Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League and Greater Toronto Hockey League today announced the 20 teams that will compete at the 2009 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament hosted by the GTHL. The tournament begins this Wednesday at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.
The 20 teams representing the 2009 field include clubs from across Ontario and the United States. The champions and finalists from minor hockey associations in Ontario, including the GTHL, OMHA, ODHA, ALLIANCE, and an NOHA representative qualify for the tournament with additional teams receiving invitations by the Tournament Selection Committee.
Participating Teams (final top-10 ranking also in brackets):
Division 1:
Toronto Marlboros (GTHL-Champions) (1)
St. Catharines Falcons (OMHA-Invite) (5)
Rochester (USA-Invite)
Eastern Ontario Wild (ODHA-Finalists)
GNML Wolves (NOHA)
Division 2:
Vaughan Kings (GTHL-Invite)
Burlington Eagles (OMHA-Invite) (8)
Elgin Middlesex Chiefs (ALLIANCE-Champions) (3)
Ottawa Senators (ODHA-Champions)
Toronto Young Nationals (GTHL-Invite) (10)
Division 3:
Quinte Red Devils (OMHA-Champions) (4)
TPH Thunder (USA-Invite)
Thunder Bay (HNO-Invite)
Mississauga Reps (GTHL-Finalists) (6)
Mississauga Senators (GTHL-Invite) (7)
Division 4:
London Jr. Knights (ALLIANCE-Finalists) (9)
York Simcoe Express (OMHA-Finalists) (2)
Barrie Colts (OMAH-Invite)
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL-Invite)
Brantford 99’ers (ALLIANCE-Invite)
“I am really excited for the start of the 2009 OHL Cup” commented Rob Kitamura, OHL Director of Central Scouting and Player Development. “I truly believe that this season’s edition could be the most competitive one to date. There are a large number of talented teams, many of which have each won Major Tournaments this season. I really believe that the team that comes together and performs the best this week will come out on top” continued Kitamura. “It should make for a great week of hockey.”
The tournament schedule was also announced today with the first face-off set for Wednesday March 18, 2009, at 1:15 pm between the York Simcoe Express and the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. Round-robin play continues Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning. The playoff round commences Saturday afternoon, March 21, 2009, at 5:00 pm with Quarter-Final games. The Semi-Finals are slated for Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 9:00 am and 11:00 am with the Championship Final set for 5:00 pm.
All games will take place at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Select tournament games will be broadcast on Rogers Television.
Last March, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens defeated the Toronto Marlies 5-2 in the championship game led by tournament MVP and first overall pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, John McFarland (Sudbury Wolves). Many other OHL rookies including Tyler Seguin (Plymouth Whalers), Jeff Skinner (Kitchener Rangers), Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa 67’s), Ryan Spooner (Peterborough Petes), and Cody McNaughton (Guelph Storm) were all first round selections at the 2008 OHL Priority Selection after competing at the 2008 OHL Cup.
John Tavares of the London Knights, Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires, Matt Duchene of the Brampton Battalion, Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires, and P.K Subban of the Belleville Bulls are among current OHL Cup graduates playing as stars in the OHL.
For more information including tournament news, scores, standings, and statistics please visit http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/ohl-cup-news-s10858
Full Tournament Schedule:
Wednesday March 18, 2009
All Round Robin Games
Rink 1 Visitors Home
1:45 pm Toronto Marlboros St. Catharines
3:30 pm Thunder Bay Mississauga Senators
5:15 pm Mississauga Reps Quinte Red Devils
7:00 pm Jr. Canadiens Brantford 99’ers
8:45 pm Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Toronto Nationals
Rink 2 Visitors Home
1:15 pm York Simcoe Express Jr. Canadiens
3:00 pm Toronto Nationals Ottawa Senators
4:45 pm Burlington Eagles Vaughan Kings
6:30 pm London Jr. Knights Barrie Colts
8:15 pm GNML Wolves Toronto Marlboros
Thursday March 19, 2009
All Round Robin Games
Rink 1 Visitors Home
9:00 am TPH Thunder Mississauga Reps
10:45 am GNML Wolves St. Catharines
12:30 pm Burlington Eagles Elgin Middlesex Chiefs
2:15 pm Barrie Colts Brantford 99’ers
4:00 pm Toronto Marlboros Rochester
5:45 pm Vaughan Kings Toronto Nationals
7:30 pm Mississauga Reps Mississauga Senators
9:15 pm Barrie Colts Jr. Canadiens
Rink 2 Visitors Home
8:30 am Rochester Eastern Ontario Wild
10:15 am Ottawa Senators Vaughan Kings
12:00 pm Mississauga Senators Quinte Red Devils
1:45 pm London Jr. Knights York Simcoe Express
3:30 pm TPH Thunder Thunder Bay
5:15 pm St. Catharines Easter Ontario Wild
7:00 pm Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Ottawa Senators
8:45 pm Brantford 99’ers London Jr. Knights
Friday March 20, 2009
All Round Robin Games
Rink 1 Visitors Home
9:00 am Rochester GNML Wolves
10:45 am Quinte Red Devils TPH Thunder
12:30 pm Ottawa Senators Burlington Eagles
2:15 pm Jr. Canadiens London Jr. Knights
Rink 2 Visitors Home
9:30 am Thunder Bay Mississauga Reps
11:15 am Eastern Ontario Wild Toronto Marlboros
1:00 pm York Simcoe Express Barrie Colts
2:45 pm Vaughan Kings Elgin Middlesex Chiefs
Saturday March 21, 2009
Round Robin & Quarter Final Games
Rink 1 Visitors Home
10:00 am Quinte Red Devils Thunder Bay
11:45 am Brantford 99’ers York Simcoe Express
1:30 pm Eastern Ontario Wild GNML Wolves
5:30 pm Quarter Final 2
1ST PLACE DIV 2 2ND PLACE DIV 3
7:30 pm Quarter Final 4
1ST PLACE DIV 1 2ND PLACE DIV 4
Rink 2 Visitors Home
9:30 am Mississauga Senators TPH Thunder
11:15 am Toronto Nationals Burlington Eagles
1:00 pm St. Catharines Rochester
5:00 pm Quarter Final 1
1ST PLACE DIV 3 2ND PLACE DIV 2
7:00 pm Quarter Final 3
1ST PLACE DIV 4 2ND PLACE DIV 1
Sunday March 22, 2009
Semi-Finals and Final
Main Bowl
9:00 am Winner Quarter Final 1 Winner Quarter Final 2
11:00 am Winner Quarter Final 3 Winner Quarter Final 4
5:00 pm Championship Game
