The Halifax Mooseheads will face the Portland Winterhawks in the second game of the round robin as the QMJHL champs play the WHL title holders.  Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin are forwards for the Mooseheads, who burned through the QMJHL playoffs with a 16-1 record.  They are, according to most major sources, going to go #2 and #3 overall in July’s NHL Draft. Drouin led the QJMHL playoffs in scoring with 35 points, and MacKinnon was tied for 2nd, 2 points behind.

On the other side, staring them down will be the #1 prospect and most likely a future member of the Colorado Avalanche, defenseman Seth Jones.  Jones is the #1 ranked prospect by Central Scouting and is all but guaranteed to be the first pick, because he also grew up learning how to play in Denver, so he will be a great hometown story.

As if that wasn’t enough to get you to tune in, the lone Ottawa Senators prospect in the tournament, overager Troy Rutkowski, is also a member of the Winterhawks defense corps.  Portland’s journey to the Memorial Cup was a little tougher, but they made it with a 16-5 record.

If the first game of the  tournament, the London Knights defeated the host Saskatoon Blades 3-2 to jump into first place in the round robin.

Here is a quick update on where each player stands:

June 22, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cody Ceci is selected as the number fifteen overall draft pick to the Ottawa Senators in the 2012 NHL Draft at CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

THE QMJHL

Jacub Culek – The Senators’ 3rd round pick in 2010 missed a vast majority of the season with a shoulder injury, allowing him to suit up for only 9 games with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.  He had 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points as the team missed the playoffs.  He has been assigned to Binghamton before this past weekend, but didn’t appear in any games, but he has yet to suit up as a pro.

Francois Brassard – A late round steal last summer (6th round, 166th overall) the goaltender for the Quebec Remparts had a great season and is off to a good start in the playoffs.  After going 33-18-4 in the regular season, Brassard led his club to a 4-2 first round series victory over Chicoutimi.  The next opponent for Brassard and the Remparts are still to be determined pending the completion of the Val D’Or – PEI Rocket Series.

THE OHL

Cody Ceci – The Senators 1st round pick in 2012 got to move to a playoff contender when he was dealt to Owen Sound from the Ottawa 67′s prior to January’s OHL trade deadline.  Ceci had 24 points in 27 games in OS, finishing the season as the 2nd highest scoring blueliner in the league.  He had 5 assists in the first round of the playoffs as the Attack dispatched the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 6 games in the first round.

Jarrod Maidens – The Senators’ third round pick in 2012 has had his career derailed by a concussion that has kept him out of action since November 30 2011.  He is still hopeful to be able to return to the game, but the recovery has been long and his future is in jeopardy.  If healthy, he would be a teammate of Ceci with the Attack.

Matt Puempel – One of the Senators’ 3-1st round picks in 2011 will see his first taste of the second round of the playoffs when his Kitchener Rangers face the powerful London Knights. Puempel missed time this season with a shoulder injury but still managed to put up 35 goals in 51 games.  He had 2 goals and 2 assists in Kitchener’s 5 game elimination of the Guelph Storm.

Stefan  Noesen – Another of the first rounders from 2011 Noesen missed 10 games and the World Juniors because of a suspension, but in 51 games managed 25 goals and 28 assists.  Noeson will be squaring off against Ceci and the Attack in round 2 after his Plymouth Whalers swept the Sting in round 1.  Noesen put up 3 goals and 3 assists in the first round.

THE WHL

Chris Dreidger – The Senators’ 3rd round pick in 2012 had a standout year with the Calgary Hitmen.  The first year starter posted a 35-14-4 record with a 2.51 GAA and .915 SP.  The 3rd seeded Hitmen had little trouble in the first round, eliminating the Swift Current Broncos in 5 games to advance to play the Red Deer Rebels in round 2.

Jordan Fransoo -  Ottawa’s 7th round pick in 2011 is currently involved in a first round battle, as his Victoria Royals trail the Kamloops Blazers 3-2 in the series.  The big blueliner has two assists in the 5 games so far after posting 8 goals and 14 assists to go along with 80 PIMs in 67 regular season games this season.

Troy Rutkowski – The recent free agent signing by the Senators is having a solid playoff with 2 goals and 5 assists through 5 games of their first round series.  But, like fellow prospect Fransoo, Rutkowski is not yet through to the second round as his top-seeded Portland Winter Hawks have had their hands full with the Everett Silvertips, and play game 6 tonight.  The Winter Hawks are up 3-2 in the series and look to finish their opponents off tonight to avoid a game 7 showdown.