Get your claws out

Note: Before I get started, I just want to tell Shaky that this isn't a post about cougars. You can now breathe normally my friend.

So, since my home province doesn't produce as many NHL stars as Saskatchewan, there is still lots going on in and around my hometown.

In less than two weeks, Moncton will host the 2006 Memorial Cup. The hometown Wildcats are, as all host teams have been, assured to play in the four-team tournament. Even if they've known this for a while, the team did not take the season or the playoffs for granted. Ted Nolan has made sure of that.

They finished the season as the #1 ranked team in country, just ahead of the team they are playing in the QMJHL final, the Quebec Remparts. As both teams have earned a spot in the Memorial Cup, many thought both teams would take it easy and rest for the tournament. They aren't.

Moncton has won the first two games, but they have both gone into OT. It's clear that both teams want to go into the Mem Cup tourney as the QMJHL champ.

Here's to hoping that the 'Cats can take care of the Remparts quickly so they can rest and bring the first Memorial Cup to Moncton.