Red Deer, AB. – The lineup has been confirmed for the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup, scheduled to be played in Red Deer, beginning this coming Friday night.

The Tournament opener will feature the Host Red Deer Rebels up against the Ontario Hockey League Champion London Knights.

The Brandon Wheat Kings will then take on the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Saturday, May 21st.

The Wheat Kings advanced to their sixth Memorial Cup and fifth since joining the Western Canada Hockey League in 1967 when they defeated Seattle 8-4 on Friday night to capture their first WHL Championship in twenty years.

The club returned home Saturday to a heroes welcome at the Keystone Centre. An estimated crowd of close to 1,500 fans jammed the UCT Pavillion to watch captain Macoy Erkamps hoist the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

This will mark the second straight Memorial Cup appearance for 20-year old Brandon blueliner Mitch Wheaton. The Sherwood Park, Alberta product, who was acquired from Saskatoon in January, was a member of the 2015 WHL Champion Kelowna Rockets.

Following is the remaining MasterCard Memorial Cup Tournament Schedule:

Sunday, May 22nd Rouyn-Noranda vs Red Deer Rebels

Monday, May 23rd Brandon Wheat Kings vs London Knights

Tuesday, May 24th London Knights vs Rouyn-Noranda

Wednesday, May 25th Brandon Wheat Kings vs Red Deer Rebels

Thursday, May 26th Tiebreaker – if required

Friday, May 27th Sudden Death Semi-Final (#2 vs #3)

Sunday, May 29th Memorial Cup Championship Final

The Wheat Kings last played in the Memorial Cup in 2010 when the City of Brandon hosted the 10-day event at Westman Communications Group Place. Brandon wound up losing to Windsor in the Championship Final.

Brandon has also played at the 1979 (Montreal), ’95 (Kamloops) and ’96 (Peterborough) Memorial Cups. The ’79 WHL Champions lost out to the OHL’s Petes in overtime in the Final.

Brandon’s first ever appearance in the Memorial Cup was in 1949. After winning the Western Canadian Championship, the Wheat Kings fell to the Montreal Royals in an 8-game playoff series.

Red Deer becomes the first city in Alberta to host the Memorial Cup since it’s current format was introduced by the Canadian Hockey League in 1983.

All games will be televised across Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports. The NHL Network will also carry games throughout the United States.