SHAWINIGAN, Que. — Unlike his counterparts, Shawinigan Cataractes head coach Eric Veilleux has had a lot of time to sit and think about the MasterCard Memorial Cup. He's also had time to parse what went wrong when the tournament-host Cataractes were eliminated in the second round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs by the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in seven games.

Morgan Ellis and the Cataractes haven't played in a month. (The Canadian Press)His team will take the ice for the first time in a month to face the WHL-champion Edmonton Oil Kings in the Memorial Cup opener on Friday. "In a short tournament like this it's very important for us to step in and get our legs going – keep things simple," Veilleux said. "There's a way to play intense, play physical and be smart and that's the way we've been preaching… starting with the game [Friday night]. The guys are very aware of the situation right now and they're ready to go."

In the regular season, the Cataractes (45-16-3-4) were the second-best team in the QMJHL finishing six points behind the defending Read More »from Cataractes prepared for Memorial Cup run despite long layoff

Nashville Predators prospect Charles-Olivier Roussel. (Rémi Sénéchal photo) It was a celebration — une grosse fête — thrown by his best friend since childhood.

There was good music, lots of food and drinks and a very special guest in attendance: the President’s Cup trophy.

Charles-Olivier Roussel declined the invitation.

“I didn’t take it personally,” said Olivier Hotte, who hosted the party back in 2009. “We’re still best friends. I would have done the same if I was in his shoes.”

The absence was understandable since Hotte — then a defenceman with the Drummondville Voltigeurs — had just helped eliminate Roussel’s Shawinigan Cataractes from the Quebec Major Junior League final in a huge Game 7 victory.

“It’s a good thing he didn’t go,” said Hotte. “He didn’t want to curse it, by touching the Cup.

“He didn’t want to know the feeling because he wanted to win it by himself.”

Hockey players have always been a superstitious bunch, but it this case it might have helped. Four years later, Roussel finally got a second chance and his own opportunity to Read More »from Memorial Cup trip worth the wait for Sea Dogs defenceman Roussel

IceDogs' Mark Visentin. (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - In the grand scheme of things, being on the brink of elimination – with one lifeline still available – isn't enough to send Mark Visentin into a panic. That's because the Niagara IceDogs' veteran goaltender rarely, if ever, panics.

"He's a rock back there," said IceDogs captain Andrew Agozzino. "Nothing really fazes him. He's the backbone of our team and he's been great for us. We've hung him out to dry a couple times and we take responsibility for that."

The IceDogs dropped a 4-1 decision to the visiting London Knights at the Jack Gatecliff Arena on Wednesday night. Niagara trails the best-of-seven series 3-1 with Game 5 scheduled for Friday night in London's John Labatt Centre. While Visentin has been in more daunting situations over his young career, he says his team shouldn't be in the position of having to claw their way back into the Ontario Hockey League championship series. Game 4 was marked by a slew of IceDogs turnovers, many of which led to

Read More »from The IceDogs’ and Mark Visentin aren't giving up despite trailing the Knights in OHL final

He might wear the traditional green and gold of the London Knights, but once the jersey comes off there's no question Austin Watson is all black and blue.

Austin Watson of the London Knights. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) Austin Watson of the London Knights. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)The 20-year-old played a key role in helping the Knights sweep the Kitchener Rangers to capture the Western Conference title last week. And while his five points in four games was definitely welcomed, Watson's real value came from what he does better than anyone else – blocking shots.

"I've got a couple bumps and bruises, but that's playoff hockey," said the forward. "Everybody here is doing all they can to help the team win and if that means blocking a shot or scoring a goal, that's what we're going to do."

Late in the third period of Game 4, with their series against the Rangers on the line, Watson hit the ice – flat out – to stop a hard shot from Kitchener's Cody Sol. Just watching it was enough to make you wince.

"Yeah, it hurt a little bit," said Watson. "But I was more disappointed in myself for losing the faceoff,

Read More »from London Knights forward puts his body on the line for a Memorial Cup title

London Knights goalie Michael Houser.KITCHENER, Ont.— There was no long motivational monologue or temper tantrum that helped bring the London Knights back from the brink of defeat. For head coach and GM Mark Hunter, there was also a deficit when it came to his words during the second intermission Sunday as his team sat trailing by two goals against the host Kitchener Rangers.

“I just said, ‘Guys, it’s 4-2 and we’re still in this game.’ "

A Herb Brooks Miracle moment it wasn’t, but it worked for the Knights as they rallied to score four goals in the third period to win 6-4 and take a 2-0 series lead in their best-of-seven OHL Western Conference final.

“Everyone in the room knew we could come back all game,” said defenceman Scott Harrington, who scored the game-winner with 50.8 seconds left to seal the comeback. “We didn’t play that bad of a game. We just got into some penalty trouble and made some bad decisions. After the second period it was very positive in the room – we all believed in ourselves and I think that Read More »from Knights coach Hunter rallies troops to put Rangers in 2-0 hole

It was one of the biggest games of Tyler Randell’s junior hockey career. Strangely, though, it was also a game he spent watch from the stands. He was sitting out, serving the last of a 10-game suspension, while his Kitchener Rangers were fighting for their playoff lives against the Plymouth Whalers.

As an overager, a loss in Sunday night’s Game 6 would have meant the end of his time in the OHL.

“It was huge knowing that this was the end if we didn’t win,” said Randell. “The guys gave it everything and pulled (the victory) off and I owe them everything."

He said despite his nerves, he had faith his teammates would fight to extend both their season and the final days of his career. And they did.

“It was definitely hard sitting up there (in the stands) knowing that we could be facing elimination and not being able to do anything about it,” said the 20-year-old from before Game 7 in Plymouth, Mich. “It’s definitely amazing to get to put on the uniform again and give everything you Read More »from Rangers veteran Randell repays teammates with goals

Plymouth Whalers winger Stefan Noesen. (Getty Images)KITCHENER — Sitting in the stands before his Plymouth Whalers faced the host Kitchener Rangers the other night, Stefan Noesen was focused intently on his phone. Once the puck dropped however, the first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators was totally immersed in the on-ice action, keeping game stats on a clipboard despite the cast on his left hand.

The injury, which occurred during their first-round series against the Guelph Storm, was a bad break for the Whalers in more ways than one.

“It was friendly fire,” said Noesen, with a smile. “I got hit with a shot from (teammate) Austin Levi. It’s all right though, I’ll be back soon.”

After dropping a 5-1 decision to the host Rangers on Wednesday night, Noesen’s return can’t come soon enough for the Whalers. Despite missing all four games of their second-round series against Kitchener, Noesen still leads the team in scoring with seven goals and seven assists in six games.

“He’s our leading scorer and he’s the catalyst of our team this year,”

Read More »from Whalers hang in OHL playoffs while waiting on Noesen’s return

There’s never a dull moment in the QMJHL, in part because of the many outspoken and colourful characters the league seems to attract.

The latest controversy in the Quebec league surrounds comments made by Acadie-Bathurst Titan owner Leo-Guy Morrissette, in which the long-time lightning rod alleges his fellow QMJHL owners are using their riches to help entice high-profile players to join their teams.

Saint John Sea Dogs owner Scott McCain seems to be Morrissette’s biggest target, though Quebec Remparts owner Patrick Roy as well as the Moncton Wildcats, Rimouski Oceanic and Shawinigan Cataractes are also name-dropped in his accusations.

"They use money because they have money," Morrissette told Peter McGuire, sports editor of the Telegraph-Journal. "They have more money than me for sure. Mr. McCain is a nice guy but his organization uses that money. They use too much money. They can have more (NHL) first-round picks on their teams, European and American players. Mr. Coyle is a very good

Read More »from Leo-Guy Morrissette is still a Titan of controversy in the QMJHL