Couple of questions about the OHL cup coming up here shortly.. How long does the tournament run? And How many teams are entered into this tournament?(How do they get selected and are their teams already admitted into the tourny) Do the AAA Petes have a chance at going? Thanks in advance to anybody who can give me any kind of insight.
The OHL Cup runs from Mar. 13th, - 18th at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.
All the finalists of their respective divisions get automatic invites
Thus far the following have all advanced...
Toronto Marlboros
Mississauga Rebels
Ottawa Valley titans
Ottawa Jr 67's
London Jr Knights
Sun County Panthers
The Following have invites
Thunder Bay Kings
GNML Wolves
The two finalists from the OMHA will make it.
Usually you will see a total of 5 OMHA teams, 5 GTHL teams, 3 Alliance teams and 3 OEMHL teams. The rest are at large invites.
Peterborough could still get an bye/invite. They are currently playing in the ETA Playdowns. If they advance to the OMHA finals next weekend, then they should be a shoe in for either an automatic entry or an at large invite.
I would make the trek if you have the opportunity. Its great hockey and a great atmosphere.
Thanks i wasn't sure how the tournament worked either. I'm guessing the last 4 of the spots are filled with USA teams?
Also speaking of Peterborough they seem to be a well rounded overall team then a team with a lot of top end talent, but they must have some good draft players no?
Thanks i wasn't sure how the tournament worked either. I'm guessing the last 4 of the spots are filled with USA teams?
Also speaking of Peterborough they seem to be a well rounded overall team then a team with a lot of top end talent, but they must have some good draft players no?
The OHL cup is great hockey, but the usual suspects will be there at the end- GTHL teams. The invites and northern teams are usually weak. American teams are in the midst of their playdowns, and thus dont make the trip. It would be nice to get a few teams from Detroit and Chicago.
Silver Stick has greater # of quality teams than the OHL cup.
You will see 3 of the final 4 teams from the GTHL, barring any major upsets, or seedings where GTHL teams playoff against each other.
Good thing about the OHL cup is that it is the final tourny of the year,and near the OHL draft, that the players dont have to worry about suspensions carrying over, and thus you can see some very physical play.
For an idea of format, times, past grads, champs, etc. you can check out past tournaments on the OHL website. The link is attached and I've found it pretty informative. Enjoy!
Personally my favourite tournament, with Silver Stick close behind (I know I'm in the minority). If you talk to the players, they know how big of a tournament the OHL Cup is.
There's always a player or two that moves himself up a lot (Smith-Pelly, Cousins, Broll, Monahan, Berisha, Perklin etc.). Anyone want to guess who that'll be this year?
Besides the usual suspects. Watch for the Rebels Dmen to excel and Bennett from Marlies and McLeod from Rangers. I also like Addessi from Vaughan, if he plays.
Some players make upward moves in their ranking, but most scouts/GMs know who they want. The good thing is that the level of play at this tourny is high, and we will see who are the Men and who are the imposters.
3 years ago, Cousins was the best player at the OHL cup, and led the tourny in scoring, I believe, and they lost in the quarters to Elgin. He played 2 less games than the finalists and still led tourny in scoring.
He went first in second round to Soo, and Catenacci went first overall. Cousins outplayed Catenacci and YSE got embarrassed in finals against Marlies.
Today, I think Cousins is a better player, and got drafted higher than Catenacci in the NHL draft. (IMO-Main reason for him asking for trade from SOO.)
Scouts didnt pick Cousins in 1st round because of "off ice issues".
3 years ago, Cousins was the best player at the OHL cup, and led the tourny in scoring, I believe, and they lost in the quarters to Elgin. He played 2 less games than the finalists and still led tourny in scoring. .
Not to be a stickler, but they lost to Elgin by a goal in the semi finals. Just remember this cause I remember getting up very early so I could watch the Marlies/York Simcoe semi final. The Marlies beat Elgin in the final.
Cousins was the best player on the ice by a considerable margin in that game.
Not to be a stickler, but they lost to Elgin by a goal in the semi finals. Just remember this cause I remember getting up very early so I could watch the Marlies/York Simcoe semi final. The Marlies beat Elgin in the final.
Cousins was the best player on the ice by a considerable margin in that game.
Cousins definitely had a great tournament. Moved himself up at least a round and a half, IMO (as well as his teammates Steven Broek).
Cousins was one of the best players in the tourny, and couldnt crack the first round.
The Marlies had 3-4 players that outplayed Catenacci and Quine all year, but at the end of the day, Catenacci and Quine went 1-2.
Alot of times, scouts and GMs live in the past, and cannot change their minds on players in the present. I remember seeing a couple of JR A playoff games that year where Biggs and Quine were called up to play for the Cdns, and it was clear that the best player on the ice was Biggs, but all scouts only talked about Quine. It seems like they dont want to think outside the box.
It was clear from that OHL cup and the year's stats, that Strome, Percy and Murphy were head above Quine and Catenacci(Yes, Quine was out 3 months for a broken leg). We can see now that Strome, Murphy and Percy have excelled 2-3 years later at a greater pace then Catenacci and Quine.
Cousins was one of the best players in the tourny, and couldnt crack the first round.
You are correct that he didn't get picked in the first round, though he was pretty damn close (21st overall). One could argue he vaulted himself up at least a round, if not two, with his OHL Cup performance. Berisha, last year, went from a very late pick to a 4th rounder. Monahan pushed himself into the first. Smith-Pelly got himself into the top 10 etc.
No GM is going to make a decision solely on the OHL Cup, but a prospect can certainly up their draft stock there.
Quote:
The Marlies had 3-4 players that outplayed Catenacci and Quine all year, but at the end of the day, Catenacci and Quine went 1-2.
Like who? Catenacci was the consensus #1 all year long, despite being/playing hurt. Strome and Lessio were never thought of as the #1 pick, or even really top 3. Percy barely played himself into the first round. Quine, despite being hurt, was the one player that kept that Jr. Canadiens team together. He was always ahead of the three Marlboros.
Quote:
Alot of times, scouts and GMs live in the past, and cannot change their minds on players in the present. I remember seeing a couple of JR A playoff games that year where Biggs and Quine were called up to play for the Cdns, and it was clear that the best player on the ice was Biggs, but all scouts only talked about Quine. It seems like they dont want to think outside the box.
While I do agree GM's have made mistakes (easy to do when the kids are 15), this isn't one of them. It was pretty well known that Biggs was going to take the NCAA route, as he is now.
Quote:
It was clear from that OHL cup and the year's stats, that Strome, Percy and Murphy were head above Quine and Catenacci(Yes, Quine was out 3 months for a broken leg). We can see now that Strome, Murphy and Percy have excelled 2-3 years later at a greater pace then Catenacci and Quine.
I'm going to have to disagree with the bolded. The only one is maybe Murphy over Quine, but there was a lot of worries about whether Murphy's all offence/small stature game would translate.
Catenacci was hurt most of the year and still went number 1 overall??.
When YSE played their league games, it was shinny hockey with Francisco, Goodrow, Catenacci and Murphy and even Janes lighting up the scoreboard every game.
YSE finally met their match in the OMHA finals against Quinte, and Catenacci and boys were invisible.
Catenacci was invisible in the OHL cup, and only scored 5-6 points in 7 games, I believe.
So what from the above confirms that Catenacci was the consensus #1??
Maybe because of his hype in Bantam, and coming into Minor Midget, but definitely not from his play during his MM year. No way.
The Marlies beat YSE 9-1, and you are telling me that Strome, Percy, Lessio didnt outplay or outshine the YSE players. Only Murphy came to play that game for YSE.
The players in the GTHL play a higher competition of hockey all year long, and when they play teams from other leagues, the true players come out to shine.
Catenacci was hurt most of the year and still went number 1 overall??.
When YSE played their league games, it was shinny hockey with Francisco, Goodrow, Catenacci and Murphy and even Janes lighting up the scoreboard every game.
YSE finally met their match in the OMHA finals against Quinte, and Catenacci and boys were invisible.
Catenacci was invisible in the OHL cup, and only scored 5-6 points in 7 games, I believe.
So what from the above confirms that Catenacci was the consensus #1??
Maybe because of his hype in Bantam, and coming into Minor Midget, but definitely not from his play during his MM year. No way.
The Marlies beat YSE 9-1, and you are telling me that Strome, Percy, Lessio didnt outplay or outshine the YSE players. Only Murphy came to play that game for YSE.
The players in the GTHL play a higher competition of hockey all year long, and when they play teams from other leagues, the true players come out to shine.
JMO
Im with Pick Six on this one.
Catenacci was the top prospect at this age group. It wasn't even close.
When he was healthy, he was the most dynamic and skilled player on any of the 50 plus minor midget teams. His work ethic and intellegence also where very, very high end. There where a high amount of questions with Strome and Lessio. Lessio had frequent periods of inactivity, lacked alot of toughness. Strome was good, but there where questions about if he would be able to perform over 60+ games.
Truthfully Id still have Catenacci over Lessio. Quine and Lessio extremely close at this point. Lessio hasn't been as strong as I would have hoped, that year in the OJHL didnt do him any favours.
Bigs was a non factor. Everyone knew he had high end potential, but everyone knew that he was going to the US.
Ive said this previosly, and will repeat it. A poor performane at the the OHL Cup wont hurt a player. Teams have spend hours watching players 20-30 times, they are not going to throw all that away because of a week of games. What the OHL Cup can do, is push players up the ladder. A player like Sean Monahan is a prime example of this. I didnt even have Aaron Berisha on my list until last years OHL Cup. He pushed himself into the top 100 with that performance.
With Nick Cousins. His issues still remain. Skill was never an issue in Minor Midget or today, but the other things that surround him (No, I wont go into them) will always effect things.
I see your point, but I equate the GTHL to the other leagues, as a comparison of Major League Baseball to the Japan League. Both are pro baseball leagues.
Japan's besst stars that come over to the MLB dont always shine in the MLB, and most falter, except for a few, because the level of competition is not as high, and their numbers are skewed.
Players in other leagues than the GTHL are judged based on their numbers, but not on their level of play against the best. We put them on the same level, but in reality they are not.
Most great hockey minds, say that you have to see a player play in the big games and against the best players, to see their value. When they play against inferior talent, that doesnt mean a thing.
I respect Tigers1992 and Pick Six's opinions tremendously, but on this issue, we agree to disagree.
Last edited by chewerjones: 03-02-2012 at 12:34 PM.
If my memory is correct, Cat had an ankle injury during the ohl cup, that kept him a little off kilter. I remember seeing Murphy play a couple games and he was the one that stood out in my mind.
What type of year is Janes having in Ottawa? Havent had much chance to see him this year.
