Here is the 2023 Memorial Cup Primer that will bring you all of the information you need to know leading up to the Memorial Cup playoffs on 2/15 and the Finals on 2/18. We will go over each of the 5-game series to show how these two teams have competed against each other thus far. We will also look into the players that might do well and the First and Second All-City Teams.

 

No. 1 Seed Carroll Chargers vs No. 4 Seed Fort Wayne Vipers (7:00 pm) 

Carroll went undefeated in the regular season, so they swept the season series with the Vipers. What those wins don’t tell is the battle between both teams it took to get to those final scores. In the first meeting between these teams, the Vipers rallied and took the contest to overtime, however, they lost by a final score of 5-4. In the following games, Carroll was able to keep the Vipers under wraps, but not able to smother any talent. Carroll went on to win games by a margin of 5-3 and 2-1. In a rescheduled match, the Chargers were able to beat the Vipers by a score of 8-4. On the final day of the regular season, we saw Fort Wayne come out quickly scoring two goals in the first two minutes. Once Carroll was able to settle down and play their game, they are able to control the puck, outshoot their opponents and get goals on the board. 

 

Players to watch: Carroll-Brody Burge. We know that we give a lot of love to Dylan Braun and the rest of the younger forwards on the Chargers, but Burge brings that quick scoring to the Chargers lineup that is of a senior player.

Vipers- Darcy Koch. Koch is one of those players that makes himself known on the ice. He’s a gritty guy that gets in deep and can score from the point. 

 

No. 2 Leo Lions vs No.3 Homestead Spartans (9:00 pm) 

In the five games that we have seen between the Spartans and the Lions, it has been a pretty even matchup. Leo has won three out of the five meetings between these two teams. Homestead was struggling for much of the first half of the season to put up wins on the board, but once they got into that grove of scoring goals, they were able to help push their team to a win. Leo won the first meeting all of the way back in November 3-2 and then 4-2. In December, the Spartans were able to win and shut them out in a 3-0 matchup. Homestead went on to win in the rescheduled game by a score of 6-2. In last Saturday’s game, Leo was able to get the first three goals early and hold on to that win and play some shutdown defence. 

 

Players to watch: Leo- Dylan Davis. Davis is one of the top-scoring players on the Lions that can put points up in games. 

Homestead- Aiden Byler. Byler always finds himself in the middle of a scoring opportunity, and the playoffs will be no exception. 

 

All-City First and Second Teams

Head Coaches for all of the FWAHA teams voted on their top players of the season, top eight forwards, top five defensemen and top four goaltenders. Coaches could not vote for players on their own team. Recognition for the players listed below will take place at the Memorial Cup Championship on Saturday, 2/18. 

 

First Team

-Dylan Braun, #10 Carroll (23g, 14a, 37pts)

-Brody Burge, #44 Carroll (13g, 11a, 24pts)

-Aiden Byler, #21 Homestead (7g, 6a, 13pts)

-Henry Loxton, #66 Homestead (0g, 1a, 1pt)

-Michael Scully, #60 Vipers (5g, 4a, 9pts)

-Carson Carteaux, #50 Carroll 

 

Second Team

-Gavin Elkins, #61 Homestead (9g, 6a, 15pts)

-Carter Gnau, #21 Carroll (14g, 16a, 30pts)

-Darcy Koch, #49 Vipers (9g, 6a, 15pts)

-Christian Brown, #11 Vipers (1g, 2a, 3pts)

-Davis Cline, #14 Carroll (0g, 9a, 9pts)

-Drew Baumert, #30 Leo