London bound?
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There could be some familiar faces at the Memorial Cup May 16-25. Here are five of the Quebec and Western Hockey League playoff favourites that could join the Knights at Budweiser Gardens.
Halifax Mooseheads
(47-18-0-3, 97 points)
They finished two points behind QMJHL-leading Baie-Comeau, but the defending Memorial Cup champs still have Jonathan Drouin (29-79-108) and goalie Zach Fucale (36-12, 2.26 GAA).
Rimouski Oceanic
(46-16-3-4, 97 points)
No Sidney Crosby these days, but the 2005 Cup finalists finished this season with 16 wins in their final 17 games. Goalie Philippe Desrosiers backstopped the club to a league record 243-minute, 35-second shutout streak in February.
Portland Winterhawks
(54-13-2-3, 113 points)
The high-scoring team that knocked the Knights out of the 2013 Cup semifinal in Saskatoon is at it again. Seth Jones and Ty Rattie are gone, but little Nic Petan posted 113 points for GM coach Mike Johnston, back from his suspension for illegal player benefits.
Kelowna Rockets
(57-11-0-4, 118 points)
Junior hockey’s most consistent team flamed out early at the Cup with Shea Weber on board in ‘05, but they’ve dominated the Western loop this season. The B.C. club is looking for its fifth Cup appearance since 2003.
Edmonton Oil Kings
(50-19-2-1, 103 points)
The Knights beat Edmonton at the 2012 Cup in Shawinigan and some of the same names remain. The Dub’s Eastern Conference kings are led by Ulf’s son Henrik Samuelsson and Curtis Lazar up front.