Toronto, ON – The Ontario
Hockey League announced the first edition of
the weekly minor midget rankings for the
2012 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
13-18, 2012, at the Hershey Centre in
Mississauga, ON.
Minor Midget Rankings for
the 2012 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament – Week
1
1.
Toronto Marlies (GTHL)
2.
Detroit Belle Tire (USA)
3.
Mississauga Rebels (GTHL)
4.
London Jr Knights- Gold (ALLIANCE)
5.
Southern Tier Admirals (OMHA)
6.
Sun County Panthers (ALLIANCE)
7.
Chicago Mission (USA)
8.
Ottawa Valley Titans (ODMHA)
9.
Don Mills Flyers (GTHL)
10.
Vaughan Kings (GTHL)
Honourable
Mention:
Cleveland
Barons (USA)
York Simcoe
Express (OMHA)
North York
Rangers (GTHL)
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.
Last season the Toronto
Marlies won their third OHL Cup title in
seven years with a thrilling 5-3 win over
the Don Mills Flyers. First round OHL picks
David Perklin of the Marlies and Max Domi of
the Flyers were named Players of the Game in
the Championship Final which was broadcast
live on Sportsnet Ontario.
A total of 147 players
that competed in the 2011 OHL Cup Showcase
Tournament were selected in the 2011 OHL
Priority Selection including 16 players
chosen in the first round. The Marlies led
all minor midget teams with 13 players that
were later selected in the 2011 OHL Priority
Selection including first round picks
Nicholas Ritchie who was selected second
overall by the Peterborough Petes, Jordan
Subban who was selected fifth overall by the
Belleville Bulls, and Perklin who was chosen
17th overall by the Ottawa 67’s.
The Flyers had 12 players selected including
first round picks Max Domi, Adam Bateman,
and Darnell Nurse who was the third overall
pick to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Three of the last four
players selected first overall in the NHL
Entry Draft are OHL and OHL Cup graduates
including Taylor Hall of the Edmonton
Oilers, John Tavares of the New York
Islanders, and Steven Stamkos of the Tampa
Bay Lightning. 2011 NHL Rookie of the Year
Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes also
competed in this event.