representing the QMJHL – Saint John Sea Dogs (CHL Ranking #1)

The Sea Dogs finished the regular season at the top of the Quebec Major Junior League with a record of 58-7-1.

The regular season record gave the team 119 points for back-to-back seasons achieving 100 points or more, only the seventh team in QMJHL history to achieve this.

Coming off an emotional championship series against Gatineau Olympiques where two out of the six games required double overtime.   The Sea Dogs will open their Memorial Cup round robin play against the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors opening night.

Led by the offensive touch of Jonathan Huberdeau who finished the playoffs with 30 points (16 G, 14 A) in 19 games.  The Sea Dogs scored the most goals in the QMJHL in both the regular season, and the playoffs.

Huberdeau who is eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft is ranked third amongst North American skaters by Central Scouting, is one of five players eligible on the Sea Dogs roster.

Their defense is by no means something to take lightly, allowing more than three goals in only three of the 19 playoff games played.  Also, finishing the regular season with fewest goals allowed, largely in part to the regular season consistency from net minder Jacob De Serres (27 W, 3 L).

De Serres, who finished the playoffs with a leading 2.00 GAA over 16 games played, will look to provide some veteran presence in goal and around the dressing room, as this is his second Memorial Cup in as many years.

As a member of the Brandon Wheat Kings for the 2010 season, De Serres was the starter in four of the five games at the 2010 Memorial Cup in Brandon, Manitoba.   Including the championship finals where the Wheat Kings lost to the Windsor Spitfires.

De Serres was picked up by Saint John as a free agent leading into the 2011 season, and will be looking for better results.

The round robin schedule for the Saint John Sea Dogs:

Friday May 20, 2011 at 7:00 pm – vs. Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors

Monday May 23, 2011 at 7:00 pm – vs. Owen Sound Attack

Tuesday May 24, 2011 at 7:00 pm – vs. Kootenay Ice