At long last, the wait is over for junior hockey's prestigious tournament. The host Quebec Remparts and Western League champion Kelowna Rockets will drop the puck tonight to begin round-robin play, opening up the 97th-annual Memorial Cup tournament.
This year's tournament has some added significance, as it's expected to be the last games played at Quebec City's fabled Le Colisée Pepsi before the doors close on the rink for good.
Unfortunately for Flyers fans, Tyrell Goulbourne is not expected to return for the tournament, after missing the entirety of the WHL Championship series against Brandon with a lacerated calf. Goulbourne, one of the Rockets' top forwards, sustained the injury in the previous series against Portland.
Samuel Morin and the QMJHL champion Rimouski Océanic will take the ice Saturday, when they face the OHL champion Oshawa Generals. The Océanic took down the Remparts in seven games, but both teams earned a berth in the tournament regardless of the result. They will also continue round-robin play on Monday and Wednesday of next week, with the round-robin portion of the schedule set to conclude on Wednesday.
Strangely enough, the tournament won't feature the much-ballyhooed Connor McDavid, as his Erie Otters fell to the Generals in five games.
Also of note, the Remparts will continue what's become an interesting tradition at the tournament, where the host team wears special third jerseys that honor Canada's military history. They'll don the sweaters for the tournament's opener on Friday, then auction them off, with proceeds going to veterans in Quebec. Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News has the full report on what the jerseys will look like.
Be sure to follow along with Flyerdelphia for updates on the Memorial Cup, and the performance of the Orange and Black's prospects.
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
