Tonight, the Edmonton Oil Kings and Hamilton Bulldogs each played their third game of the Memorial Cup tournament. The stakes were high as the Q teams in particular have had the wind in their sails so far.
We’ve of course followed the work of the Canadian’s hopefuls, starting with Arber Xhekaj. The prospects are looking good and he had two assists tonight which is better than Jan Mysak who had no point.
Very impressed with Arber Xhekaj’s work since the start of the Memorial Cup tournament. Nice find that didn’t cost the Canadians anything.
— Kevin Dube (@KDubeJDQ) June 24, 2022
Nevertheless, it was enough for a 3-2 win against the Edmonton Oil Kings tonight.
The result? Kaiden Guhle is now eliminated. Despite his assist, his +1 difference and his three shots on goal, he couldn’t make a difference for his team.
The Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL champions, are on vacation. Bad luck for the WHL continues.
Morning : @SJSeaDogs vs. @ Cataracts_Shaw.
If Shawinigan gets a point or more tomorrow, the Cataractes will go into the finals and the 1/2 finals will see SNB v Hamilton.
— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) June 25, 2022
This ends the career of the CH hope in the WHL. The next step will be this summer’s World Junior Championships (if he goes there) before focusing on the Canadian and his official move to full-time pros… and all that entails.
Would he have benefited from the experience of winning the Memorial Cup? Apparently. But he’ll have some peace of mind there and that opens the door for a QMJHL team to have better chances of going all the way. So all is not lost.
That #Bulldogs prevail in regular time and thus qualify for the semi-finals on Monday evening. That #OilKings are eliminated
Last preliminary round tomorrow #seals vs. #cataracts with the challenge of qualifying for the grand final @CHLMemorialCup
– Stéphane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) June 25, 2022
renewal
It is the fifth year in a row that the West champion has been eliminated first. The Oil Kings won the tournament, the first for a WHL club since the 2015 tournament in Quebec City. Even without the 2020 and 2021 editions, it’s normal.
Kaiden Guhle has played six games at the tournament in his career (three with Prince Albert in 2019 and three this year) and he has only one win.