SASKATOON — Trey Lewis and Stefan Fournier stood on either side of the Memorial Cup, before the co-captains of the Halifax Mooseheads placed their hands on it and hoisted major junior hockey’s Holy Grail as champions. It was a special moment for many different reasons.

It was a moment to honour Jean MacAulay, teammate Stephen’s mom, who died of cancer in March. He was the first player they handed the trophy to after accepting it from Canadian Hockey League president David Branch following their thrilling 6-4 victory over the Portland Winterhawks.

“It’s bittersweet,” said MacAulay, who also won the Memorial Cup in 2010 with Saint John and has been a MasterCard Memorial Cup participant the past three seasons. “It doesn’t bring her back, but she’s in a better place now… she had no regrets, I took a lot from her.”

It was an important moment for the Mooseheads franchise as it was the first time the Maritime team had ever won the CHL’s championship tournament. No one knows how much this means

Read More »from Memorial Cup 2013: Halifax Mooseheads' first Canadian major junior hockey crown special for so many reasons

SASKATOON - On the ice, his teammates describe him as a warrior. His coach says he is one of the most versatile players in their lineup. He has won the President’s Cup three times as a QMJHL champion and has one Memorial Cup ring. He is a fierce competitor.

Halifax Mooseheads Stephen MacAulay raises the President Cup. (The Canadian Press)And yet, there is a gentleness that radiates through Stephen MacAulay. There’s no hint of bravado or bluster despite the fact he’s bidding for a second Memorial Cup title with the Halifax Mooseheads while playing in his third straight tournament.

It’s a rare accomplishment. He is currently tied with Jacques Jr. Locas, a QMJHL star from the early 1970s, who like MacAulay, participated in four President’s Cup finals, won three, went to three Memorial Cups and won once. A win on Sunday would allow MacAulay to stand alone in the QMJHL record book.

One would understand if the 21-year-old showed a little swagger – but that’s just not MacAulay’s style.

In fact, he doesn’t even like to talk about his Memorial Cup experiences with his

Read More »from Memorial Cup 2013: Stephen MacAulay parlays passion, poise into helping Halifax Mooseheads reach final

SASKATOON – His nickname is ‘The Airdrie Assassin’. It’s an appropriate moniker because when it comes to scoring goals Ty Rattie is downright deadly.

Portland Winterhawks' Ty Rattie (L) celebrates his goal with teammates Troy Rutkowski (2) and Nicolas Petan against the London Knights during the third period of their semi-final game at the Memorial Cup Canadian Junior Hockey Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, May 24, 2013. REUTERS/Todd Korol (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY)

“He knows how to put the puck in the net,” said Rattie’s teammate Seth Jones with a smile. “He takes what the defence gives him and he’s a sniper.”

Rattie’s game-winning goal at the 8:32 mark of the third period Friday night essentially killed the London Knights chances of advancing to their second straight MasterCard Memorial Cup final with a 2-1 victory. The Airdrie, Alta., native’s wrist shot from the top of the high slot was a thing of beauty – accurately finding its way through traffic and picking the top corner above Jake Patterson’s blocker to make the water bottle on top of the net dance. It was the goal to send Portland through to the Memorial Cup final for a rematch with the Halifax Mooseheads.

After the game, Rattie said he shot the puck high knowing that Patterson, listed at a generous six feet, is on the smaller side.

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Read More »from Memorial Cup 2013: Ty Rattie puts a dagger in London and puts Portland into the championship game

SASKATOON – The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League became a little less exciting this week with the news that Patrick Roy was leaving to become coach and vice-president of player development for the Colorado Avalanche.

The long-time owner, general manager, and bench boss of the Quebec Remparts was known for being a good coach, a big draw, and a straight shooter. If he didn’t agree with something – an official’s call, a suspension, a reporter’s question, or something said/done by a fellow GM – he wasn’t afraid to tell you.

“He’s a very fiery person and a very passionate man,” said Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley, who coached Roy to a Stanley Cup in Denver in 2001. “That’s what he’s going to bring to the Avalanche.’’

Never one to be politically correct, in 2012 alone, he was fined by the QMJHL a total of $12,000 for various comments.

“At the end of the day you have to be yourself,” said Hartley, who is working here during the MasterCard Memorial Cup as an analyst for TVA Sports. “That

Read More »from Patrick Roy: The Colorado Avs' gain is a loss for the Quebec Remparts and the QMJHL

SASKATOON -- Taylor Leier looked like he was out cold before he even hit the ice.

The Portland Winterhawks forward took a pass from teammate Chase De Leo and was carrying the puck through the neutral zone during the final game of the round robin at the MasterCard Memorial Cup on Wednesday night. The 19-year-old took two strides into the Saskatoon Blades zone when he was hit in the head by the elbow of defenceman Dalton Thrower.

Leier fell immediately and his head bounced twice on the ice from the force of the impact. There was a pool of blood forming from where he was cut. Athletic therapist Rich Campbell ran out onto ice to help and began talking to Leier who remained facedown.

Saskatoon Blades' Dalton Thrower (R) hits Portland Winterhawks' Taylor Leier (20) while Blades' Shane McColgan watches during the first period of the Memorial Cup Canadian Junior Hockey Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, May 22, 2013. REUTERS/Todd Korol (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY)

Despite having two referees – Reagan Vetter of the Western Hockey League and Jean-Philippe Sylvain of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League – on the ice, there was no penalty assessed.

Winterhawks interim head coach, Travis Green, stood on Portland’s bench and began yelling at the officials on the ice: “Wake the

Read More »from 2013 Memorial Cup: Saskatoon Blades await possible disciplinary action against Dalton Thrower for head shot on Taylor Leier

SASKATOON — Sometimes, says Martin Frk, it’s hard to play alongside Jonathan Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon on the Halifax Mooseheads’ top line. They are supremely talented, but he admits they can also get a little petulant when he’s unable to finish off a nice passing play with a goal or hit the dynamic duo with a sweet set-up.

Halifax's Martin Frk scores on London goalie Anthony Stolarz to complete his hat trick. (Reuters)On Tuesday night at the 2013 Memorial Cup, however, Frk showed why he was placed on the same line with the two highly touted future NHLers. He sent a reminder that he, too, is a special player in his own right with a hat trick and an assist in a 9-2 rout over the OHL champion London Knights.

“I got great passes from them and I had to put it (in the net),” Frk said. “I hope the boys (Drouin and MacKinnon) are not too mad at me. They always get a little bit cranky, but I try to do my best. I guess I did today and they are happy.”

Very happy, actually. And as far as MacKinnon is concerned, it’s a mutual admiration society since he and Drouin are thankful to be

Read More »from Martin Frk plays third fiddle on Halifax Mooseheads' three-headed top line

The Saskatoon Blades celebrate their victory over the Halifax Mooseheads at the Memorial CupSASKATOON — In a game full of emotion, the Saskatoon Blades took a different approach in their game against the Halifax Mooseheads at the MasterCard Memorial Cup.

“One of our mottos in this tournament is to play like robots whistle to whistle,” said Blades forward Josh Nicholls.

The idea is to keep an even keel – regardless of the opponent -- and disregard the many momentum swings faced during a game.

The game plan worked as the Blades skated to a stunning 5-2 victory over the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champions. For the first 50 minutes of the game, the Blades kept Halifax’s high-powered offence – led by the top line of Jonathan Drouin, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Frk -- in check. They were physical and made life in the crease difficult for Mooseheads goalie Zach Fucale.

“We were wearing them down,” said Nicholls, a New York Rangers prospect. “You could see their frustration. They were starting to come at us after the whistles and stuff like that. They have a highly skilled

Read More »from 2013 Memorial Cup: Saskatoon Blades ride robotic approach, rabid crowd to surprise win over Halifax Mooseheads

Nathan MacKinnon scores on Portland goaltender Mac Carruth at the 2013 Memorial Cup.SASKATOON — It was billed as one of the best junior hockey matchups at the Memorial Cup in almost a decade. The top-ranked Halifax Mooseheads, champions of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, pitted against the Portland Winterhawks, the second-ranked champions from the Western Hockey League.

It featured the upper echelon of talent for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft with Portland’s Seth Jones, Halifax’s Nathan MacKinnon and his Mooseheads teammate Jonathan Drouin, ranked 1-2-3 respectively by the NHL’s Central Scouting Service in their final rankings.

Not since Sidney Crosby’s appearance on opening night at the 2005 Memorial Cup against Corey Perry’s London Knights had a Canadian Hockey League game been so anticipated. And like Sid, it was another kid from the Halifax suburb of Cole Harbour, N.S., who put on a show.

It was MacKinnon’s hat trick in a 7-4 victory over the Winterhawks that was a grand enough performance for people to question whether those draft rankings were right. Long beforeRead More »from Memorial Cup 2013: Nathan MacKinnon does much more than keep up with Seth Jones