Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Brandon Wheat Kings Win Memorial Cup Bid

The Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) have been selected to host the 2010 Memorial Cup.

The Memorial Cup is the top prize for North American junior hockey, and the tournament sees the league champion from each of the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, plus the host team, compete for the Canadian Hockey League championship.

Colby Robak, the Panthers' latter second-round pick from this summer's draft, is currently in his third year of junior hockey, and won't turn 19 until April. I believe that the rule that governs whether a player can play in the AHL or juniors is basically that, if you are North American and still have junior eligibility, you can't play in the AHL. It's NHL or back to your junior club.

Now I could be mistaken, though I'm pretty sure the rule generally falls within those lines, so unless Robak gets traded or makes the Panthers as a 19-year old, he would get a chance to play in the tournament.

His team could still win the WHL championship this year and qualify for the 2009 Memorial Cup, but no matter what, they're in for 2010.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Go Panthers!