4 Teams in 4 Days – Journey To The MasterCard Memorial Cup

OpenIceHockey looks at the OHL champion Owen Sound Attack with three days remaining until puck drop at the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

The Owen Sound Attack (CHL Ranking #9) won the J. Ross Robertson Cup this past Sunday against the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup hosts the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors to be crowned the champions of the OHL.

Battling from a 2-0 deficit to win the series in seven games, the Attack will be looking to carry the momentum forward into the Memorial Cup championship.

The Attack finished the regular season as the top seed in the Western Conference (46-17-1) with 97 points.  Their playoff record, just as impressive finished 16-6.

The high octane offence that powers the Owen Sound Attack is led by forward Robby Mignardi, winner of the Wayne Gretzky 99 award for Most Valuable Player in the playoffs, and Joey Hishon.

Both players finished tied for the most points over the playoffs with 24 each.

The Attack lead the playoffs with 84 goals for, having 11 players contribute with 10 points or more.  Five of which are defenseman.

Jesse Blacker, led the offensive production for the Attack D-men, finishing 19^th with 16 points (5 G, 11 A).

Blacker, who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009, has been to the Memorial Cup before as a member of the 2009 champions Windsor Spitfires.

The following season, after diminished ice time, Blacker privately requested a trade and was moved to Owen Sound.  The six-foot-two Toronto native has found himself back at the Memorial Cup looking to capture his second title in four years.

The depth of the Attack organization has played a crucial role in their success, one of the many factors helping contribute to their first OHL title in franchise history this year.

Honorable mentions are made to the fans and supporters of the Owen Sound Attack who have defined the term “seventh man” these playoffs.

From Attack themed doughnuts at the local Tim Horton’s on game day that feature sprinkles of colors used in the Owen Sound uniforms, to the five-year old who gets their first Attack jersey.  The civic pride and admiration for the hockey players and the organization bursts at the seam with every goal scored at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.

If you had the privilege of being one of the 5,517 in attendance on Sunday for game seven, you also learned that wherever the Attack go, fans will follow.  With arguably 2,500 plus Attack fan’s who made the two hour trip on Sunday it was hard to tell who had the home ice advantage.  Plan to see the same atmosphere for the duration of the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

Scott Stajcer originally the holder of the starting goaltender position was sidelined with a hip injury that limited him to only 14 regular season games of play, yet still posted a record of 8-4 in the playoffs.

When called upon by Head Coach Mark Reeds, both Jordan Binnington (4-2) and Michael Zador (4-0) were capable and willing to contribute over the course of the playoffs.

Zador was acquired from the Oshawa Generals in December to help share duties with Binnington while Stacjer was out with injury.

The round robin schedule for the Owen Sound Attack:

Saturday May 21, 2011 at 7:00 pm – vs. Kootenay Ice

Monday May 23, 2011 at 7:00 pm – vs. Saint John Sea Dogs

Wednesday May 25, 2011 at 7:00 pm – vs. Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors