With two games in the books, the 2016 Memorial Cup is in full swing at the ENMAX Centrium in Red Deer. If there’s one thing to take away from Friday and Saturday’s action, it’s that there are no slouches in this tournament. All four teams, including the host Red Deer Rebels, appear to have a genuine shot at taking home the distinction of being North America’s top major-junior team following a pair of offensively-charged tilts.

While each of the tournament’s entries appear strong enough to take the crown, there’s a nagging conundrum for three of them. The Rebels, Brandon Wheat Kings and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies must figure out a way to contain the London Knights top forward line of right wing Mitch Marner, centre Christian Dvorak and left wing Matthew Tkatchuk, if they’re to win this thing.

Friday, May 20, 2016

London Knights def. Red Deer Rebels 6-2

Scoring summary: LDN: A. Berisha (13:51 1st), C. Dvorak (16:39 1st), C. Dvorak (18:31 1st), M. Marner (13:04 2nd), V. Mete (16:59 2nd), M. Marner (18:45 2nd) RD: L. Philp (19:45 2nd), A. Helewka (09:35 3rd)

Between the pipes:

LDN: Tyler Parsons 30/32

RD: Rylan Toth 30/36

Don’t let the scoresheet fool you, the Rebels played fairly well in the tournament’s opening game. However, despite sticking to the WHL’s signature brand of rough, physical play, the Rebels fell victim to what so many Ontario Hockey League clubs had season-round. The Knights offensive trio terrorized their opponent with a relentless attack. Rebels goaltender Rylan Toth faced 36 shots as he along with his defensive unit were overwhelmed by Dvorak, Marner and Tkachuk, who posted a combined 11 points. Dvorak netted the game-winner late in the first period with his second of the night, followed by a pair from Marner to put the lid on a five-point performance for the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect.

The Rebels didn’t make it easy, but in the end, London’s rag-tag trio that produced close to 35 per-cent of London’s goals during the regular season, just would not be denied.

Scott Fisher of the Calgary Sun summarized this one pretty well with a tweet:

It's not that the Rebels are playing horrificly bad. It's just that the Knights big line are on their own planet. — Scott Fisher (@ScottFisherPM) May 21, 2016

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies def. Brandon Wheat Kings 5-3

Scoring summary:

BDN: R. Duke (02:44 1st), T. Coulter (08:07 3rd), J. Quenneville (12:14 3rd)

ROU: A. Greer (14:06 1st), G. Fontaine (18:33 1st), T. Meier (19:36 1st), P. Myers (13:29 2nd), T. Meier (17:10 2nd)

Between the pipes:

BDN: Jordan Papirny 24/29

ROU: Chase Marchand 38/41

Losers of just four playoff games en route to the QMJHL title, the Huskies stormed into their Memorial Cup debut like a bat out of hell. They were equally matched by the Wheat Kings as both teams led their respective leagues in goals-scored during the 2015-2016 campaign.The Wheat Kings and Huskies exchanged offensive blows throughout the first and second periods, but Rouyn-Noranda got the better of netminder Jordan Papriny as San Jose Sharks prospect and trade-deadline acquisition winger Timo Meier netted a pair of goals, backed by defenceman Philippe Myers’ game-winner 13:29 into the middle frame.

While the Huskies did all they had to do offensively in the first and second periods, the Wheat Kings sent a message in the third. They came at Rouyn-Noranda hard, unleashing a flurry of 20 shots on over-age backstop Chase Marchand. Marchand, who was instrumental in the Huskies path to Red Deer, stood his ground in the face of the offensive onslaught to help his team hang in there and collect the W with a 38-save performance.

Marchand did get beat, however, with what was easily the prettiest goal scored in the tournament thus far. With about eight minutes to go, Wheat Kings assistant captain John Quennville received a nice pass from defenceman Ivan Provorov at the blue-line and quickly zipped in on Marchand to deliver a beauty leg-up, between the legs marker that surely had all 7,267 in attendance searching the rafters at the Centrium for the 20-year-old goaltender’s jockstrap.

The Memorial Cup continues on Sunday night as the Huskies meet the Wheat Kings at 7 p.m. ET.