Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League announced the seventeenth edition of the weekly minor midget rankings for the 2011 OHL Showcase for the OHL Cup, hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

The weekly rankings are determined by a panel of OHL Central Scouting Staff and represent the top teams that are competing to play in the annual year-end championship tournament March 22-27, 2011, at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, ON.

Minor Midget Rankings for the 2011 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament – Week 17

RANK	TEAM	LEAGUE	LAST WEEK RANK	WEEKS IN RANKINGS
1	Toronto Marlies	GTHL	1	17
2	Toronto Jr. Canadiens	GTHL	3	17
3	Don Mills Flyers	GTHL	2	17
4	Detroit Honeybaked	USA	4	13
5	Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs	ALLIANCE	5	17
6	Welland Tigers	OMHA	7	13
7	York-Simcoe Express	OMHA	6	15
8	Waterloo Wolves	ALLIANCE	9	3
9	Oakville Rangers	OMHA	8	10
10	Markham Majors	GTHL	10	7
	Honourable Mention
	St. Catharines Jr. Falcons	OMHA	-	1
	Mississauga Senators	GTHL	-	15
	Ottawa Jr. 67's	ODMHA	-	1
	Barrie Colts	OMHA	-	1

The tournament includes 20 participating teams from across Ontario and the United States. The champions and finalists from minor hockey associations in Ontario, including the GTHL, OMHA, ODMHA, ALLIANCE, and an NOHA representative will participate in the tournament with additional teams identified by the Tournament Selection Committee.

The Mississauga Rebels made history last March becoming the first wildcard entry to win the championship final when they defeated the Toronto Marlboros 2-1 to capture their first OHL Cup title. The Rebels were led by tournament MVP and top scorer Sean Monahan who was later selected 16th overall by the Ottawa 67’s in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection.

A total of 175 players that competed in the 2010 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament were selected in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. 14 of those players were chosen in the first round including four players among the top five picks such as Brendan Gaunce of the Markham Waxers selected second overall by the Belleville Bulls, Scott Laughton of the Toronto Marlboros chosen third overall by the Oshawa Generals, Jarrod Maidens of the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs selected fourth overall by the Owen Sound Attack, and Matthew Campagna of the Toronto Young Nationals chosen fifth overall by the Sudbury Wolves.

Each of the last three players selected first overall in the NHL Entry Draft are OHL and OHL Cup graduates including Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning, John Tavares of the New York Islanders, and Taylor Hall of the Edmonton Oilers.