Last night, as the Golden Knights and Stars battled it out in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup semi-final series, it was also Game 5 of the three CHL final series.
Three teams with a 3-1 series lead had the chance to win their championship and qualify for the Memorial Cup.
Only one of these three teams managed to end their series.
OHL: The London Knights avoided elimination at home with a 4-1 win over the Peterborough Petes.
CH prospect Logan Mailloux scored a goal and an assist.
Logan Mailloux with one of the better empty net goals you’ll see 👀
The @CanadiensMTL prospect goes glass and out and hits the empty cage to seal a Game 5 win for the @LondonKnights 👏#OHLChampionship | #LDNvsPBO pic.twitter.com/MxV8U1NflP
– Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) May 20, 2023
Also of note for the Petes, CH prospect Owen Beck was ejected from the game.
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QMJHL : The Halifax Mooseheads extended the suspense last night with a 3-2 win over the Remparts in Quebec City.
The series now heads to Halifax for Game 6.
WHL: Also ahead 3-1 in their series, the Seattle Thunderbirds didn’t miss their chance to put an end to their series and win their championship like the Petes and Remparts.
They won 3-1 at home against the Winnipeg ICE to claim the WHL championship at home.
YOUR NEW WHL CHAMPIONS, @SeattleTbirds. pic.twitter.com/GSkvayHYAZ
– TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 20, 2023
The Thundebirds have thus qualified for the Memorial Cup, which will be held from May 26 to June 4 in Kamloops.
Interestingly, this Thunderbirds team includes Montreal Canadiens prospect Jared Davidson.
2023 #WHLChampionship Post-Game:
🎙️ Forward Jared Davidson
🗣️ “What a way to end a career – playing in front of these fans for five years has been absolutely amazing.”@SeattleTbirds | @CanadiensMTL#FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/EZq9erKN2t– The WHL (@TheWHL) May 20, 2023
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In fact, the 20-year-old forward was a fifth-round pick (130th overall) by the CH in the most recent draft.
Davidson is obviously older than most of the CH’s other prospects, as he wasn’t drafted in his first two years of eligibility.
Still, he’s a fine prospect despite his age, given his high point totals over the past two seasons.
This year, he racked up 82 points (38 goals, 44 assists) in 60 regular-season games and 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 19 playoff games.
He finished as the WHL’s 8th leading scorer in the playoffs.
One more spin around the block for @SeattleTBirds 20-year-olds, Jared Davidson, Kyle Crnkovic, and Luke Prokop!💙💚@CanadiensMTL | @PredsNHL | #WHLChampionship | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/6PignOtTtR
– The WHL (@TheWHL) May 20, 2023
Davidson will therefore be present at the Memorial Cup to represent the CH’s hopes, where he will be joined by either Logan Mailloux or Owen Beck dépendamment, who won the championship in the OHL.
It should also be noted that the Seattle Thunderbirds represent an American team playing in a Canadian championship.
So it would be quite bizarre if Seattle were to win the Memorial Cup awarded to the best Canadian junior team.
Stay tuned.
In a gust
– CF Montreal in action today.
“Defensively, they’re strong and they play with a lot of energy. We’re expecting a close game, like every game against New York.” – Hernán Losada. >>> https://t.co/Am1t8uQww8
Montreal takes on the @NewYorkRedBulls tomorrow night >>> https://t.co/svNUittCSU#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/fPYCBYpuvV
– CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) May 19, 2023
– Canada takes on Switzerland today at the World Championship.
Team formation for Canada vs. Switzerland https://t.co/IjLJDt7UH0 pic.twitter.com/5UdmrJO7wh
– SwissHabs (@SwissHabs) May 20, 2023
– This will clearly be one to watch.
#ICYMI (This was published before Dubas was fired): Will the Maple Leafs Move Mitch Marner or William Nylander This Summer? https://t.co/sTazDQOPuB
– Spector’s Hockey (@SpectorsHockey) May 20, 2023
– Read more.
In today’s Habs Daily:
Looking at the viability of a Cole Caufield offer sheet.
-#GoHabsGo draft target compared to Martin St-Louis
-How the Dubas situation impact the #LeafsForever long term?https://t.co/915O0eOZYi– Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) May 20, 2023
– A first game back in the WNBA for her.
WNBA | A first game for Brittney Griner after her detention in Russia https://t.co/o3Ho55TgnR
– La Presse Sports (@LaPresse_Sports) May 20, 2023