NHL Network to Broadcast 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup in United States

Rimouski, QC – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the NHL Network announced that the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup will be broadcast live in the United States on the NHL Network.

CHL fans south of the border will be able to follow the best Major Junior Hockey teams in the world compete for one of North America’s most prestigious trophies.

The tournament is comprised of four teams including the host Rimouski Oceanic and the champions from the CHL’s three regional leagues including the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Champion Drummondville Voltigeurs, the Ontario Hockey League Champion Windsor Spitfires, and the Western Hockey League Champion Kelowna Rockets.  The tournament begins tonight and features the host Rimouski Oceanic against the Kelowna Rockets at 7:00 pm.

The Complete Schedule is as follows:

Round-robin Game 1 – Kelowna Rockets vs. Rimouski on Friday May 15, 2009 at 7:00pm ET
Round-robin Game 2 – Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. Windsor Spitfires on Saturday May 16, 2009 at 4:30pm ET
Round-robin Game 3 – Rimouski vs. Windsor Spitfires on Sunday May 17, 2009 at 4:30pm ET
Round-robin Game 4 – Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. Kelowna Rockets on Monday May 18, 2009 at 7:00pm ET
Round-robin Game 5 – Windsor Spitfires vs. Kelowna Rockets on Tuesday May 19, 2009 at 7:00pm ET
Round-robin Game 6 – Rimouski vs. Drummondville Voltigeurs on Wednesday May 20, 2009 at 7:00pm ET

Tie-breaker (if necessary) – Thursday May 21, 2009 at 7:00pm ET
Semi-final – Friday May 22, 2009 at 7:00pm ET

Championship Final – Sunday May 24, 2009 at 4:30pm ET

The NHL Network broadcast will use the feed supplied by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS.

The WHL’s Spokane Chiefs defeated the host club and OHL Champion Kitchener Rangers 4-1 at the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup.  The Gatineau Olympiques represented the QMJHL with the Belleville Bulls also representing the OHL. 

The Memorial Cup was donated in 1919 by the Ontario Hockey Association as a memorial to those young men and women who had been given their lives in the defence of Canada during World War I.  The 2009 edition of the tournament in Rimouski will mark the 91st time this prestigious trophy will be presented.

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About the Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and five American states. The CHL is made up of the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League. Last season, more than nine million fans attended CHL games in the regular season, playoffs and at the MasterCard Memorial Cup. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League than any other league.  More than 500 graduates attend Canadian Universities on scholarships from CHL teams.