Chicago Blackhawks prospects Matthew Highmore and Nathan Noel and the Saint John Sea Dogs won the Quebec Major Hockey League’s President Cup with a 5-1 win to complete a series sweep Wednesday in Boisbriand, Quebec.
With the QMJHL championship win, Highmore and Noel join fellow Chicago prospect Graham Knott in the Memorial Cup tournament field. Windsor, Knott’s Ontario Hockey League team, earn a spot in the Canadian Hockey League’s championship series by hosting the tournament, which begins May 19.
Highmore scored a goal and had two assists in the series-clinching win. He finished second on the team in points with 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) during the QMJHL playoffs. Noel chipped in two goals and seven assists.
Chicago has signed both forwards. Highmore signed as unrestricted free agent in March and Noel, a 2016 fourth-round pick, inked a three-year entry-level deal in April. Both contracts start next season.
Memorial Cup, Windsor, Ontario; May 19-28
Round-robin Game 1: QMJHL vs. Windsor, May 19
Round-robin Game 2: OHL vs WHL, May 20
Round-robin Game 3: Windsor vs. WHL, May 21
Round-robin Game 4: OHL vs. QMJHL, May 22
Round-robin Game 5: WHL vs. QMJHL, May 23
Round-robin Game 6: Windsor vs. OHL, May 24
*Tie-breaker: Teams TBD, May 25
Semifinal: Teams TBD, May 26
Final: Teams TBD, May 28