It’s that time once again for the annual showcase of the best teams in Canadian major junior hockey as they compete for a national championship title at the MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament. This tournament features a number of recent NHL draft picks and NHL Central Scouting ranked players for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft scheduled for June 25th and 26th in Los Angeles.

The games will be seen on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada and for the third consecutive year, NHL Network U.S. will televise the event in the United States.

After a grueling two months of playoff hockey in their respective leagues, four CHL teams will meet in Brandon, Manitoba, from May 14-23 to crown a Memorial Cup winner. The tournament features the Western Hockey League (WHL) champion Calgary Hitmen, Ontario Hockey League (OHL) champion Windsor Spitfires and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) champion Moncton Wildcats, plus the host team Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL).

Columnist Patrick King of Rogers Sportsnet has provided a terrific, in-depth breakdown of all four participants:

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS

The Brandon Wheat Kings are hoping history will be on its side in this tournament. The previous two host teams from the Western Hockey League failed to win the league title, but went on to capture the MasterCard Memorial Cup in front of its home fans.
Brandon was eliminated in five games by the eventual champion Calgary Hitmen in the Eastern Conference final.


Strengths:
Brandon is led by an impressive core of forwards and has the offensive firepower to compete with every team in the tournament. The offence, however, doesn't start with the biggest names. Overage captain Matt Calvert is the team's most dependable and hardest working forward. Calvert made headlines earlier in the season when he turned down a contract from the Columbus Blue Jackets to return to Brandon for a chance to win the Memorial Cup in front of friends and family. He single-handedly lifted his team in Game 3 against Calgary when he became the first player in WHL history to score three short-handed goals in one period in the playoffs.

The Wheat Kings are also led by two top-10 picks from the 2009 National Hockey League draft: Brayden Schenn and Scott Glennie. Including Calvert, the trio has played together since its rookie seasons three years ago and has great chemistry. Schenn brings a physical dimension to the game and has a soft touch around the net, while Glennie creates turnovers and scoring chances with his hard work.

Its top two lines are solid offensively with players such as Toni Rajala, Aaron Lewadniuk and Jay Fehr in a supporting cast role. The Wheat Kings' top three defenders -- Hamonic, Colby Robak and Alexander Urbom -- provide a little of everything and transition quickly. This team has a lot of top-end talent and has the ingredients in the lineup to compete for the national championship.

Weaknesses:
The glaring weakness is in goal, where De Serres and Andrew Hayes have failed to give the Wheat Kings much confidence. De Serres started the majority of the playoff games and left something to be desired with his performance. He plays with a hunched over style and is strong down low, but gets beat too often on high, rising shots. He comes out and challenges shooters, but will often make the first move by going down and giving up the top half of the net. De Serres is also known for giving up soft goals at crucial times that can cripple his team's confidence. Brandon's fate in this tournament might be directly linked to its goaltender's performance.

Keys to victory:
The Wheat Kings can be hard to stop when its offence is clicking and they're creating quickly on transitions. Its offence has the ability to win playing in a wide-open style, but they will need to play tighter defensively than they did against Calgary in the playoffs. Brandon will need its goaltender to make all the saves he should make, and some that he shouldn't. Avoiding a soft goal will be crucial to its success.

Noteworthy:
The previous WHL team to both host and win the Memorial Cup in the same year was the Kamloops Blazers in 1995. The Wheat Kings participated in that Memorial Cup after losing to the Blazers in the WHL final. Brandon lost to the Detroit Jr. Red Wings (now Plymouth Whalers) in the semifinal in 1995 … Brandon lost to the Peterborough Petes in the 1979 Memorial Cup final … A WHL team has won two of the past three Memorial Cup championships … A WHL team has won the Memorial Cup the past seven times it was hosted by that league … The Wheat Kings were ranked sixth in the final CHL Top 10 rankings …18 WHL teams have won the Memorial Cup since 1972, when the tournament format originally included all three leagues.

NHL Drafted Wheat Kings:
Colby Robak, 2nd round in 2008 (Florida Panthers); Travis Hamonic, 2nd round in 2008 (New York Islanders); Jacob De Serres, 3rd round in 2008 (Philadelphia Flyers); Matt Calvert, 5th round in 2008 (Columbus Blue Jackets); Brayden Schenn, 1st round in 2009 (Los Angeles Kings); Scott Glennie, 1st round in 2009 (Dallas Stars); Alexander Urbom, 3rd round in 2009 (New Jersey Devils); Toni Rajala, 4th round in 2009 (Edmonton Oilers);

2010 NHL Draft Eligible Players:
Mark Stone, RW; Brenden Walker, RW; Michael Ferland, LW



CALGARY HITMEN

Better late than never for the Calgary Hitmen. The Hitmen won only its second championship in franchise history, which is surprising given the team has been a perennial powerhouse the past decade. Calgary had a better team on paper a year ago and that team that will go down in history as one of the best not to win a championship. The bitterness of its defeat to the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL final was felt by the returning players and provided them with the motivation to make amends this season.

Strengths:
The Hitmen don't have the same dynamic offensive attack as a year ago, but are still a hard team to slow. The leader is Brandon Kozun, whose game has risen to new heights this season. The shifty and elusive Kozun can create with his speed and vision and doesn't need much time or space. Kozun led the league in regular-season and playoff points.

Calgary has a balanced offensive attack and drives the net hard. Overage forward Joel Broda is also one of the league's top snipers, but this team can receive production from any line. Sophomore forward Cody Sylvester may have seen his draft stock rise after finishing second on the team in playoff goals with 11.
Meanwhile, captain Michael Stone boasts a hard and heavy point shot while Nyren has been nothing short of exceptional leading the rush since his acquisition. Goaltending shouldn't be a concern with veteran and Canadian world junior backup, Martin Jones. He gives his team a chance to win every night and has the ability to shut the door after allowing soft goals.

Weaknesses:
The overall defensive core is not quite as strong as some of the other participants in this tournament. Calgary boasts a lunch pail crew willing to dig and work hard for results. They don't, however, have the same type of shutdown pair some of the other teams possess and that might present a problem in the short tournament.

Keys to victory:
The Hitmen are strong on the transition and uses its speed to an advantage. Calgary is able to capitalize on chances due to its balanced scoring and opportunistic style. They were able to shut down a very good offensive team in Brandon en route to the league title and will need a similar style against a team like Windsor.

Noteworthy:
Calgary won both its WHL championships on the same calendar day: May 7 … The Hitmen came within a goal of winning the Memorial Cup in 1999, its only other entry in the tournament. The host Ottawa 67's beat the Hitmen 7-6 in overtime in the final … The Hitmen won the Central Division for the third consecutive season and were crowned regular season champions twice in a row … The Hitmen are ranked fifth in the final CHL Top 10 rankings.

NHL Drafted Hitmen:
Michael Stone, 3rd round in 2008 (Phoenix Coyotes); Ian Schultz, 3rd round in 2008 (St. Louis Blues); Joel Broda, 5th round in 2008 (Washington Capitals); Kris Foucault, 4th round in 2009 (Minnesota Wild); Tyler Shattock, 4th round in 2009 (St. Louis Blues); Jimmy Bubnick, 6th round in 2009 (Atlanta Thrashers); Brandon Kozun, 6th round in 2009 (Los Angeles Kings)

2010 NHL Draft Eligible Players:
Matt MacKenzie, D; Cody Sylvester, C; Cody Beach, RW



MONCTON WILDCATS

No team is a more worthy of a league championship than the Moncton Wildcats. The Wildcats' playoff journey was the hardest travelled among the three champions and one of the toughest in recent memory. Each of the four teams Moncton faced in the playoffs loaded up for a run at the President's Cup. The Wildcats finished with the third-best record in the regular season, but due to the playoff format they enjoyed home ice only in their first series with Cape Breton. The odds were stacked against them considering the tough playoff schedule, which speaks volumes about of the strength of the team emerging as Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champions.

Strengths:
Moncton's success starts with the man in goal, Riopel. The league's most valuable player a year ago, Riopel is widely considered the best goaltender and posted a league record 2.01 goals against average last season. Riopel gives the Wildcats a dependable starter whose confidence exudes throughout the lineup. Although small at six feet and 167 pounds, Riopel is a fierce competitor and gives his team a chance to win.

The Wildcats don't possess a scoring star, but boast plenty of talent sprinkled throughout the lineup. The team's most dangerous offensive weapon is Deschamps, although it's unclear when he'll be ready to return to action. He suffered a high ankle sprain in the Drummondville series and did not play in the finals. Bourque's offensive game has taken off since his acquisition and he's one of the team's most dependable forwards in every situation. He scored eight of his 19 playoff goals in the six-game final over Saint John. Tessier, meanwhile, is a scorer and led the Wildcats in playoff points. Moncton's defence is strong in transition and capable of leading rushes. While this team doesn't have the offensive flair of stereotypical teams emerging from the QMJHL, they more than make up for it with a balanced lineup.

Weaknesses:
This team does have a balanced offence and is capable of scoring opportunistic goals, but it might become an issue against the best of the best. Moncton's core forward group is very good and brings a lot of different elements, but they lack a true game-breaker such as Windsor's Taylor Hall or Calgary's Brandon Kozun. This problem could become costly particularly if Deschamps, their most natural playmaker, is unable to go in the Memorial Cup.

Keys to victory:
The Wildcats are a very strong systematic team. The reason they were able to eliminate such top teams is that each player knows his role and doesn't take chances that will hurt the team. Riopel has the ability to win games on his own while the team's balanced offensive attack is very opportunistic. Moncton isn't the most entertaining team in the tournament, but their dedication and discipline made them world beaters in their league.

Noteworthy:
The Moncton Wildcats are back in the Memorial Cup for the first time since winning the league title in 2006. The Wildcats were the hosts that year, but lost to the Quebec Remparts in the Memorial Cup final. That was the last year a QMJHL team qualified and won the Memorial Cup … The Wildcats were ranked seventh in the final rankings of the CHL Top 10 rankings … The QMJHL has the fewest Memorial Cup championships of the three leagues. Seven QMJHL teams have won the Memorial Cup since 1972 when the tournament originally introduced the format which included all three leagues.

NHL Drafted Wildcats:
Randy Cameron, 5th round in 2007 (Detroit Red Wings); Nicolas Deschamps, 2nd round in 2008 (Anaheim Ducks); Kelsey Tessier, 4th round in 2008 (Colorado Avalanche); Mark Barberio, 6th round in 2008 (Tampa Bay Lightning); David Savard, 4th round in 2009 (Columbus Blue Jackets); Gabriel Bourque, 5th round in 2009 (Nashville Predators); Nicola Riopel, 5th round in 2009 (Philadelphia Flyers)

2010 NHL Draft Eligible Players:
Brandon Gormley, D; Allain Saulnier, RW; Alex Saulnier, C; Patrick Downe, D.



WINDSOR SPITFIRES

Never has a team so emphatically defied the odds to win championships than the Windsor Spitfires over the past two seasons. In 2009 Windsor became the first team in MasterCard Memorial Cup history to overcome an 0-2 start and go through the tiebreaker to win the national championship. The Spitfires found a way to equal that improbable comeback with another during the Western Conference final. Windsor escaped from an 0-3 series deficit to beat the upstart Kitchener Rangers in seven games. The Spitfires have not lost since Game 3 of the West final, when a long dump-in shot eluded backup goaltender Troy Passingham for the winning goal.

Veteran forward Adam Henrique finally began receiving recognition by winning the Wayne Gretzky 99 award as playoff MVP. Henrique is the straw that stirs the drink in Windsor and along with Taylor Hall presents a formidable offensive attack. While the majority of the core remains, the most notable difference is in goal. The Spitfires traded for German goaltender Philipp Grubauer in a blockbuster deal with the Belleville Bulls at the deadline. Grubauer struggled to find consistency in his new uniform until late in the playoffs. He was exceptional, however, in Windsor's comeback against Kitchener and sweep of Barrie.

Strengths:
Like last season, the strength of this team is in its deep wave of offence. Hall finished tied with Plymouth's Tyler Seguin atop the scoring race in the regular season and was first in playoff scoring with 35 points. The potential NHL No. 1 pick learned to distribute the puck more efficiently this season, but still has the ability to raise fans out of its seats with electrifying individual rushes. Henrique is the model of consistency and his cool demeanour has helped him score so many timely goals that his trophy case is running out of space.
The depth on offence is the deepest in Canada. This team can score from any given line and has plenty of scoring from the back-end with Ryan Ellis, Cam Fowler and Mark Cundari. Ellis regained last season's form after struggling through the first half of the season and has a cannon of a slapshot. Fowler can pick apart a defence with his vision and release. Cundari scored some timely goals during the run, although his job is mainly as a shutdown specialist.

Weaknesses:
The biggest concern heading into the tournament will be how the defence and goaltending perform. Windsor was exploited in the series against Kitchener and needs to better protect the front of its goal. The Spitfires seemed to have difficulty clearing the crease to avoid second-chance opportunities and have been known to shorten the bench in close games.
Grubauer was solid and consistent in the final, but his performance up to then left something to be desired. When he's on his game, he's making acrobatic saves and stretching from post to post. When he's off his game, Grubauer has difficulty containing rebounds and occasionally lets in a soft goal.

Keys to victory:
The Spitfires have the ability to win playing several styles, but appear to be at its best when they limit the opposing team's chances and play an opportunistic style. Kitchener proved Windsor could lose in an all-out offensive track meet, despite the firepower in its lineup. Since this team has so much offensive punch, the Spitfires can win playing with a defence-first mentality and cautiously awaiting its opportunities. This team knows its chances will come and they make teams pay for its mistakes.

Noteworthy:
The Spitfires became the first back-to-back OHL champions since the 1991 and 1992 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds … The 1994 and 1995 Kamloops Blazers were the last team to capture consecutive Memorial Cup championships … The Spitfires were runners-up to the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 1988 Memorial Cup … The last OHL team to win the Memorial Cup on Western Hockey League soil came in 1986 when the Guelph Platers were crowned champions. That tournament was hosted by the Portland Winterhawks … Windsor was ranked third in the final CHL Top 10 rankings … 13 teams from the OHL/Ontario Hockey Association have won the Memorial Cup since 1972, when the tournament format originally included all three leagues.

NHL Drafted Spitfires:
Dale Mitchell, 3rd round in 2007 (Toronto Maple Leafs); Greg Nemisz, 1st round in 2008 (Calgary Flames); Adam Henrique, 3rd round in 2008 (New Jersey Devils); Stephen Johnston, 6th round in 2008 (Detroit Red Wings); Harry Young, 7th round in 2008 (New Jersey Devils); Ryan Ellis, 1st round in 2009 (Nashville Predators); Zack Kassian, 1st round in 2009 (Buffalo Sabres); Kenny Ryan, 2nd round in 2009 (Toronto Maple Leafs); Scott Timmins, 6th round in 2009 (Florida Panthers); Eric Wellwood, 6th round in 2009 (Philadelphia Flyers); Mark Cundari (St. Louis Blues, Free Agent)

2010 NHL Draft Eligible Players:
Taylor Hall, LW; Cam Fowler, D; Philipp Grubauer, G; Justin Shugg, RW; Saverio Posa, D.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION:

Windsor over Calgary 4-2





2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup on Rogers Sportsnet and NHL Network U.S. Schedule
(all times Eastern)

Friday, May 14 Windsor Spitfires @ Brandon Wheat Kings 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 15 Calgary Hitmen @ Moncton Wildcats 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 16 Brandon Wheat Kings @ Moncton Wildcats 3:00 p.m.
Monday, May 17 Calgary Hitmen @ Windsor Spitfires 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 18 Moncton Wildcats @ Windsor Spitfires 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 19 Brandon Wheat Kings @ Calgary Hitmen 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 20 Tiebreaker (if necessary) 8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 21 Semifinal Game 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 23 Championship Game 3:00 p.m.