Press Release

TORONTO, ON — The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) alongside its Member Leagues – the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) – is proud to announce two significant multi-year partnerships that will shape the future of its on-ice performance and fan experience. 

Beginning with the 2025-26 season, Under Armour will become the exclusive jersey and socks and exclusive training footwear and apparel partner of the CHL, its Member Leagues, and 61 Clubs, while Bauer will serve as the official equipment supplier. These landmark agreements are set to run through the 2030-31 season, reinforcing the ongoing commitment of the CHL and its Member Leagues to supporting its players and delivering exceptional quality to its fans across the world.

Under Armour Named Exclusive Jersey Supplier

As part of this new partnership, Under Armour becomes the exclusive supplier of game jerseys, practice jerseys, sublimated theme jerseys, and authentic replica jerseys for fans across all CHL Member Leagues. Starting in 2025-26, players in the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL will hit the ice in elite-level, Under Armour–branded pro-authentic jerseys and socks for every team-controlled game, event, practice, and camp. The partnership also includes exclusive access to Under Armour’s cutting-edge training apparel and footwear.

“This partnership delivers not only enhanced gear for our athletes and clubs from the WHL, OHL and QMJHL, but also innovative merchandise for all of our fans across the CHL,” stated Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. “We are excited to see the CHL’s future take the ice in Under Armour uniforms. These jerseys represent more than just a new look – they reflect a shared commitment to performance, innovation, and style. With Under Armour, we’re equipping our players with elite-level apparel designed to meet the demands of today’s game, while also giving fans new ways to connect with their teams through high-quality, authentic merchandise. It’s a significant step forward for the CHL, its Member Leagues, and our 61 Clubs — benefiting players on the ice and fans in the stands.”

“Under Armour is known for our relentless innovation in performance products, and we’re excited to outfit CHL athletes,” said Craig Cummings, Vice-President of Team Division at Under Armour. “From training to competition and recovery, we’re committed to providing the performance solutions these athletes need to compete at their highest potential.”

Under Armour will also play a key role in supporting major CHL events, including the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, underscoring the brand’s deep commitment to player development and fan engagement. For the 2025 edition of this premier cross-border showcase, Under Armour will produce and supply custom-designed jerseys for Team CHL – offering players a bold, one-of-a-kind look that matches the intensity of the competition. These exclusive uniforms will capture the spirit of the event while upholding the high-performance standards synonymous with Under Armour products. They will be produced by Momentec, the manufacturer of Under Armour licensed uniforms.

Bauer Named Official Equipment Supplier of the CHL

Beginning in the 2025–26 season, Bauer will proudly become the official equipment supplier of the CHL, helping power the next generation of stars with the game’s most innovative gear. From sticks to helmets, gloves, and under protective gear, CHL players will take the ice with Bauer’s most advanced equipment, trusted by the best and built for ultimate performance and protection. 

This exclusive partnership reflects a shared commitment to safety, innovation, and excellence at every level of the game. Athletes will also continue to have access to Bauer skates, goal equipment, and team apparel – ensuring players have access to the tools they need to compete at the highest level.

“From grassroots hockey to the world’s biggest stages, Bauer has demonstrated a deep commitment to innovation, safety, and performance – values that align perfectly with our mission to foster excellence both on and off the ice,” said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. “A long-standing champion of player development at all levels, Bauer shares our unwavering commitment to the growth and long-term success of our players from across the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL. This new partnership ensures that players in the CHL will benefit from top-tier protective gear as they continue to grow into the leaders and stars of tomorrow.”

“We’re looking forward to our new partnership with the CHL and providing our most innovative equipment to its athletes through our industry-leading Elite Athlete Services team,” said Mary-Kay Messier, Chief Marketing Officer, Bauer Hockey. “As important, together with the CHL, we are committed to advancing our shared values. It’s more important than ever to demonstrate the important role the CHL plays not only in showcasing some of the game’s top prospects on the ice, but also in developing leaders off the ice. Hockey creates lifelong friendships, instills the importance of playing as a team, and builds character, and through its scholarships, career counseling, and other programs, our partnership can help elevate and amplify these important leadership facets outside the arena.”

Like Under Armour, Bauer will also support CHL events, including the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, the latter of which is a two-game series that sees the top NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL’s Member Leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL) compete against those from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 Team.

Both partnerships will debut during training camps ahead of the 2025-26 season, with new gear and jerseys hitting the ice for the first time across the WHL, OHL and the QMJHL. Retail availability for fans, including new authentic and tiered replica jerseys, will be announced closer to the start of the 2025-26 campaign. Both partnerships mark a new chapter in CHL history, delivering the highest standards of performance, safety, and style on and off the ice.

RIMOUSKI, QC — Edmonton Oilers prospect Sam O’Reilly scored the overtime winner as the London Knights began their 2025 Memorial Cup campaign with a 3-2 win over the Moncton Wildcats in Rimouski, Québec.

O’Reilly buried the game-winner at 4:23 of overtime as after London Knights forward Easton Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs prospect) spun around Moncton’s Caleb Desnoyers (2025 NHL Draft prospect), he found the Oilers prospect to the right side of Rousseau, where he tipped the puck high for his second of the night.

“I just try to get to the net,” O’Reilly said. “[Cowan] does all of his creative stuff up top. It’s always the best place to go is to the net, he throws pucks there a lot and fortunate enough to be able to score one.”

With London’s 3-2 overtime win over Moncton, Dale Hunter recorded his 14th career Memorial Cup victory as a head coach, tying Don Hay for the most all-time since 1972. Hunter, who owns a 14-7 record at the tournament, has now pulled even with Hay (14-4) atop the all-time coaching wins list at the Memorial Cup.

In addition to his OT winner, O’Reilly also scored in regulation, along with San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen, while Austin Elliott turned aside 27 shots for the Knights. On the Moncton side, Calgary Flames prospect Etienne Morin and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Dyllan Gill found the back of the net, with Mathis Rousseau making 45 saves in the loss.

London – finalists at the 2024 Memorial Cup – needed all of 91 seconds to strike as O’Reilly got a piece of Sam Dickinson’s (San Jose Sharks prospect) point shot to grab an early 1-0 lead. But Moncton battled back to level things up at the first intermission as Etienne Morin’s shot from the blue line hit London defenceman Jared Woolley (Los Angeles Kings prospect) to change directions and beat Elliott at 6:59.

The Knights restored their lead at 5:11 of the second through Halttunen, who unloaded a one-timer on the power play to register his fifth career Memorial Cup goal. In doing so, the Finnish forward now has a goal in five straight Memorial Cup outings, matching the longest goal-scoring streak at a Memorial Cup since 2000 – a mark set by Ty Rattie (Portland Winterhawks), who found the back of the net in all five games of the 2013 Memorial Cup.

However, once again, the Wildcats found the tying goal in the period as it was Gill’s time to convert on the man advantage as his shot from the blue line beat Elliott.

After a goalless third, that saw London outshot Moncton 16-3, it was O’Reilly who played hero at night’s end.

“They’re good players and they want to win really bad,” Hunter said. “They play hard, and when the big games are on the line they come through.”

Next up, the London Knights (1-0) will be looking to earn their second win in as many nights when they hit the ice for Game 3 of the round-robin tonight at 6 p.m. ET against the host Rimouski Océanic (0-1). Meanwhile, the Océanic will be in search of their first win of the tournament after falling 5-4 to the Medicine Hat Tigers in their opening game.

Looking ahead, the round-robin continues Monday night as the Moncton Wildcats (0-1) take on the Medicine Hat Tigers (1-0) at 7 p.m. ET in a pivotal matchup for both teams. On Tuesday, the London Knights will close out their round-robin schedule with a showdown against the Tigers.

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 3 (Round-Robin) @ 6 p.m. ET – Today – Rimouski Océanic vs. London Knights
Game 4 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Monday, May 26 – Moncton Wildcats vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Game 5 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Tuesday, May 27 – London Knights vs. Medicine Hat Tigers

RIMOUSKI, QC — Hunter St. Martin scored the game-winning goal with 2:41 left in regulation as the Medicine Hat Tigers took Game 1 of the 2025 Memorial Cup over the host Rimouski Oceanic on Friday night.

2025 NHL Draft prospect Bryce Pickford scored twice while Minnesota Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie and 2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna also had goals as Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin stopped 20 shots. For Rimouski, Maël Lavigne, Maël St-Denis, Jacob Mathieu, and Jonathan Fauchon found the back of the net as Mathis Langevin made 33 saves.

St. Martin tipped home the game-winner off a Tanner Molendyk (Nashville Predators prospect) feed to give the Tigers a perfect start to the tournament.

“That was one of the hardest teams we’ve played all year,” McKenna said. “We had guys selling out all game, guys were blocking shots at the end of the game. I think it shows how bad we wanted it.”

Ritchie had opened the scoring 13:50 into the first as he buried a loose puck after McKenna hit the crossbar, but the Oceanic levelled things before the end of the period through Lavigne.

The hosts took their first lead of the game at 10:43 of the second as he benefitted from a Tigers turnover to take 2-1, but Pickford extended his incredible goalscoring streak to nine games as he converted at 16:18 to tie the game. Pickford, a native of Chauvin, Alta., recently recorded the most goals by a CHL defenceman in a single playoff run (13) since 2000.

Rimouski, however, answered immediately as Mathieu was credited with his first on an odd-bounce just 2:08 later as the hosts took a 3-2 advantage into the break.

Medicine Hat needed only 68 seconds to level things up at 3-3 as Pickford again found the back of the net with a snipe from the top of the left dot before McKenna converted on a breakaway at 5:16 to make it 4-3.

“I thought I could get him high, saw it and shot it, and luckily it went in,” McKenna said.

Fauchon – who led the QMJHL in scoring this season – made it 4-4 at 13:04 before St. Martin buried the game-winner to give the Tigers a crucial opening-night win.

“Tanner made a great move at the blue line and I saw him go to the net,” St. Martin said. “That play has happened a few times so there was a little bit of familiarity there so I thought ‘go to the net and put my stick down’ and he made an unbelievable pass and luckily it went in which was really good for our group.”

In a fitting turn of events, the victory comes exactly 18 years after Medicine Hat’s last win at the prestigious tournament — a 1-0 triumph over the host Vancouver Giants at the 2007 Memorial Cup.

In a powerful and emotional moment before the start of the opening game of the 2025 Memorial Cup, Capt. Érick Théberge surprised his son, Olivier Théberge — a defenceman for the host Rimouski Océanic — by taking part in the ceremonial puck drop. Serving in the Canadian Armed Forces for 36 years, Capt. Théberge received special permission to return from deployment in Latvia just in time to see his son play on one of the biggest stages in junior hockey.

Unaware of his father’s presence, Olivier stepped onto the ice for the pre-game ceremony and was met with an unforgettable reunion. The Océanic would go on to narrowly fall 5-4 to the Medicine Hat Tigers, but the heartfelt exchange between father and son left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.

Next up, Game 2 of the 2025 Memorial Cup round-robin takes place today at 6 p.m. ET, featuring the Moncton Wildcats (0-0) facing off against the London Knights (0-0).

The Rimouski Océanic (0-1) will return to the ice at the 2025 Memorial Cup on Sunday, May 25, for Game 3 of the round-robin at 6 p.m. ET, when they take on the London Knights (0-0).

Meanwhile, the Tigers (1-0) are back on the ice Monday, May 26, at 7 p.m. ET, when they take on the QMJHL champion Moncton Wildcats (0-0). 

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 2 (Round-Robin) @ 6 p.m. ET – Today – Moncton Wildcats vs. London Knights
Game 3 (Round-Robin) @ 6 p.m. ET – Sunday, May 25 – Rimouski Océanic vs. London Knights
Game 4 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Monday, May 26 – Moncton Wildcats vs. Medicine Hat Tigers

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced the appointment of Darrell Woodley to the role of Director of Hockey Development, a position crucial to the league’s mission of growing and strengthening hockey in Ontario and across North America.

Woodley will oversee the development and implementation of the ongoing evolution of the Ontario Development Model and serve as the league’s day-to-day liaison with key stakeholders including Hockey Canada, the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF), Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO), Hockey Northwestern Ontario (HNO), the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA), the province’s various junior development leagues, minor hockey organizations and school sport hockey partners.

Woodley, who has worked as the OHL’s Director of Central Scouting since 2011 and also has experience as a regional scout with Hockey Canada, is looking forward to the new opportunity.

“With a tremendous amount of change occurring across the hockey landscape, it’s an exciting time to embark on a new challenge,” said Woodley. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in the OHL as a player, coach, management team member, scout and employee at the league office and I’m looking forward to investing in the work of developing the best young players not just for the OHL, but also for Hockey Canada and its Program of Excellence.”

A player for the Oshawa Generals and Barrie Colts from 1994-97, Woodley also served in roles as the Director of Player Development with the Colts starting in 2002, also serving as an Assistant Coach before joining the league office in 2011.

“Darrell brings a wealth of experience to this role,” said OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford. “He’ll serve as the league’s lead on the Ontario Development Model, and will seek to ensure that the development strategy reflects a unified vision for player growth, competitive balance and long-term success. His work will be important in the area of strengthening affiliation agreements between OHL clubs and junior development leagues such as the GOJHL, OJHL, CCHL and NOJHL among others.”

Woodley will also oversee annual league events such as the OHL Cup, OHL Performance Development Program and the return of the Battle of the Border while also exploring opportunities to expand grassroots hockey development and diversity outreach programming.

Established in 1981, the OHL Central Scouting Department, of which Woodley was Director, has officially ceased operations as the OHL centers its attention on player development moving into the 2025-26 season and beyond. OHL member teams and their respective scouting departments will continue to identify talent at various levels of the game while the league office, with Darrell Woodley leading the effort, places a greater emphasis on the development of young players coming up through Ontario’s hockey system.

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that Saginaw Spirit forward Nic Sima is this year’s recipient of the Ted Baker Teammate of the Year Award. The annual honour is presented to the player deemed the best teammate based off selfless play, on and off-ice leadership as a mentor and role model to other players, as well as a commitment and dedication to his team.

A fourth-year veteran, Sima was a unifying presence in the Spirit dressing room while also leading the team in the community as a finalist for the OHL Humanitarian of the Year Award. A reliable teammate who was a regular provider of rides to and from the Dow Event Center for younger Spirit players while also leading in the planning an execution of inclusive team functions, Sima brought the Spirit together.

“Receiving this award is a huge honor and it means more to me than I can put into words,” said Sima. “I’m incredibly thankful to my teammates, coaches, and everyone in the organization, as none of this would be possible without them. Coming to the rink every day and being around this group of guys is something I never take for granted. We’ve built something special together and I’m just really proud to be a part of it.”

A 20-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., Sima completed his fourth OHL season with career-highs that included 18 goals, 17 assists and 35 points over 62 games. The former second round (37th overall) pick by North Bay in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection won a Memorial Cup with the Spirit last June, and has accumulated 36 goals, 44 assists and 80 points over 242 career OHL contests.

“Nic has filled such a key role for our group ever since he arrived in Saginaw and is a heartbeat of our team,” said Spirit General Manager Dave Drinkill. “There is a noticeable difference in our players when Nic is in the room, and he is crucial in making sure his teammates understand the messaging from our coaching staff. He does everything asked of him, helping create a great culture within our organization. His work effort is unmatched and it’s no surprise he put up career numbers this season. We’re also incredibly proud of the leadership role he took off the ice with his charitable work in the community. No one is more deserving of this award.”

The Ted Baker Teammate of the Year Award was first announced in August 2023 following the retirement of OHL Vice President Ted Baker, who served 35 years with the Ontario Hockey League. The award celebrates the achievements of a player deemed to have demonstrated the same qualities of teamwork, selflessness and dedication demonstrated by Ted throughout his time with the league.

Hunter Brzustewicz of the Kitchener Rangers was the league’s inaugural award winner in 2023-24.

Sima will be formally presented with the Ted Baker Teammate of the Year Award at the OHL’s Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, June 11 at The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

For a full list of award winners, click here.

TORONTO, ON — The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is excited to announce the field for the 2025 Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Québec. In addition to the host Rimouski Océanic from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the 105th edition of the Memorial Cup, which is scheduled from May 22 – June 1, will feature the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL.

The latter three teams each won their respective league title over the last week to help secure their place in the Memorial Cup. This year’s Memorial Cup field includes London, the CHL’s most decorated team of the 21st century with six OHL championships, alongside Medicine Hat, Moncton, and Rimouski, who each boast three league titles, tied for the third-most since 2000. The first game of the 2025 Memorial Cup is set for Friday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT between the host Océanic and the WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers. The complete schedule for the 2025 Memorial Cup can be found below.

The 2025 Memorial Cup marks the return of the CHL’s championship event to the province of Québec for the first time in 10 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.

Host – Rimouski Océanic
(fifth Memorial Cup appearance – 2000, 2005, 2009, 2015 & 2025; one Memorial Cup title – 2000)

The Rimouski Océanic are set to make their fifth Memorial Cup appearance after an impressive run to the 2025 QMJHL Championship Series, where they ultimately fell to the Moncton Wildcats in six games. With Joël Perrault behind the bench, the Rimouski Océanic enjoyed one of their most successful regular seasons in recent memory, finishing with 46 wins – their highest total since 2014–15. Rimouski’s .750 points percentage ranked among the elite in the CHL, trailing only Moncton (.844) and London (.824), and underscoring their status as one of the league’s top contenders throughout the 2024–25 campaign.

Throughout the playoffs, the Océanic displayed a high-powered offensive attack, spearheaded by captain Jacob Mathieu (17G-14A in 23 GP), whose QMJHL-best 17 goals and 31 points over 23 postseason games underscored his vital role in the team’s deep run. Supporting him was an elite trio featuring 2023–24 QMJHL MVP and Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mathieu Cataford (7G-11A in 12 GP), 2024–25 QMJHL scoring champion Jonathan Fauchon (7G-15A in 23 GP), and Anaheim Ducks prospect Alexandre Blais (5G-15A in 23 GP), giving Rimouski one of the most dangerous forward groups in the league. On the back end, 2021 QMJHL champion Pier-Olivier Roy (3G-16A in 21 GP) brings stability and veteran leadership to the blue line. Meanwhile, goaltender Mathis Langevin (12-4 record, 1.57 GAA, .944 SV%, 3 SO in 18 GP) has turned in strong performances between the pipes, keeping Rimouski competitive in every matchup. Langevin finished the 2025 QMJHL Playoffs with a .944 save percentage, the second-highest mark in QMJHL postseason history (min. 480 minutes played). As Rimouski prepares to host the 2025 Memorial Cup for the second time, the 2024-25 Océanic aim to capture the franchise’s second title while celebrating the 25th anniversary of their historic 2000 championship team—an iconic squad later named a finalist for CHL Team of the Century.

WHL Champions – Medicine Hat Tigers
(sixth Memorial Cup appearance – 1973, 1987, 1988, 2004, 2007 & 2025; two Memorial Cup titles – 1987 & 1988)

The Medicine Hat Tigers are set to make their sixth Memorial Cup appearance—and first since 2007 – after capturing the 2025 Ed Chynoweth Cup with a decisive 4-1 series win over the Spokane Chiefs. Since the tournament adopted its round-robin format in 1972, the Tigers’ six appearances rank tied for the fifth-most over that span and sit just one behind Kamloops for the most by a WHL club.  Guided by veteran head coach Willie Desjardins, who secured his third WHL title, the Tigers dominated the playoffs with a 16-2 record, including sweeps of Prince Albert and Lethbridge, and a decisive five-game triumph over Spokane in the WHL Championship Series. 

A significant contributor to the Medicine Hat Tigers’ successful playoff run has been 17-year-old forward Gavin McKenna (9G-29A in 16 GP), a leading prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, who led all CHL players in playoff scoring with an average of 2.38 points per game. Although McKenna’s impressive 54-game point streak concluded during the WHL Championship Series, his sustained offensive excellence played a key role in propelling the Tigers to the Memorial Cup. Team captain Oasiz Wiesblatt (14G-15A in 18 GP) continued his outstanding performance by recording 29 points in the postseason, building upon a regular season in which he surpassed the 100-point threshold and providing strong veteran leadership. Defenceman and 2025 NHL Draft prospect Bryce Pickford (13G-11A in 18 GP) set a new benchmark with 13 goals – the highest total by a CHL defenceman in a single postseason since 2000 – entering the Memorial Cup with an eight-game goal-scoring streak. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom (2G-2A in 4 GP) and Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Basha (2G-3A in 5 GP) made a timely return to the Tigers’ lineup, providing a significant boost and delivering key performances during the WHL Championship Series. As one of eight NHL prospects on their roster, Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin proved to be a reliable presence in net for the Tigers, finishing the playoffs with a 14-1 record, a 2.35 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage, and three shutouts, earning WHL Playoff MVP honors. With two Memorial Cup titles already to their name (1987 & 1988), the Tigers look to end the WHL’s decade-long championship drought and add to their storied legacy in Rimouski.

OHL Champions – London Knights 
(seventh Memorial Cup appearance – 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2024 & 2025; two Memorial Cup titles – 2005 & 2016)

Set to make their seventh appearance at the CHL’s championship event since 2005, the London Knights have earned more Memorial Cup berths than any other club over the past two decades. Led by head coach Dale Hunter – who now co-holds the record for most J. Ross Robertson Cup wins by a coach with five – the Knights stormed through the 2025 OHL Playoffs, sweeping Owen Sound, Erie, and Kitchener before defeating Oshawa 4-1 in the final. With a commanding 16-1 playoff record, London became the first CHL team in 12 years to repeat as league champions and the first OHL team in 27 years to capture the title with one loss or fewer. With a CHL-best 12 NHL prospects found on their roster, the Knights got key contributions from Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan (13G-26A in 17 GP) and San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Haltunnen (15G-6A in 17 GP) throughout the postseason.

Easton Cowan led all OHL skaters with 39 points during the 2025 OHL Playoffs, while Kasper Halttunen netted 15 goals – including nine in the OHL Championship Series — en route to becoming the first European ever to win the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as Playoffs MVP. Halttunen is just the fourth European to earn playoff MVP honours across the CHL. On the back end, San Jose Sharks prospect Sam Dickinson (9G-22A in 17 GP) added 31 points, tying for the seventh-most by a CHL defenceman in a single postseason since 2000. Between the pipes, 20-year-old Austin Elliott wrapped up a near-perfect season with a 2.46 GAA and .906 save percentage, having suffered just two losses in 53 starts between London and Saskatoon. Captain Denver Barkey (9G-11A in 10 GP) returned to the lineup for Game 5 of the OHL Championship Series, providing a crucial boost of leadership and energy that helped guide the London Knights to victory. The Knights also posted their second straight 50-win season, finishing with 55 wins — their highest total since 2004–05 – and back-to-back 100-point campaigns for the first time in 11 years. Set to be just the seventh team since 2000 to make consecutive appearances at a Memorial Cup, the Knights will be in search of their third Memorial Cup title in Rimouski after falling just short in the 2024 final to the Saginaw Spirit.

QMJHL Champions – Moncton Wildcats
(third Memorial Cup appearance – 2006, 2010 & 2025)

The 2024–25 Moncton Wildcats have delivered one of the most impressive seasons in QMJHL history, culminating in a hard-fought six-game series victory over the Memorial Cup host Rimouski Océanic to capture the Gilles-Courteau Trophy, boasting an outstanding 16-3 postseason record. With this triumph, Moncton will make its third Memorial Cup appearance in franchise history, having secured its third QMJHL championship – tying for the most titles won by any club in the league over the past 25 years. Under the guidance of head coach Gardiner MacDougall, the Wildcats posted a 53-9-2-0 record, earning an .844 points percentage – the eighth-best in QMJHL history. Their defensive prowess was particularly notable, allowing just 144 goals over the season, the fewest in the CHL, and averaging only 2.25 goals against per game, ranking fifth all-time in the QMJHL.

Offensively, the Wildcats are led by 2025 NHL Draft prospect Caleb Desnoyers (9G-21A in 19 GP), who registered 35 goals and 84 points during the regular season, and continued his stellar play in the playoffs with nine goals and a team-leading 30 points. By being named the 2025 QMJHL Playoffs MVP, Desnoyers became the first NHL Draft-eligible prospect to win the Guy Lafleur Trophy since Jonathan Drouin achieved the feat with the Halifax Mooseheads in 2013. The Moncton Wildcats boast seven NHL Draft prospects, led by St. Louis Blues prospect Juraj Pekarcik (9G-12A in 19 GP) and Calgary Flames prospect Étienne Morin (2G-18A in 19 GP), who played pivotal roles in the team’s championship run in the QMJHL. In net, the tandem of veteran Mathis Rousseau (8-2 record, 2.53 GAA, .915 SV%, 1 SO in 11 GP) and Detroit Red Wings prospect Rudy Guimond (8-1 record, 2.25 GAA, .916 SV%, 1 SO in 9 GP) provided stability. Although his remarkable streak ultimately came to an end in the QMJHL Championship Series, Guimond set a QMJHL record with 24 consecutive wins in decisions during the 2024–25 season – spanning both the regular season and playoffs – the longest such run in league history. The Moncton Wildcats enter the 2025 Memorial Cup as the only team in the field still seeking their first title, with London, Rimouski, and Medicine Hat all having previously lifted the storied trophy.

SCHEDULE
Round-Robin – Game 1 – Friday, May 23 – Medicine Hat vs. Rimouski (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
Round-Robin – Game 2 – Saturday, May 24 – Moncton vs. London (6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT)
Round-Robin – Game 3 – Sunday, May 25 – Rimouski vs. London (6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT)
Round-Robin – Game 4 – Monday, May 26 – Moncton vs. Medicine Hat (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
Round-Robin – Game 5 – Tuesday, May 27 – London vs. Medicine Hat (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
Round-Robin – Game 6 – Wednesday, May 28 – Rimouski vs. Moncton (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
Tie-Breaker (*if necessary) – Thursday, May 29 (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
Semi-Final – Friday, May 30 (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
Championship Final – Sunday, June 1 (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)