Remember last season when Matyas Sapovaliv was the shining star for the Saginaw Spirit at the Memorial Cup? The forward was a champion in the 2024 competition, bringing a beaming smile to Stephen Colbert's face. That's what scoring 19 goals and 43 assists in 54 games will get you, after all.
Well, it's time to pass the torch. Starting on Friday, Rimouski Oceanic will participate in the annual tournament. One of those notable players is Mathieu Cataford, a revered prospect for the Vegas Golden Knights.
That's right, folks. The Czech prospect is passing the torch to his Golden Knights brethren. Now, it's his turn to win the most coveted prize in junior hockey.
It should be no surprise that the former third-round pick gets to represent Vegas. The right winger scored 19 goals and 45 assists (54 games) for Rimouski Oceanic this season. The season prior, he scored 40 goals and 50 assists for the Halifax Mooseheads (65 games). That was good enough to earn him the QMJHL MVP award, too.
The Memorial Cup offers another chance for Mathieu Cataford to shine
Believe it or not, Rimouski Oceanic won the Memorial Cup in 2000. This was a few years before Cataford was even born, so the QMJHL franchise is looking for another title for their collection. It's also the former amateur team of the legendary Sidney Crosby, whose backstory is essential hockey lore.
But for Cataford, it's his chance to etch himself in history like Crosby. His past achievements have warranted attention from the Vegas Golden Knights fanbase. Why not add another notch to your belt with a championship?
It would make up for his 2025 World Junior Championship showing, where he only scored one goal. Not only that, but it would catapult his value within the Golden Knights organization. Just look at what happened with Carl Lindbom during his time in the Swedish Hockey League. That translated to a successful 2024-25 campaign with Henderson (GAA of 2.65, save percentage of .912, and three assists).
That's the beauty of such tournaments. It can be the springboard for young prospects to elevate their games and become the next big NHL star. For Cataford, it offers a chance to become the next big Golden Knights. Who knows? He might build off that QMJHL MVP with another banger.