Memorial Cup 2012 Champs are Host City Shawinigan

Credit: Terry Wilson/CHL Images

The Memorial Cup is one of the most cherished hockey trophies to win as a player because of it's tournament combining all three winners of the OHL, QMJHL and the WHL. It's the closest thing we have to a "Champions League" like so many other sports compete with. And with the host city also making a lot of recognition along with an influx of tourism, it's also like a "big game" atmosphere.

The defending champs in Saint John Sea Dogs have made a noble charge, but this year, the Shawinigan Cataractes have emerged victorious. So, congratulations to them.

Shawinigan became the first host team since the 2007 Vancouver Giants to capture the trophy on home ice, and did so with a local player lifting the cup.

The final match-up was the OHL champion London Knights (who were recently reunited with Dale Hunter) and the host city Shawinigan Cataractes. It took a single overtime period for Moscow native Anton Zlobin to score his second and game winning goal for his team.

I could not see the game this year, but I was keeping up to date on several young junior prospects that I am interested in with Greg McKegg (London) and Tomas Jurco (Saint John), but it looks like there were a number of NHL prospects in the line-up that now know what it's like to have the chance to win a major trophy. They will all carry this with them as a learning experience.

Check out the other articles linked here for more coverage of this year's Memorial Cup.

[Via: Mastercard Memorial Cup Official Page and Rogers Sportsnet]