Here is a breakdown of the competition (final top-10 rankings in brackets):
Division 1:
Toronto Marlboros (1)
Qualified: GTHL Champions
Record: 51-4-5 (won the Toronto Marlboros International Holiday Classic)
Head Coach: Ken Strong
Players to watch: Lucas Lessio (pictured) (LW), Ryan Strome (C), Stuart Percy (D)
Road to the Cup: Defeated the Mississauga Reps in 5 games, 9 points to 1 in league finals.
What to Expect: At the top of the rankings all season, they play a real team game focused on puck possession.
St Catharines Jr. Falcons (5)
Qualified: OMHA Invite
Record: 44-10-7 (Hamilton Tim Hortons Tournament and Silver Stick Champions)
Head Coach: Frank Girhiny
Players to watch: Dougie Hamilton (D), Greg Jambrosich (F), Aaron Taylor (LW)
Road to the Cup: Finished first place in OMHA SCTA standings and defeated Barrie 2-1 to win the bronze medal at the OMHA Minor Midget Championships.
What to Expect: A solid, well coached team that relies on good team defence and an opportunistic offense.
Rochester 93’s
Qualified: USA Invite
Record: N/A
Head Coach: Joseph Migliaccio
Players to watch: Riley Bourbonnais (F), J.T Stenglein (F), Dominic Trento (F)
Road to the Cup: A tournament select team representing upstate New York.
What to Expect: A team built on speed and competitiveness
Eastern Ontario Wild
Qualified: ODHA Finalists
Record: 19-26-9
Head Coach: Rick Legault
Players to watch: Eric Ming (RW), Kevin Tansey (D)
Road to the Cup: Lost to the Senators in the Ottawa East Minor Hockey League finals after upsetting the Upper Canada Cyclones who finished 20 points higher in the regular season.
What to Expect: A Cinderella team that likes to play offensive hockey.
GNML Wolves
Qualified: NOHA Representative
Record: N/A
Head Coach: Beau Moyer
Players to watch: Darcy Haines (F), Jordan Turbide (F)
Road to the Cup: A tournament select team composed of the best NOHA players.
What to Expect: A team of highly skilled competitors.
Division 2:
Vaughan Kings
Qualified: GTHL Invite
Record: 26-20-11
Head Coach: Mike Vallescuro
Players to watch: Francesco Corrado (D), Jordan Binnington (G)
Road to the Cup: Defeated Jr. Canadiens in the league quarter-finals before losing to the Marlies 6 points to 2 in the semi-finals, handing the Marlies their only playoff loss.
What to Expect: A team led by a solid defence and goaltending with gritty competitive forwards.
Burlington Eagles (8)
Qualified: OMHA Invite
Record: 27-14-7
Head Coach: Murray Clark
Players to watch: Jeremy Gottzmann (F), Steven Trojanovic (D), Jordan Coccimiglio (F)
Road to the Cup: Finished second place in the OMHA SCTA standings but struggled in the Championship tournament.
What to Expect: A team that plays a real offensive minded game relying on team speed.
Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs (3)
Qualified: ALLIANCE Champions
Record: 51-14-3
Head Coach: Matt Jenner
Players to watch: Boone Jenner (F), Jake Worrad (D), Luke Hietkamp (F)
Road to the Cup: Defeated Lambton, Kitchener, and London to win the ALLIANCE Playdown Playoffs.
What to Expect: A team that could be the most balanced in the tournament in all facets.
Ottawa Senators
Qualified: ODHA Champions
Record: 22-26-8 (Boston Pizza Cup Tournament Champions)
Head Coach: Dallas Ashford
Players to watch: Kyle Rankin (LW), Brent Norris (C), Keegan Harper (D)
Road to the Cup: Defeated Eastern Ontario Wild 7-3 in points to win league Championship.
What to Expect: A well coached team that will need to take advantage of their chances.
Toronto Young Nationals (10)
Qualified: GTHL Invite
Record: 30-21-11 (Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs Tournament Classic Champions)
Head Coach: Jamie Fawcett
Players to watch: David Broll (F), James Hennessy (F), Victor Adamo (G)
Road to the Cup: Upset the Mississauga Senators in the first round of playoffs but lost 6-2 in points to the Mississauga Reps in the league semi-finals.
What to Expect: A team that will compete and finish checks and dares you to outwork them.
Division 3:
Quinte Red Devils (4)
Qualified: OMHA Champions
Record: 45-15-6
Head Coach: Mike McKeown
Players to watch: Nick Cousins (C), Billy Ulrick (C), Tyson Teichmann (G)
Road to the Cup: Beat the York Simcoe Express 3-2 in overtime at the OMHA Championships.
What to Expect: A well balanced team that will compete, has solid goaltending and some offensive game-breakers.
TPH Thunder
Qualified: USA Invite
Record: 24-19-5
Head Coach: Nathan Bowen
Players to watch: Matt Mahalak (G), Tyler Rostenkowski (D), Brett Curran (F)
Road to the Cup: A tournament select with a program based out of Atlanta.
What to Expect: A well coached balanced and competitive team
Thunder Bay Kings
Qualified: HNO Representative
Record: 25-31-4
Head Coach: Derek Levanen
Players to watch: Chris Latta (C), Adam Fares (RW), Adam Restoule (F)
Road to the Cup: A tournament team representing Hockey Northwestern Ontario Branch.
What to Expect: A team looking to have success in Southern Ontario after some early trips this season.
Mississauga Reps (6)
Qualified: GTHL Finalists
Record: 30-21-8 (won the Peterborough Tournament)
Head Coach: George Stavro
Players to watch: Mark Luzar (D), Tyler Graovac (C), Ben Thomson (LW)
Road to the Cup: Beat the Mississauga Rebels and the Toronto Young Nats in the playoffs before losing 9-1 in points to the Toronto Marlies in the league finals.
What to Expect: Strong in their own end but will need some players to step up offensively.
Mississauga Senators (7)
Qualified: GTHL Invite
Record: 43-12-9
Head Coach: Mark Filippone
Players to watch: Anthony Camara (F), Ben Fabelli (D), Reid Jackman (F)
Road to the Cup: Highly ranked team all season was upset in the first round by the Toronto Young Nats.
What to Expect: Looking to rebound after playoff upset, has a solid back end with balanced scoring up front.
Division 4:
London Jr. Knights (9)
Qualified: ALLIANCE Finalists
Record: 44-15-7
Head Coach: John Caldarozzi
Players to watch: Carter Sandlak (F), Scott Lombardi (F), Ryan Davidson (F)
Road to the Cup: Beat Sun County and Brantford before losing to Elgin-Middlesex in ALLIANCE finals.
What to Expect: They play hard in both ends of the ice and work hard to generate offense.
York Simcoe Express (2)
Qualified: OMHA Finalists
Record: 61-8-0 (Toronto Titans Prospect and London Jr. Knights Invitational Champions)
Head Coach: Maurice Catenacci
Players to watch: Daniel Catanacci (C), Ryan Murphy (D), Brandon Francisco (RW)
Road to the Cup: Finished first overall in the OMHA ETA but lost to Quinte 3-2 in overtime at the OMHA Championships.
What to Expect: A highly skilled and offensive minded team with great speed and puck possession with special teams that can hurt you.
Barrie Colts
Qualified: OMHA Invite
Record: 27-33-9
Head Coach: Josh Dahmer
Players to watch: Brian Hughes (C), John Chartrand (G)
Road to the Cup: Lost the OMHA Bronze Medal game 2-1 to St. Catharines.
What to Expect: A definite Cinderella team that came together well just before playoffs and will play a tight checking game.
Toronto Jr. Canadiens
Qualified: GTHL Invite
Record: 28-20-11
Head Coach: Bill Purcell
Players to watch: Alan Quine (C), Tyler Biggs (RW), Braden Kavaratzis (LW)
Road to the Cup: Lost to Vaughan 8-4 in points in the GTHL first round quarter-finals.
What to Expect: They are looking to rebound after an up and down season and if the offense can get on track they can be dangerous.
Brantford 99ers
Qualified: ALLIANCE Invite
Record: 39-17-2
Head Coach: Ron Coleman
Players to watch: Andrew Fritsch (RW), Ryan Horvat (LW)
Road to the Cup: Finished first place in the ALLIANCE Eastern Division and took London the distance in the semi-finals.
What to Expect: They rely on good team defence while keeping games tight and taking advantage of opportunities.
