Cats Prospect G David Shantz and Petes Squad to Play Vancouver in Memorial Cup Tie-Breaker

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers prospect G David Shantz and his Peterborough Petes squad will play the Vancouver Giants in an elimination game on Thursday, May 25 at 3 p.m. Both clubs have posted 1-2 marks so far in the Memorial Cup. The winner of Thursday's contest will move on to play in the Memorial Cup semifinals on Friday, May 26.

The Petes dropped a 3-2 decision to the Giants on Tuesday night, with Shantz making 33 saves in the losing effort. Shantz has appeared in all three games for Peterborough during the Memorial Cup going 1-2 with a 3.00 GAA and a .925 save percentage.

The Hamilton, Ontario native played in all 19 games for the Petes during the Ontario Hockey League playoffs, posting a 16-3 mark with a 2.61 GAA and a .925 save percentage. He appeared in 49 regular season contests with Peterborough posting a 31-16-1 mark with a 2.87 GAA. He was originally drafted by Florida with its second choice (37th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

The Petes advanced to the Memorial Cup, after clinching the Ontario Hockey League title with a four-game sweep of the London Knights. Peterborough won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as the OHL champions for the ninth time, after going 10-0 at home during the playoffs.

Since 1919 the Memorial Cup has been awarded to Canada's National Junior Champions. This prestigious and storied trophy will be presented for the 87th time this year in Moncton, N.B. Current Panthers who have won the Memorial Cup include Juraj Kolnik (Quebec-2000), Gregory Campbell (Kitchener-2003) and Gary Roberts (Guelph-1986).

The names on the Memorial Cup include many of hockey's greatest builders, coaches, managers and players. Thirty one members of the Hockey Hall of Fame have had their names engraved on the Memorial Cup including players like Guy Lafleur, Andy Bathgate, Harry Howell, Bobby Bauer, Ted Lindsay, Bernie Parent, Red Kelly and Toe Blake. Lionel Conacher, Canada's Athlete of the First Half Century, was a member of the Toronto Canoe Club's winning team in 1920. Conacher was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961. Builders of the game such as Father David Bauer, Scotty Bowman, Sam Pollack, Glen Sather and Frank Selke were members of Memorial Cup winning teams.

2006 MEMORIAL CUP SCHEDULE

Friday, May 19 – Peterborough 3 vs. Quebec 2

Saturday, May 20 – Moncton 3 vs. Vancouver 2

Sunday, May 21 – Quebec 6 vs. Vancouver 3

Monday, May 22 – Moncton 4 vs. Peterborough 2

Tuesday, May 23 – Vancouver 3 vs. Peterborough 2

Wednesday, May 24 – Quebec vs. Moncton

Thursday, May 25 – Tiebreaker

Friday, May 26 – Semifinals

Sunday, May 28 – Final