Its my Chiefs versus the Belleville Bulls this afternoon from Kitchener and round#1 for the Memorial Cup. From what I understand Belleville is alot like our rival Tri-City, and will be a formidable opponent.

If you have NHL network, they're carrying Memorial Cup games. I found a blog with the schedule posted (times are EDT):

May 16 7pm Gatineau (QMJHL) v. Kitchener (OHL/host)
May 17 4pm Belleville (OHL runner up) v. Spokane (WHL)
May 18 4:30pm Kitchener v. Spokane
May 19 7pm Belleville v. Gatineau
May 20 7pm Spokane v. Gatineau
May 21 7pm Kitchener v. Belleville

May 23 7pm Semifinal
May 25 4:30pm Final

Claude Giroux, who played in 2 games for the Flyers in the middle of their 10-game losing streak, plays for Gatineau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He set a QMJHL record with 51 points in 19 playoff games this year.

So is Comcast here. We are getting the NHL feed through them. Spokane took an early 3-0 lead in the first only to have Bellville come back to score 3 in the second. At the end of regulation it was 4-4, but Spokane gets the overtime game winner yet again, and tomorrow we draw Kitchener......woo-hooooooo!!!

That is two overtime thrillers to kick off the Memorial Cup with Friday's win for Kitchener also going to overtime against Gatineau. We'll see how Spokane does against the home team tomorrow. I grew up about 20 miles from Kitchener and used to go to a few of the Rangers games there. Some of the best concerts I ever went to were in that building too - including Supertramp - in a relatively intimate setting of just 6,000 people - just one week before they played back to back nights to 40,000+ here in Toronto at the old Exhibition Stadium. (My age is probably showing).

So - sorry HockeyTom - but I've got cheer for the Rangers tomorrow.

Hey travelPat, it should be a fascinating game to watch. Chiefs said that what the fans saw in the first period was us, then we got off our game plan for all of the 2nd, and some of the 3rd period. Overtime, Chiefs just seem to thrive in. They know they can ill afford a game style like that against Kitchener. May the best team win, hopefully the Chiefs!

What a battle, but my Chiefs live to play another day and beat a stingy Kitchener team 2-1, so we are undefeated so far going into the playoffs..... Kitchener was impressive today.

Thanks to Belleville beating Gatineau last night, my Chiefs are assured of a final spot in Sundays Championship game. And this afternoon we will play Gatineau as well...keep it up guys, there is no stopping us now!

After a very cautious first period the Chiefs came back to tie and then move ahead past Gatineau. The final was 3-1 Chiefs. We are now off until the Sunday Championship game, so Belleville and Kitchener next go after each other.....

My Chiefs will play Kitchener today for the Memorial Cup. Kitchener says they will be ready, and I am SURE they will be, after blasting the Belleville Bulls 9-1 the other day. In our first encounter with the Rangers, Spokane took a hard fought 2-1 win. I have noticed the Rangers uniforms look remarkably like the New York Rangers jersies....let Go Chiefs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations, Hockeytom! Your Chiefs are the 2008 Memorial Cup champions. I was able to catch some of the game on Sportsnet this afternoon. Spokane surrendered the first goal of the game, but went on to win 4-1, and the Chiefs' goalie Justin Tokarski made 53 saves. I'm sure there are a lot of happy fans down there in eastern Washington right now. Next year's Memorial Cup host city is Rimouski, Québec.

Congratulations to the 2008 Memorial Cup Champion, Spokane Chiefs!!! They're the first American team to win the Memorial Cup since the Portland Winterhawks in 1998, and it's their first title since 1991!

Watson, Saskatchewan's Dustin Tokarski was named MVP and why not... he made a ridiculous 53-saves in the Championship Game.

Heads up HockeyTom - the Chiefs will return with the trophy at NOON tomorrow (Monday) at the arena.

Now for those who didn't watch the game... you missed the single most beautiful trophy presentation in the history of sports hahaha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2cT5J0gxeU

(PS - It turns out it was a replica trophy... the original is safe and sound at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto)

Yes indeed I was MOST pleased with the outcome, after trailing early, the Chiefs poured it on and scored 3 unanswered goals...I had a feeling that after surviving that grueling Tri-City series that the Chiefs would go all the way....now the cool thing to me, is that this team was primarily built to go all the way NEXT season, so maybe we shall. A long time coming for our 2nd Memorial Cup, but it was worth the wait. That scene where the Cup was accidentally dropped is hard to get out of my mind. I felt so bad for Captain Chris Bruton, but thank God it is a replica..it should be some scene at the Spokane Arena today at noon..

Way to drop that trophy!

Good to the Memorial Cup won by a club from the good ol' USA baby

U S A! U S A!

The broken trophy was a big Ooops moment. The two guys stand there not knowing what to do.

Good performance by Spokane to beat the host team.

That's a relief. That was a "D'oh!" moment if I ever heard one.

I did not make the welcome home greeting at the arena yesterday, as a family member is very ill, but in the story on the local tv news, I would say about 6-7,000 people greeted the boys home. It was HIGHLY emtoional for all involved. The teary response from many Chiefs who knew they would never play in Spokane again, really got to me as well. What a Coach, what a team, and what an organization!

Tonight while watching Keith Olbermanns Countdown, and his "Oddball" segement what video do you think he showed??? You get one guess..I swear if I see that video of the Chiefs Captain when the Memorial Cup slipped out of his hand one more time, I am going to PUKE!