The road to the Memorial Cup

In September, 60 teams began play in the Canadian Hockey League – a blanket league to the Ontario Hockey League, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.

With playoff action kicking off this week, 48 teams are left in the hunt for a spot in the 2008 Memorial Cup.

Each of the three leagues has 16 teams that are looking to join the top-ranked Kitchener Rangers (who have an automatic berth because they are the host team) in the tournament, May 16-25 in Kitchener, Ontario.

To do so, a team would have to win four best-of-7 series to become league champions. The champions from the OHL, WHL and QMJHL will each earn the right to compete. If Kitchener wins the OHL playoffs, then the other OHL finalist will receive a bid.