Filip Ekberg – Ottawa 67’s – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
HTWTDOBPOSSHImport DraftNHLCSNAT
5’10”168Apr 14, 2025LWL33rd 2024178 NASWE
SEASONLEAGUETEAMGPGAPTS
2024-2025OHLOttawa 67’s53162945
Filip Ekberg of the Ottawa 67’s. Photo by OHL Images.

To be frank, I—like many independent scouting agencies—find NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of Ekberg perplexing and hard to justify. It’s possible they placed too much weight on his sluggish start to the season, which was understandably impacted by the challenges of adjusting to the North American game, compounded by early injuries and illness.

Born on April 14, 2007, in Uppsala, Sweden, Ekberg made the leap across the Atlantic to join the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL for the 2024–25 season. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 168 pounds, he may not be the most physically imposing player on the ice, but what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in skill, intelligence, and sheer determination.

Ekberg’s breakout moment came during the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he led the tournament in scoring with 10 goals and 18 points in just seven games, setting a new Swedish record in the process. His performance helped Sweden secure its seventh consecutive medal at the event and left scouts buzzing about his NHL potential.

Let’s break down what makes Filip Ekberg such a compelling prospect.

Skating and Agility

Ekberg’s skating is one of his most noticeable assets. He has good acceleration, quick first steps, and the agility to weave through defenders with ease. His edge work allows him to change direction on a dime, making him a nightmare to contain in open ice. He’s not just fast—he’s elusive.

Stickhandling and Puck Control

If there’s one word to describe Ekberg’s hands, it’s silky. He can maneuver through traffic with the puck seemingly glued to his stick. His ability to force defenders into committing first, then exploit the opening with a quick move, is reminiscent of elite NHL playmakers. He’s patient, poised, and always calculating his next move.

Playmaking and Vision

Ekberg’s hockey IQ is high. He sees plays develop before they happen and has the passing touch to thread the puck through tight lanes. Whether it’s a no-look dish on the power play or a quick give-and-go in transition, he consistently puts his teammates in scoring positions.

Shooting and Scoring Touch

While not known for a booming slapshot, Ekberg’s wrist shot is accurate and deceptively quick. He doesn’t need much time or space to get it off, and when he shoots, he usually hits his mark. His ability to finish in tight, especially under pressure, makes him a dual threat as both a scorer and a setup man.

Defensive Awareness

Defensively is where Ekberg needs to improve. You can find yourself questioning his effort on the backcheck or in his own zone at times.

Physicality and Grit

At 5’10”, Ekberg isn’t going to overpower opponents, but he doesn’t shy away from contact. In fact, he’s shown a willingness to battle along the boards.

Final Thoughts

Filip Ekberg is the kind of player who makes you sit up in your seat. He’s dynamic, driven, and deceptively dangerous with the puck. While he still has areas to refine—particularly his physical play and defense—his ceiling is high.

Caden Taylor – Peterborough Petes – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
HTWTDOBPOSSHOHL DRAFTNHLCSNAT
6’3”185Mar 31, 2007LWL9th 2023131 NACAN
SEASONLEAGUETEAMGPGAPTS
2023-2024OHLSudbury Wolves27145
2023-2024OHLPeterborough Petes3111718
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Caden Taylor of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by OHL Images.

Caden Taylor was born on March 31, 2007, in Shanty Bay, Ontario, Taylor has steadily climbed the ranks, showcasing his skill, size, and offensive awareness. Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 185 lbs, he possesses the physical attributes that make him a formidable presence on the ice.

Taylor first gained attention in AAA hockey, winning multiple tournaments, including the Whitby International Silver Stick and the Toronto Titans International Prospects Tournament. His dominance at the youth level led to his selection 9th overall by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. His transition to the OHL was seamless, as he quickly adapted to the higher level of competition.

Taylor was acquired by the Peterborough Petes in the OHL, where he continued to refine his game. His ability to use his size effectively has made him a key player for his team. His NHL Draft eligibility in 2025 has scouts closely monitoring his development, with rankings placing him as a mid to late round pick.

Strengths

Elite Shot: Taylor possesses an NHL-caliber shot, capable of beating goaltenders from various angles.

Size and Physicality: His 6’3″ frame allows him to dominate in board battles and protect the puck effectively.

Offensive Instincts: He has a natural ability to find scoring opportunities, But needs to improve his ability to find and get to open ice.

Speed and Agility: Despite his size, Taylor moves well on the ice, making him a threat in transition.

Areas for Improvement

Consistency: While he has shown flashes of brilliance, maintaining a high level of play throughout a season is crucial.

-Defensive Awareness: Improving his two-way game will make him a more complete player, and does need some work.

Decision-Making Under Pressure: Probably the area that needs the most work.

Future Outlook

Taylor’s combination of size, skill, and offensive ability makes him an intriguing player to watch. But this is a project player and there is work to be done. I wouldn’t be opposed to taking a chance on Taylor but it’s going to take patience and time.

Knights defeat Wildcats to punch ticket to 2025 Memorial Cup final vs. Tigers

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Rimouski, QC – MAY 30: Semi-Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Moncton Wildcats and the London Knights on May 30, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/CHL)

RIMOUSKI, QC — One year after falling short in the 2024 championship, the London Knights have earned a shot at redemption.

With a 5-2 win over the Moncton Wildcats in Friday’s semi-final, the Knights advanced to Sunday’s title game and became just the sixth team in the past 40 years to reach back-to-back Memorial Cup finals — a feat last achieved by the Windsor Spitfires in 2009 and 2010.

London got goals from Landon Sim, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey, Ottawa Senators prospect Blake Montgomery, New York Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi, and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan. Knights’ goaltender Austin Elliott made 21 saves in the win.

Moncton responded with goals from 2025 NHL Draft prospect Caleb Desnoyers and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Dyllan Gill, while Mathis Rousseau stopped 32 shots in the loss.

“All around, I thought that was our best game of the tournament so far,” Cowan said. “We had a really good first, kind of laid back in the second, but our third was probably our best period of the tournament so far.

“We had everyone scoring today, got lots of depth, and it was a huge win for us.”

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
POST-GAME LONDON
POST-GAME MONCTON
POST-GAME MONCTON – GARDINER MACDOUGALL
POST-GAME MONCTON – CALEB DESNOYERS

Tied 2-2 after two periods, the London Knights pulled away in the third, scoring three unanswered goals to punch their ticket to the final.

Blake Montgomery netted the game-winner at 3:35 — his first of the tournament — after slipping behind Dyllan Gill and burying a cross-ice feed from San Jose Sharks prospect Sam Dickinson, who had jump-started the play off a missed shot by Caleb Desnoyers.

Jesse Nurmi added insurance at 13:11, capitalizing on a heads-up play by Winnipeg Jets prospect Jacob Julien, who drove forward on a faceoff and fed Nurmi for his first of the tournament. Easton Cowan sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 18:11.

The Knights will now face Medicine Hat in Sunday’s final at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

“I think our experience took over [tonight],” Cowan said. “We’ve got a lot of older guys on team, a lot of guys that have been there to help close it out.”

“We know we had a tough opponent on the other side, national championship semifinal,” shared Gill post-game. “It’s heartbreaking, and I think every guy in our room is going to have a little bit of regret and what if in their head, but ultimately super proud of the group.”

Through 40 minutes, both teams had traded goals in each period.

London opened the scoring just 4:07 in, as Oliver Bonk’s shot missed the net, the puck bounced right to Landon Sim, who circled from behind the net and tucked in his first of the tournament on a wraparound.

Moncton drew level with 1:40 left in the frame when Caleb Desnoyers ripped a power-play snipe from the left faceoff dot for his first of the tournament.

The Knights regained the lead at 5:24 of the second, as Easton Cowan pulled goaltender Mathis Rousseau wide before threading a perfect pass across the crease for captain Denver Barkey to blast home a one-timer — his first of the tournament.

Moncton responded again just over two minutes later, tying it at 2-2 on a power-play marker from Dyllan Gill, who wired home his third of the Memorial Cup with a sharp wrist shot. From there, however, the Wildcats couldn’t break through in the third against a determined Knights squad.

“It means everything,” Sim said. “We were playing for this all year to get back in that game.”

The Knights will now face the Medicine Hat Tigers on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, with the winner set to join the Cornwall Royals, Kamloops Blazers, and Windsor Spitfires as the only CHL clubs to capture a record three Memorial Cup titles since 1972.

Sunday’s championship game will mark the London Knights’ fifth appearance in a Memorial Cup final since 1972, breaking a tie for third-most all-time and placing them behind only the Kitchener Rangers and Peterborough Petes, who each have six. It’s also the second straight year the Knights have reached the Memorial Cup final, after falling in heartbreaking fashion to the Saginaw Spirit in 2024 on a goal surrendered in the final minute of regulation.

Conversely, Sunday will mark the Tigers’ first appearance in a Memorial Cup final in 18 years, after they became the first WHL team to advance directly to the championship game since the Kelowna Rockets did so in 2009 — the last time the tournament was held in Rimouski. Medicine Hat will be aiming to end an 11-year drought for the WHL by becoming the league’s first team to hoist the Memorial Cup since 2014.

Every game of the 2025 Memorial Cup will air on TSN and RDS in Canada and be available via live stream on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In addition to full coverage in Canada on TSN and RDS, the 2025 Memorial Cup will air in the United States on NHL Network and be available to stream live for free on Victory+ for viewers outside of Canada.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Sunday, June 1 – London Knights vs. Medicine Hat Tigers

OHL ANNOUNCES 2024-25 ALL-STAR AND ALL-ROOKIE TEAMS

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the first, second and third all-star team selections, in addition to the first and second all-rookie team designations for the 2024-25 season.

OHL all-star and all-rookie teams were selected by the OHL’s General Managers, with voting conducted in two stages beginning with a Conference ballot followed by a final ballot that integrated the top selections from both the Eastern and Western Conferences. Skaters were required to play at least 25 regular season games to be eligible for the voting.

A total of 13 of the league’s 20 member teams are represented on this year’s all-star and all-rookie team selections, with the OHL champion London Knights fielding a league-leading seven for the second straight year. The Eastern Conference champion Oshawa Generals trail with five players included while the Saginaw Spirit and Windsor Spitfires each feature four.

2024-25 OHL All-Star Teams:

Representatives with major positional awards in brackets are default first team members, all other designations are determined by votes cast by OHL General Managers

First All-Star Team:
Centre – Michael Misa (Saginaw) (Most Outstanding Player) – voted first all-rookie team in 2022-23
Left Wing – Liam Greentree (Windsor) – voted third all-star team in 2023-24, first all-rookie team in 2022-23
Right Wing – Nick Lardis (Brantford)
Defence – Sam Dickinson (London) (Defenceman of the Year) – voted second all-star team in 2023-24, first all-rookie team in 2022-23
Defence – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw) – voted first all-star team in 2023-24, first all-rookie team in 2022-23
Goaltender – Jackson Parsons (Kitchener) (Goaltender of the Year)
Coach – Jussi Ahokas (Kitchener) (Coach of the Year)

Second All-Star Team:
Centre – Ilya Protas (Windsor)
Left Wing – Denver Barkey (London) – voted second all-star team in 2023-24
Right Wing – Easton Cowan (London) – voted first all-star team in 2023-24, second all-rookie team in 2022-23
Defence – Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie)
Defence – Oliver Bonk (London) – voted first all-star team in 2023-24, second all-rookie team in 2022-23
Goaltender – Carter George (Owen Sound) – voted third all-star team and first all-rookie team in 2023-24
Coach – Dale Hunter (London) – ninth time being voted to an OHL all-star team

Third All-Star Team:
Centre – Calum Ritchie (Oshawa) – voted second all-star team in 2023-24, first all-rookie team in 2021-22
Left Wing – Jacob Battaglia (Kingston)
Right Wing – Beckett Sennecke (Oshawa) – voted second all-rookie team in 2022-23
Defence – Luca Marrelli (Oshawa)
Defence – Ben Danford (Oshawa)
Goaltender – Austin Elliott (London)
Coach – Jay McKee (Brantford) – voted third all-star team in 2021-22

2024-25 OHL All-Rookie Teams:

First All-Rookie Team:
Centre – Lev Katzin (Guelph)
Left Wing – Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound) (Rookie of the Year)
Right Wing – Dimian Zhilkin (Saginaw)
Defence – Chase Reid (Sault Ste. Marie)
Defence – Kohyn Eshkawkogan (Ottawa)
Goaltender – Aleksei Medvedev (London)

Second All-Rookie Team:
Centre – Beckham Edwards (Sarnia)
Left Wing – Ethan Belchetz (Windsor)
Right Wing – Jacob Cloutier (Saginaw)
Defence – Carter Hicks (Windsor)
Defence – Simon Wang (Oshawa)
Goaltender – Colin Ellsworth (Guelph)

Historical results of note:

  • The London Knights match the franchise record of seven players voted to all-star/all-rookie teams established in 2023-24, leading all OHL clubs
  • The Kitchener Rangers have multiple first all-star team members (Parsons, Ahokas) for the first time since 2007-08 (Justin Azevedo, Matt Halischuk)
  • The Saginaw Spirit have multiple first all-star team members (Misa, Parekh) for the first time since 2011-12 (Brandon Saad, Greg Gilbert)
  • Saginaw Spirit defenceman Zayne Parekh is the first blueliner to be voted to back-to-back first all-star teams since 2019 (London’s Evan Bouchard)
  • Windsor Spitfires centreman Ilya Protas is the first Belarusian player voted to an OHL all-star team since 2006-07 (London’s Sergei Kostitsyn)
  • Ottawa 67’s defenceman Kohyn Eshkawkogan is the first 67’s blueliner to be voted to a first all-rookie team since 1998-99 (Luke Sellars)
  • Sarnia Sting centreman Beckham Edwards is the first Sting player voted to an all-rookie team since 2018-19 (Jacob Perreault)
  • London Knights goaltender Aleksei Medvedev gives the Knights a netminder voted to the first all-rookie team in three of the past five seasons (Zach Bowen, 2022-23, Brett Brochu, 2019-20)
  • Guelph Storm netminder Colin Ellsworth is the first Storm goaltender voted to an all-rookie team since 2013-14 (Matthew Mancina)

Wildcats advance to 2025 Memorial Cup semi-final after defeating Océanic

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Rimouski, QC – MAY 28: Round Robin game 6 of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Moncton Wildcats and the Rimouski Océanic on May 28, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/CHL)

RIMOUSKI, QC — The Moncton Wildcats clinched a spot in the 2025 Memorial Cup semi-finals with a commanding 6-2 win over the host Rimouski Océanic on Wednesday night.

Utah Hockey Club prospect Gabe Smith led the way with two goals, while Julius Sumpf, St. Louis Blues prospect Juraj Pekarcik, Calgary Flames prospect Étienne Morin, and Alex Mercier also found the back of the net. Goaltender Mathis Rousseau turned aside 32 shots in the victory. Rimouski responded with goals from Maël St-Denis and Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mathieu Cataford, with Mathis Langevin making 27 saves.

Holding a narrow 3-2 lead after two periods, the Wildcats pulled away with a dominant third. Morin delivered the key insurance marker just over four minutes in, ripping a low wrister from the top of the left circle to restore a two-goal cushion before Smith and Mercier sealed the win with a pair of empty-netters.

“(MacDougall) gave us a special talk in the room,” said Smith about the first-period intermission, which the Wildcats entered trailing the Océanic 2-1. “We got a little jump in our step after that and started playing our game.

“Coach is a very special motivator, and I think he did a great job of it there. We started playing our hockey after that.”

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
POST-GAME RIMOUSKI
POST-GAME MONCTON – GARDINER MACDOUGALL
POST-GAME MONCTON

The win sets up a semi-final clash against the OHL champion London Knights on Friday at 7 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. AT. The two teams previously met in the round-robin, where London narrowly defeated Moncton 3-2 in overtime.

Moncton opened the scoring at 7:39 of the first period when Julius Sumpf ended the team’s forward scoring drought. The German forward slipped behind the Rimouski defence and buried a crisp feed from Juraj Pekarcik, becoming the first Wildcats forward to score in the tournament.

Rimouski responded with a pair of goals in under four minutes to carry a 2-1 lead into the intermission. Maël St-Denis notched his second of the tournament by finishing a rebound on the backhand at 13:27, and Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mathieu Cataford struck at 17:11 with a well-timed redirection of Olivier Théberge’s cross-ice pass.

The second period swung in Moncton’s favour. NHL prospects Juraj Pekarcik and Gabe Smith each scored to put the Wildcats back on top. Pekarcik tipped in a point shot from Predators prospect Dylan MacKinnon just 1:27 into the frame, while Smith pounced on a bouncing puck off the end boards at 4:05 following a deflected shot by Preston Lounsbury.

“I had trouble to find words in the room, I just told them, ‘Thank you,”‘ shared Océanic head coach Joël Perrault about what he told his group post-game. “It’s a group that tied together quickly, and I’ll remember them for a long time, I’m disappointed for them tonight, our fans.

“Our fans saw their effort, their resilience, the injuries they fought through.”

When they face the Knights in Friday’s semi-final at 7 p.m. ET, the Wildcats will look to secure just their second trip to the Memorial Cup final and their first since 2006. As the only team in this year’s tournament yet to capture the trophy, Moncton is in pursuit of its first-ever CHL championship title.

Conversely, the London Knights are looking to become just the fifth team in the last 35 years to reach back-to-back Memorial Cup finals, joining an exclusive group last achieved by the Windsor Spitfires in 2009 and 2010. A victory on Friday would also mark London’s 18th all-time Memorial Cup tournament win, giving them sole possession of second place on the all-time wins list. Additionally, it would secure their fifth appearance in a Memorial Cup final since 1972 — moving them into second place all-time behind only the Kitchener Rangers and Peterborough Petes, who each have six.

The Medicine Hat Tigers will face the winner of Friday’s semi-final between the London Knights and Moncton Wildcats in Sunday’s championship game. The Tigers are making their first trip to the Memorial Cup final in 18 years after becoming the first WHL team to advance directly to the title game since the Kelowna Rockets accomplished the feat in 2009 — the last time the tournament was held in Rimouski. On Sunday, Medicine Hat will be looking to become the first WHL team to lift the Memorial Cup in 11 years.

Every game of the 2025 Memorial Cup will air on TSN and RDS in Canada and be available via live stream on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In addition to full coverage in Canada on TSN and RDS, the 2025 Memorial Cup will air in the United States on NHL Network and be available to stream live for free on Victory+ for viewers outside of Canada.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Semi-Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Friday, May 30 – Moncton Wildcats vs. London Knights
Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Saturday, June 1 – TBD vs. Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers defeat Knights to advance to 2025 Memorial Cup Final

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Rimouski, QC – MAY 27: Round Robin game 47 of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the London Knights and the Medicine Hat Tigers on May 27, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/CHL)

RIMOUSKI, QC — The Medicine Hat Tigers (3-0) advanced to the final of the 2025 Memorial Cup Tuesday night after a 3-1 win over the London Knights (2-1) at Sun Life Financial Coliseum on Tuesday night.

Medicine Hat scored three unanswered goals to secure the win after trailing early, while 2025 WHL Playoffs MVP and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin was named Player of the Game after steering aside 25 of 26 shots for a .972 save percentage.

Ethan Neutens, Mathew Ward, and Minnesota Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie found the back of the net for Medicine Hat, while San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen scored the lone goal for London. Austin Elliott turned aside 27 shots in the Knights’ loss.

“I thought the difference tonight was Meneghin in net,” Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins said. “I thought our guys played hard, blocked a lot of shots, and that every line contributed.”

“We wouldn’t be going to the final with no. 35,” Ward said. “He’s been a rock for us all year.”

With their win over the Knights, the Medicine Hat Tigers have secured their fourth Memorial Cup final appearance since 1972, tying them for third all-time with five other teams — including the London Knights — for the most championship game appearances. It also marks the Tigers’ first trip to the final in 18 years and makes them the first WHL team to advance directly to the championship game since the Kelowna Rockets did so in 2009, when the event was last held in Rimouski.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
POST-GAME LONDON
POST-GAME MEDICINE HAT

Tied 1-1 heading into the third, the Tigers took the lead just 77 seconds into the frame through Ward’s first of the tournament. The overage forward collected the puck after a minute tip pass from Misha Volotovskii before he spun and slid the puck home to score the eventual game-winner.

“It probably ranks number one,” Ward said of the game-winner after playing his penultimate junior hockey game. “You don’t sit around dreaming about playing that final game. You dream about winning it. I don’t know if Willie remembers, but he sent me a text when he traded for me and said he wants to win that final game. Not just be there.”

Ritchie scored his tournament-leading fourth goal into the empty net with 11.6 seconds left in regulation.

“You’ve got to be so excited to get the chance,” Desjardins said of playing for a Memorial Cup title. “It’s great for us to get the opportunity, but for sure, we want to win it – we don’t want to just show up. So, we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

The win marks the first time a WHL team has gone 3-0 in the Memorial Cup round-robin since 2008. The Tigers will now look to become the first WHL club to capture the title since the Edmonton Oil Kings did so 11 years ago.

The 2025 Memorial Cup final is set for Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. MT.

Halttunen had the only goal of the first period as he got a piece of San Jose Sharks prospect  Sam Dickinson’s shot from the point on the power play just 3:34 into the game. In the process, Halttunen moved into second all-time for most goals scored by a Knight in Memorial Cup history with six, trailing only Christian Dvorak, who recorded seven.

The Tigers scored the only goal of the second period when Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk’s point shot deflected off Los Angeles Kings prospect Jared Woolley’s skate and landed perfectly for Ethan Neutens, who buried it into an open net from the low slot at 5:11.

London now awaits the winner of tonight’s rematch of the 2025 QMJHL Championship Series, as the host Rimouski Océanic (0-2) faces the Moncton Wildcats (0-2) in the round-robin finale tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Every game of the 2025 Memorial Cup will air on TSN and RDS in Canada and be available via live stream on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In addition to full coverage in Canada on TSN and RDS, the 2025 Memorial Cup will air in the United States on NHL Network and be available to stream live for free on Victory+ for viewers outside of Canada.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Game 6 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Wednesday, May 26 – Rimouski Océanic vs. Moncton Wildcats
Semi-Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Friday, May 30 – TBD vs. London Knights
Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Saturday, June 1 – TBD vs. Medicine Hat Tigers

Ritchie leads the Medicine Hat Tigers past the Moncton Wildcats for a second straight win at the 2025 Memorial Cup

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Rimouski, QC – MAY 26: Round Robin game 4 of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Moncton Wildcat and the Medicine Hat Tigers on May 26, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/CHL)

RIMOUSKI, QC — Minnesota Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie scored twice to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers (2-0) to a 3-1 victory over the Moncton Wildcats (0-2) at the 2025 Memorial Cup in Rimouski on Monday night.

2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna scored into the empty net for the Tigers as Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin made 21 saves. Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Dyllan Gill had the Wildcats’ lone goal as Moncton netminder Mathis Rousseau turned aside 39 shots.

With the win, the Tigers have secured at least a spot in Friday’s semi-final. Tonight, they’ll face the only other undefeated team at the tournament, the London Knights (2-0), with puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The winner of tonight’s game between the Tigers and Knights will advance directly to Sunday’s championship game, while the loser will play in Friday’s semi-final as the designated home team.

“I thought our team played well and we’re certainly happy with the win,” said Medicine Hat head coach Willie Desjardins. “We are grateful for the opportunity and don’t take it for granted.

“We know what the games are going to be like and know they are going to be hard.”

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
POST-GAME MONCTON
POST-GAME MEDICINE HAT

Conversely, the Moncton Wildcats now face a do-or-die situation following last night’s loss. Their Memorial Cup hopes will hinge on Wednesday’s final round-robin game against the host Rimouski Océanic (0-2) at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The winner will move on to Friday’s semi-final as the visiting team, while the loser will be eliminated from the 2025 Memorial Cup.

A pair of goals from Ritchie built the Tigers a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes on Monday. He opened the scoring 4:24 into the first as he buried the puck into a wide-open net off of Oasiz Wiesblatt’s feed moments after McKenna had been stopped on a breakaway.

His second of the night came at 9:42 of the second period as he hammered home a one-timer on the power play off of Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Basha’s feed. Ritchie would later add an assist on McKenna’s empty-netter as he led all scorers with three points on Monday night.

Another bright spot for the Tigers on Monday was the return of Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom, who made his Memorial Cup debut. He went 6-for-11 on faceoffs and drew a key high-sticking penalty in the third period, helping to stall a late push from the Wildcats.

Following Monday’s game, Tigers forward Ryder Ritchie leads all skaters at the 2025 Memorial Cup with three goals, edging out Sam O’Reilly (London Knights), Dyllan Gill (Moncton Wildcats), Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers), and Bryce Pickford (Medicine Hat Tigers), who each have two. 

Additionally, Ritchie also shares the tournament scoring lead with Easton Cowan (London Knights), Oasiz Wiesblatt (Medicine Hat Tigers), and McKenna, as all four have recorded four points through two games.

Every game of the 2025 Memorial Cup will air on TSN and RDS in Canada and be available via live stream on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In addition to full coverage in Canada on TSN and RDS, the 2025 Memorial Cup will air in the United States on NHL Network and be available to stream live for free on Victory+ for viewers outside of Canada.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Game 5 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Today – London Knights vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Game 6 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Wednesday, May 28 – Rimouski Océanic vs. Moncton Wildcats
Semi-Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Friday, May 30 – TBD vs. TBD

London Knights defeat Rimouski Océanic to earn a second straight win at the 2025 Memorial Cup

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Rimouski, QC – MAY 25: Shootout Tournament prior to the Round Robin game 3 of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Rimouski Océanic and the London Knights on May 25, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/CHL)

RIMOUSKI, QC — The London Knights moved to 2-0 at the 2025 Memorial Cup after a 3-1 win over the host Rimouski Oceanic on Sunday night. With the victory, the Knights have assured themselves of at least a place in Friday’s semi-final at the 105th edition of the Memorial Cup, being held in Rimouski, Québec.

On Sunday night, 2025 NHL Draft prospect Henry Brzustewicz, Winnipeg Jets prospect Jacob Julien, and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan scored for London as Austin Elliott made 28 saves. Washington Capitals prospect Eriks Mateiko had Rimouski’s lone goal while Mathis Langevin stopped 34 shots.

“That was a really fun game to play in,” Cowan said. “High compete from both teams and we stuck with it to come out with the two points.”

With the London Knights’ win over the Rimouski Océanic on Sunday night, head coach Dale Hunter made Memorial Cup history by earning his 15th career tournament victory — the most by any head coach since the CHL adopted its current format in 1972. The milestone moves Hunter past legendary WHL bench boss Don Hay (14 wins with the Kamloops Blazers and Vancouver Giants), placing him alone atop the all-time coaching wins list at the Memorial Cup.

“It’s a credit to the players here,” Hunter said, who now has a 15-7 career record at the Memorial Cup. “To win games, they are the ones who have to sacrifice on the ice to block shots. Through the years I’ve had great players and winners and they go on to do great things.”

Julien buried the game-winner with just 5:07 left in the third period as he converted a pretty passing play was started by Cowan, who found San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen before he slid the puck over to Julien for his first of the tournament. Cowan ensured the win with an empty-netter at 18:08.

After a goalless first period – in which both teams registered nine goals – it was the Océanic who opened the scoring 2:14 into the second period as after some great work down low by Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mathieu Cataford, Mateiko found a loose puck in the crease to grab his first of the tournament.

London got level through 2025 NHL Draft prospect Brzustewicz who at 9:47 found himself with all kinds of space to bury a wrister from the right dot to make it 1-1.

“That was two strong teams going at it,” Julien said. “Both played really well defensively and offensively and we were fortunate enough to come out on top.”

Next up, the London Knights (2-0) will look to become the first team to make back-to-back appearances in a Memorial Cup final since the Windsor Spitfires did so during their championship runs in 2009 and 2010. With a win over the Medicine Hat Tigers (1-0) tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET, the Knights would secure their spot in this year’s title game.

Meanwhile, the host Rimouski Océanic (0-2) will look to keep their Memorial Cup hopes alive when they take on the Moncton Wildcats (0-1) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. The matchup marks a rematch of the QMJHL Championship Series, where Moncton defeated Rimouski in six games to capture the third league title in franchise history.

But first, tonight at 7 p.m. ET, the Medicine Hat Tigers (1-0) will try to follow in the Knights’ footsteps and clinch a spot in at least Friday’s semi-final — a feat they can accomplish with a win over the Wildcats. Moncton, on the other hand, will be fighting for their first victory of the tournament and a chance to secure a place in Thursday’s potential tiebreaker.

Every game of the 2025 Memorial Cup will air on TSN and RDS in Canada and be available via live stream on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In addition to full coverage in Canada on TSN and RDS, the 2025 Memorial Cup will air in the United States on NHL Network and be available to stream live for free on Victory+ for viewers outside of Canada.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Game 4 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Today – Moncton Wildcats vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Game 5 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Tuesday, May 27 – London Knights vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Game 6 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Wednesday, May 28 – Rimouski Océanic vs. Moncton Wildcats


Following Sunday’s victory, the London Knights sit in first place as the 2025 Memorial Cup enters its fourth day.

LONDON KNIGHTS WIN SECOND STRAIGHTJ. ROSS ROBERTSON CUP AS OHL CHAMPIONS

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

London, ON – The London Knights are OHL champions for a second straight year, winning the 113th J. Ross Robertson Cup following a 5-2 win over the Oshawa Generals in Game 5 at Canada Life Place.

OHL Playoff MVP Kasper Halttunen scored his eighth and ninth goals of the Championship Series while Sam O’Reilly and Easton Cowan each had a goal and an assist as London outlasted Oshawa for a second straight year, hoisting the J. Ross Robertson Cup before a capacity crowd of 9,061.

“We’ve dreamt of this since day one and to do it in back-to-back years is a surreal feeling. It’s even better to do it on home ice,” said Knights captain Denver Barkey, who returned to the lineup from injury in Game 5. “It’s a great way to cap-off what we’ve built here in London and there’s one more thing to go win now.”

Landon Sim also scored for London while blueliner Sam Dickinson had a pair of primary assists and goaltender Austin Elliott stood tall in the crease, stopping 32-of-34.

“We’re a close-knit family here,” said Knights Head Coach Dale Hunter, who won his fifth J. Ross Robertson Cup to tie him for the most all-time with Leighton “Hap” Emms. “The kids enjoy playing and it’s easy to coach when they enjoy it. It’s been a real fun couple years here with these kids.”

The victory marks London’s sixth OHL championship in franchise history and the second instance in which they’ve won back-to-back following previous titles in 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012 and 2005.

The Knights finished the OHL Playoffs with a record of 16-1, becoming just the third team in league history to win the championship with one or fewer losses as they join the 1998 Guelph Storm (12-1) and 1988 Windsor Spitfires (12-0) in that department.

Easton Cowan finished as the top scorer of the 2025 OHL Playoffs, registering 39 points (13-26–39) over 17 games with a plus/minus rating of plus-25. Halttunen, who claimed the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as Playoff MVP, recorded 21 points (15-6–21), nine of which came in the Championship Series. Halttunen’s nine Championship goals are the most since Belleville’s Jonathan Cheechoo, another San Jose Sharks prospect, tallied nine in 1999.

Knights captain Denver Barkey received the J. Ross Robertson Cup from OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford as the Knights, who eliminated Owen Sound, Erie, Kitchener and now Oshawa, travel to Rimouski, Quebec for the 2025 Memorial Cup that begins Friday, May 23rd.

SPITFIRES’ LIAM GREENTREE AWARDED MICKEY RENAUD CAPTAIN’S TROPHY

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that Windsor Spitfires forward Liam Greentree is this year’s recipient of the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy.

Greentree was chosen for the award by a panel of accredited OHL media members, being recognized as the team captain that best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, with a passion and dedication to the game of hockey in his community that Mickey demonstrated.

“I’m truly honoured to receive this award. It’s incredibly meaningful—not just for me personally, but for our entire organization.” said Greentree. “This recognition is a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and passion that every member of our team brings every day. I may be the one accepting this, but it represents a collective effort. I’m proud to lead such an inspiring team, and even prouder to stand alongside them. This award belongs to all of us.”

Greentree had a tremendous third season in Windsor, his second as the team’s captain. He produced 49 goals, 70 assists and 119 points over 64 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-55. His 306 shots on goal were the second-most in the OHL as he helped guide the Spitfires from the bottom of the standings to the top of the West Division with 45 wins and 96 points.

“Liam is a great teammate and leader.” said Spitfires General Manager Bill Bowler. “We are delighted as an organization for Liam to be recognized for this award as it is a credit to his character. Here in Windsor we all know what Mickey meant to our organization and Liam proudly wears the ‘C’ and has tried to replicate what Mickey embodied.”

Noted as the first Spitfire to arrive at the rink and the last one to leave on game days, Greentree has become known for his friendly disposition toward fans and staff at the WFCU Centre. He played a lead role in the club’s involvement with the Goodfellows paper drive, a local organization that raises funds for individuals in the community needing assistance with food and housing.

“Liam is as genuine and humble as they come,” added Bowler. “He represents the Spitfires organization with class and we’re very proud of his accomplishments.”

A 19-year-old from Oshawa, Ont., Greentree was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round (26th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 216Ib. left-wing has amassed 254 points (110-144–254) over 189 career regular season games with the Spitfires, and was an OHL first all-rookie team member in 2022-23 followed by a third team all-star in 2023-24. He won a World Under-18 Hockey Championship gold medal with Canada in 2024. Greentree was Windsor’s second round (34th overall) pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

The Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy is presented in honour of former Windsor Spitfires captain and Calgary Flames prospect Mickey Renaud, who tragically passed away at the age of 19 on February 18, 2008 due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an underlying heart condition. Renaud, from Tecumseh, Ont., played three seasons with the Spitfires from 2005-08, leaving a lasting impact on the city’s hockey community.

Greentree follows Ryan Ellis (2010-11) as the second Spitfires player to win the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy. Recent winners have included Braden Haché of the Saginaw Spirit (2023-24), Nolan Dillingham of the Sarnia Sting (2022-23) and Mark Woolley of the Owen Sound Attack (2021-22).

Nomination forms are submitted annually by OHL General Managers on behalf of their individual team captains. The selection committee consists of a panel of four, representing media from each OHL division.

Greentree will be formally presented with the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy at the OHL Awards Ceremony at the Hockey Hall of Fame in June.

For a complete list of past award winners, click here.