Bienvenue au Québec! The 2015 Memorial Cup has begun in beautiful Quebec City and it's been a pretty great tournament of CHL champions so far. Maple Leafs prospect Frederik Gauthier has been playing with the Rimouski Oceanic, who gained entry when they qualified for the QMJHL finals vs Quebec City.
"Hold on, why were the Oceanic already in if it's a tournament of champions?" I can hear you saying. Well Memorial Cup newbie, here's what you need to know.
Where it all began
The Memorial Cup idea was introduced in 1917 when Kingston hockey booster and Ontario Hockey Association (1915-1917) president Captain Liam G. Carr wanted to establish a trophy honouring the former junior players who had died while serving their country. The Ontario Hockey Association voted unanimously in 1918 to help establish the trophy and tournament, and in 1919 the first battle for the cup was held.
Formats through the years
From 1919-1929 the champion was decided by having the best Western Canada team face off against the best Eastern Canada team in a two game total goals tournament. Each champion was decided by play downs of league champions governed by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. in 1925 the rules were altered and the format was modified to a best of three series. This continued for another 10 years.
Memorial Cup Champions 1919-1933
Numbers in parenthesis indicate number of championships won by franchise. New teams that took old names do not count towards these numbers.
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | Result | Host |
| 1919 | U. of Toronto Schools | Regina Patricias | 29-8 (Total Goals) | Toronto |
| 1920 | Toronto Canoe Club Paddlers | Selkirk Fishermen | 15-5 (TG) | Toronto |
| 1921 | Winnipeg Junior Falcons | Stratford Midgets | 11-9 (TG) | Toronto |
| 1922 | Fort William Great War Vets | Regina Patricias | 8-7 (TG) | Winnipeg |
| 1923 | U. of Manitoba Bisons | Kitchener Colts | 14-6 (TG) | Toronto |
| 1924 | Owen Sound Greys | Calgary Canadians | 7-5 (TG) | Winnipeg |
| 1925 | Regina Pats | Toronto aura Lee | 2-0 (Best of 3) | Toronto |
| 1926 | Calgary Canadians | Queen's University | 2-1 | Winnipeg |
| 1927 | Owen Sound Greys (2) | Port Arthur West End Jrs | 2-0 | Toronto |
| 1928 | Regina Monarchs (Pats - 2) | Ottawa Gunners | 2-1 | Toronto |
| 1929 | Toronto Marlboros | Elmwood Millionaires | 2-0 | Toronto |
| 1930 | Regina Pats (3) | West Toronto Nationals | 2-0 | Winnipeg |
| 1931 | Elmwood Millionaires | Ottawa Primroses | 2-1 | Toronto & Ottawa |
| 1932 | Sudbury Club Wolves | Winnipeg Monarchs | 2-1 | Winnipeg |
| 1933 | NewMarket Redmen | Regina Pats | 2-0 | Toronto |
In 1934 the CAHA divided junior hockey into 'A' and 'B' levels. Only 'A' teams could compete for the Memorial Cup. Jr. B would compete for the Sutherland Cup (which is still ongoing today). In 1938 the championship series became a best of 5, and in 1943 a best of 7. For the 1970-71 season junior hockey had another level added above Jr.A; Major Junior. The Memorial Cup would remain the trophy for the highest tier and Jr A would be awarded the Manitoba Centennial Trophy, now known as the RBC Cup.
Memorial Cup Champions 1934-1971
| 1934 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Edmonton AC Athletics | 2-0 | Winnipeg |
| 1935 | Winnipeg Monarchs | Sudbury Club Wolves | 2-1 | Winnipeg |
| 1936 | West Toronto Nationals | Saskatoon Wesleys | 2-0 | Toronto |
| 1937 | Winnipeg Monarchs (2) | Copper Cliff Redmen | 2-1 | Toronto |
| 1938 | St. Boniface Seals | Oshawa Generals | 3-2 | Toronto |
| 1939 | Oshawa Generals | Edmonton AC Roamers | 3-1 | Toronto |
| 1940 | Oshawa Generals (2) | Kenora Thistles | 3-1 | Winnipeg |
| 1941 | Winnipeg Rangers | Montreal Royals | 3-2 | Toronto & Montreal |
| 1942 | Portage La Prairie Terriers | Oshawa Generals | 3-1 | Winnipeg |
| 1943 | Winnipeg Rangers (2) | Oshawa Generals | 4-2 | Toronto |
| 1944 | Oshawa Generals (3) | Trail Smoke Eaters | 4-0 | Toronto |
| 1945 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors (2) | Moose Jaw Canucks | 4-1 | Toronto |
| 1946 | Winnipeg Monarchs (3) | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 4-3 | Toronto |
| 1947 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors (3) | Moose Jaw Canucks | 4-0 | Winnipeg, Moose Jaw, Regina |
| 1948 | Port Arthur West Wend Bruins | Barrie Flyers | 4-0 | Toronto |
| 1949 | Montreal Royals | Brandon Wheat Kings | 4-3-1 | Winnipeg & Brandon |
| 1950 | Montreal Jr Canadiens | Regina Pats | 4-1 | Toronto & Montreal |
| 1951 | Barrie Flyers | Winnipeg Monarchs | 4-0 | Toronto, Barrie, Quebec City |
| 1952 | Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters | Regina Pats | 4-0 | Toronto |
| 1953 | Barrie Flyers (2) | St. Boniface Canadiens | 4-1 | Winnipeg & Brandon |
| 1954 | St. Catharines Teepees | Edmonton Oil Kings | 4-0-1 | Toronto |
| 1955 | Toronto Marlboros (2) | Regina Pats | 4-1 | Regina |
| 1956 | Toronto Marlboros (3) | Regina Pats | 4-0-1 | Toronto |
| 1957 | Flin Flon Bombers | Ottawa-Hull Jr Canadiens | 4-3 | Flin Flon / Regina |
| 1958 | Ottawa-Hull Jr Canadiens (2) (Montreal Jr Canadiens) | Regina Pats | 4-2 | Ottawa & Hull |
| 1959 | Winnipeg Braves | Peterborough TPT Petes | 4-1 | Winnipeg & Brandon |
| 1960 | St. Catharines Teepees (2) | Edmonton Oil Kings | 4-2 | St. Catharines & Toronto |
| 1961 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors (4) | Edmonton Oil Kings | 4-2 | Edmonton |
| 1962 | Hamilton Red Wings | Edmonton Oil Kings | 4-1 | Hamilton, Guelph, Kitchener |
| 1963 | Edmonton Oil Kings | Niagara Falls Flyers | 4-2 | Edmonton |
| 1964 | Toronto Marlboros (4) | Edmonton Oil Kings | 4-0 | Toronto |
| 1965 | Niagara Falls Flyers | Edmonton Oil Kings | 4-1 | Edmonton |
| 1966 | Edmonton Oil Kings (2) | Oshawa Generals | 4-2 | Toronto |
| 1967 | Toronto Marlboros (5) | Port Arthur Marrs | 4-1 | Thunder Bay |
| 1968 | Niagara Falls Flyers (2) | Estevan Bruins | 4-1 | Niagara Falls & Montreal |
| 1969 | Montreal Jr Canadiens (3) | Regina Pats | 4-0 | Montreal & Regina |
| 1970 | Montreal Jr Canadiens (4) | Weyburn Red Wings | 4-0 | Montreal |
| 1971 | Quebec Remparts | Edmonton Oil Kings | 2-0 | Quebec City |
In 1972 we saw the creation of three leagues that continue to govern Major junior hockey today. The Western Hockey League (W), the Ontario Hockey League (O), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (Q). A new format was introduced this season as well. A double round robin tournament with the top two finishers playing for the Memorial Cup.
Memorial Cup Champions 1972-1982
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Third place | Host |
| 1972 | Cornwall Royals (Q) | Peterborough Petes (O) | 2-1 | Edmonton Oil Kings (W) | Ottawa |
| 1973 | Toronto Marlboros(O) (6) | Quebec Remparts (Q) | 9-1 | Medicine Hat Tigers (W) | Montreal |
| 1974 | Regina Pats (W) (3) | Quebec Remparts (Q) | 7-4 | St. Catharines Black Hawks (O) | Calgary |
| 1975 | Toronto Marlboros(O) (7) | New Westminster Bruins (W) | 7-3 | Sherbrooke Castors (Q) | Kitchener |
| 1976 | Hamilton Fincups (O) | New Westminster Bruins (W) | 5-2 | Quebec Remparts (Q) | Montreal |
| 1977 | New Westminster Bruins (W) | Ottawa 67's (O) | 6-5 | Sherbrooke Castors (Q) | Vancouver |
| 1978 | New Westminster Bruins (W) (2) | Peterborough Petes (O) | 7-4 | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (Q) | Sudbury & Sault Ste. Marie |
| 1979 | Peterborough Petes (O) | Brandon Wheat Kings (W) | 2-1 (OT) | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (Q) | Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Verdun |
| 1980 | Cornwall Royals (Q) (2) | Peterborough Petes (O) | 3-2 (OT) | Regina Pats (W) | Brandon & Regina |
| 1981 | Cornwall Royals (Q) (3) | Kitchener Rangers (O) | 5-2 | Victoria Cougars (W) | Windsor |
| 1982 | Kitchener Rangers (O) | Sherbrooke Castors (Q) | 7-4 | Portland Winter Hawks (W) | Hull |
In 1983 it was decided to allow the host city enter a team (H). The host city cycles between the three leagues. In some cases the host team was not found good enough to play for the Memorial Cup and withdrew, allowing the league's runner-up to play in the tournament. If the League champion is the host team, the runner-up will be the League representative. The top team after the round robin advances to the Championship game. 2nd and 3rd place will play in a semi-final game. If there is a tie for any position the tie breaker game is played before the semi-final.
In 1987 the OHL decided to hold a tournament between the two regular season conference champions before the playoffs to determine the host. Oshawa won this tournament and the OHL championship so they were the only OHL representative.
These days to win the rights to host the tournament you must impress your league with your arena, your city's ability to handle the influx of media, fans, and teams. Be a media friendly environment, and show your team will be competitive in the seasons leading up to the tournament.
This addition has been controversial to some Jr hockey fans. if the host team is eliminated early they are given extra weeks of rest, healing time, and practice, as well as a home ice advantage while the other teams are playing weeks more hockey and travelling across the country.
Memorial Cup Champions 1983-2014
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | Score | Other Teams |
| 1983 | Portland Winter Hawks (H) | Oshawa Generals (O) | 8-3 | Lethbridge Broncos (W), Verdun Juniors (Q) |
| 1984 | Ottawa 67's (O) | Kitchener Rangers (H) | 7-2 | Laval Voisons (Q) Kamloops Jr Oilers (W) |
| 1985 | Prince Albert Raiders (W) | Shawinigan Cataracts (H) | 6-1 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Verdun Jr Canadiens (Q) |
| 1986 | Guelph Platers (O) | Hull Olympiques (Q) | 6-2 | Kamloops Blazers (W), Portland Winter Hawks (H) |
| 1987 | Medicine Hat Tigers (W) | Oshawa Generals (H, O) | 6-2 | Longueuil Chevaliers (Q) |
| 1988 | Medicine Hat Tigers (W) (2) | Windsor Spitfires (O) | 7-6 | Drummondville Voltiguers (Q), Hull Olympiques (Q) - Host Chicoutimi did not participate |
| 1989 | Swift Current Broncos (W) | Saskatoon Blades (H) | 4-3 (OT) | Laval Titan (Q), Peterborough Petes (O) |
| 1990 | Oshawa Generals (O) | Kitchener Rangers (O) | 4-3 (OT) | Laval Titan (Q), Kamloops Blazers (W) - Host Hamilton Dukes did not participate |
| 1991 | Spokane Chiefs (W) | Drummondville Voltiguers (Q) | 5-1 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (Q) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (O) - Host Beauport Harfangs did not participate |
| 1992 | Kamloops Blazers (W) | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (O) | 5-4 | Seattle Thunderbirds (H), Verdun Collège Français (Q) |
| 1993 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (H) | Peterborough Petes (O) | 4-2 | Laval Titan (Q), Swift Current Broncos (W) |
| 1994 | Kamloops Blazers (W) (2) | Laval Titan (H) | 5-3 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (Q), North Bay Centennials (O) |
| 1995 | Kamloops Blazers (H) (3) | Detroit Jr Red Wings (O) | 8-2 | Brandon Wheat Kings (W), Hull Olympiques (Q) |
| 1996 | Granby Prédateurs (Q) | Peterborough Petes (H) | 4-0 | Brandon Wheat Kings (W), Guelph Storm (O) |
| 1997 | Hull Olympiques (H) | Lethbridge Hurricanes (W) | 5-1 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (Q), Oshawa Generals (O) |
| 1998 | Portland Winter Hawks (W) (2) | Guelph Storm (O) | 4-3 (OT) | Spokane Chiefs (H), Val-d'Or Foreurs (Q) |
| 1999 | Ottawa 67's (H) (2) | Calgary Hitmen (W) | 7-6 (OT) | Acadie–Bathurst Titan (Q), Belleville Bulls (O) |
| 2000 | Rimouski Océanic (Q) | Barrie Colts (O) | 6-2 | Halifax Mooseheads (H), Kootenay Ice (W) |
| 2001 | Red Deer Rebels (W) | Val-d'Or Foreurs (Q) | 6-5 (OT) | Regina Pats (H), Ottawa 67's (O) |
| 2002 | Kootenay Ice (W) | Victoriaville Tigres (Q) | 6-3 | Erie Otters (O), Guelph Storm (H) |
| 2003 | Kitchener Rangers (O) (2) | Hull Olympiques (Q) | 6-3 | Kelowna Rockets (W), Quebec Remparts (H) |
| 2004 | Kelowna Rockets (H) | Gatineau Olympiques (Q) | 2-1 | Guelph Storm, Medicine Hat Tigers (W) |
| 2005 | London Knights (H) | Rimouski Océanic (Q) | 4-0 | Kelowna Rockets (W) Ottawa 67's (O) |
| 2006 | Quebec Remparts (Q) | Moncton Wildcats (H) | 6-2 | Peterborough Petes (O), Vancouver giants (W) |
| 2007 | Vancouver Giants (H) | Medicine Hat Tigers (W) | 3-1 | Lewiston Maineiacs (Q), Plymouth Whalers (O) |
| 2008 | Spokane Chiefs (W) (2) | Kitchener Rangers (H) | 4-1 | Belleville Bulls (O), Gatineau Olympiques (Q) |
| 2009 | Windsor Spitfires (O) | Kelowna Rockets (W) | 4-1 | Drummonville Voltigeurs (Q), Rimouski Océanic (H) |
| 2010 | Windsor Spitfires (O) (2) | Brandon Wheat Kings (H) | 9-1 | Moncton Wildcats (Q), Calgary Hitmen (W) |
| 2011 | Saint John Seadogs (Q) | Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (H) | 3-1 | Owen Sound Attack (O), Kootenay Ice (W) |
| 2012 | Shawinigan Cataracts (H) | London Knights (O) | 2-1 (OT) | Edmonton Oil Kings, Saint John Seadogs (Q) |
| 2013 | Halifax Mooseheads (Q) | Portland Winter Hawks (W) | 6-4 | London Knights (O), Saskatoon Blades (W) |
| 2014 | Edmonton Oil Kings (W) | Guelph Storm (O) | 6-3 | Val D'Or Foreurs, London Knights (H) |
Controversies
Not everything goes to plan, and below we can find some of the more interesting stories from the tournament.
1971 Memorial Cup Qualifying - St. Catharines vs Quebec City
When there was the East vs West format the best of the East would play for the Richardson Cup. In 1971 it looked to be a great series between the Quebec Remparts led by Guy Lafluer against the St. Catharines Black Hawks led by Marcel Dionne. It was never quite what was expected on ice, as Anglophone/Francophone tensions were high at the time and Marcel Dionne was seen as a bit of a traitor, leaving Quebec when the QMJHL was formed to play in the OHL, seen as a superior league at the time. The Remparts were coached by Maurice Fillon, Dionne's coach in Jr A, and was said to vow revenge for Marcel leaving to play in Ontario. After two games in St. Catharines the series was tied 1-1. Quebec took game 3 3-1 and the Black Hawks received 77 minutes in penalties to Quebec's 25. Game 4 was much uglier. With a Guy Lafluer hat trick the Remparts went up 6-1 and the Black Hawks began playing what would be known as "good ol' Ontariah boy" hockey. Remparts fans began throwing "potatoes, tomatoes, bolts from seats, eggs, golf balls, erasers embedded with nails and at least one knife" onto the St. Catharines bench. After the game the Black Hawks were given a police escort to their bus, which was then attacked by a mob throwing bottles. The Black Hawks hotel would be circled all night by Remparts fans. Game 5 of the series was moved to a neutral site in Toronto and St. Catharines would take the game 6-3. With the series due back in Quebec, parents of St. Catharines players refused to allow the game to return to Quebec City, but the Remparts refused to play on neutral ice anywhere in Quebec. Adding to the Black Hawks concern were reported threats coming from the FLQ. With St. Catharines refusing to play in Quebec City for fear of their safety the CAHA head declared Quebec City the winner by forfeit and the Remparts would go on to win the Memorial Cup over the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Remparts and Black Hawks would meet again in the 1974 Memorial Cup semi-finals, with Quebec winning 11-3.
1980 Memorial Cup - The Petes threw the game?
The Peterborough Petes have a long history of losing the Memorial Cup. They had won only 1 of 4 appearances in variations of qualifying to date. In 1979 they won their only Memorial Cup and made a record tying third straight appearance as the OHL team playing for the Memorial Cup - also done by the original Toronto St. Michael's Majors and the London Knights (though London only made the third one by hosting).
The Petes wanted to win back-to-back cups and had a rookie head coach by the name of Mike Keenan. Their 1979 cup winning coach Gary Green moved on to the Washington Capitals. The scenario is the Petes have clinched first place with a 3-0 record and if they beat the Cornwall Royals (sitting with 1-2) they'd play the Regina Pats (1-3), in Regina. This wasn't what the Petes wanted. They wanted an easier game without the background noise of a home crowd.
So, while up 4-1 over Cornwall a miracle happened. The Cornwall Royals would come back from that deficit to score 4 straight goals and win the game and a spot in the finals against Peterborough. "Soon, the fans began throwing things -- toilet paper, programs, soft drinks -- at the Petes. There was a 15-minute delay before play could be resumed and that only happened with the arrival of some Regina city policemen."
Up to that game the Petes had been on a 14 game post-season winning streak. The Petes Dropping a 4-1 lead led many to assume they threw the game to face Cornwall in the final, because it's astronomical odds to drop a lead like that. The Petes got their comeuppance however, as Cornwall would take the championship 3-2 in Overtime. The Petes have appear in 5 more Memorial Cups since then, but never won another since 1979.
2000 Memorial Cup - Barrie Colts
Oh boy. This is......this team was something. You can click here to read Sunaya Sapurji's recollection of the 2000 Barrie Colts. The Barrie Colts were trying to be the Charlestown Chiefs all season and things didn't end at the Memorial Cup.
Matt Passfield and Jordan Brenner were caught scalping their tickets to games, there were the "Brampton Boys" (Sheldon Keefe, Mike Jefferson - now Mike Danton - and Ryan Barnes) led by David Frost, who orchestrated a team walk out in the middle of CHL president David Branches banquet speech and refused to shake hands with Branch in faceoffs or stand on the blue line for ceremonies, and when they are fined $5,000 for their actions Sheldon Keefe had this to say:
"If I thought it was a mistake I wouldn't have done it."
Those are the highlights. Really, I don't want to copy and past Sunaya's article, go read that.
Memorial Cup Record Holders
These are taken from the Memorial Cup website, which does not seem to take into account pre-round robin tournaments.
Most Memorial Cups Won - Player
3 - Ryan Huska, Tyson Nash, Darcy Tucker - Kamloops (1992, '94, '95)
3 - Robert Savard - Cornwall (1980, '81) Kitchener (1982)
Most Memorial Cups Won - Coach
3 - Don Hay - Kamloops (1994, '95) Vancouver (2007)
Most Memorial Cups Won - Franchise
7 - Toronto Marlboros (1929, '55, '56, '64, '67, '73, '75) (note: this franchise is now the Guelph Storm)
Most Memorial Cup Appearances - Franchise
10 - Edmonton Oil Kings (1951-76 franchise)
Most Goals - Single Game
5 - Bruce Boudreau, Toronto (May 9, 1975 vs Sherbrooke) - 10-4 win
Most Goals - Single Tournament
8 - Dale Hawerchuk, Cornwall (1981), Luc Robitaille, Hull (1986), Pat Falloon, Spokane (1991)
Most Assists - Single Game
5 - Dan Hodgson, Prince Albert (May 14, 1985 vs Sault Ste. Marie) - 8-6 win
Most Assists - Single Tournament
13 - Dan Hodgson, Prince Albert (1985)
Most Points - Single Game
6 - Joe Contini, Hamilton (May 12, 1976 vs New Westminster - 3 G, 3 A) - 8-4 win
6 - Guy Rouleau, Hull (May 10, 1986 vs Portland - 3 G, 3 A) - 7-5 win and (May 16, 1986 vs Kamloops - 2 G, 4 A) - 9-3 win
6 - Mike Mathers, Kamloops (May 16, 1992 vs Seattle - 3 G, 3 A) - 8-3 win
Most Points - Single Tournament
16 - Jeff Larmer, Kitchener (1982), Guy Rouleau, Hull (1986)
Since it's not the '80's and teams have learned the value of goalies I doubt these records are in any danger.
There's some history to the tournament that is happening right now, I hope everyone can find a way to watch at least one game. Odds look good these Generals may be heading to the finals for the fifth time, which, okay if your team is going to be eliminated, better to be eliminated by the champs, right? Right?...