In Play on Facebook
By David Clark
Mississauga has been hanging around with elite teams in the CHL since the beginning of the season. As expected, the Majors are now ranked # 1 in Canada according to the BMO CHL Mastercard Top 10 Rankings for week eight. The Majors currently lead the OHL with an industrious 35 points.
With a former Spitfire contingent included, both Justin Shugg and Mark Cantin are competing favourably in a “Major” way this season.
Fresh off a Memorial Cup victory, both players were traded to Mississauga over the summer in favour of young defenceman Nick Ebert who will become a top prospect in the 2012 draft. He’s a first round pick, 17th overall. Also included in the deal were several second round picks that will help the Spitfires rebuild in the next few seasons.
With soft hands, Shugg is an underrated offensive powerhouse who put up great numbers with the Spitfires last year and is producing again in his new location. Previous to last year’s Memorial Cup win with Windsor, Shugg had conquered the regular season with a total of 79 points, 39 of them reached the back of the net. A proven playoff performer, Justin accumulated a total of 15 points during the playoffs last season and at the Memorial Cup he was positioned fifth in scoring with 7 points.
Justin was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2010 and is an overager with Mississauga right now, producing solid numbers so far this season including 11 goals and 13 assists. Justin was named OHL Player of the Week ending on October 31; Shugg tends to score in bunches having collected five goals and 3 assists in 3 games for that week. He is also a part of Team OHL in the Subway Super Series match on November 15 in Sudbury. Just recently, he was awarded the first star of the game on two occasions in OHL action.
Originally coming from the Belleville Bulls program, former Spitfire defenceman Marc Cantin is a tough blueliner who helped Windsor secure the Memorial Cup last year. At 20 years of age, Cantin is bringing leadership to Mississauga. He also has big game experience to offer.
As an overager, Marc is showing a more offensive game this season with 16 points at this time. He is presently a +15 in plus/minus with Mississauga.
In organized hockey at a young age, Marc first performed as a forward until he reached major junior. Some of that previous offensive skill is coming out at this moment.
About being traded to the Major’s, Cantin is excited about the possibility of winning another Memorial Cup. Mississauga will be the host team for the tournament in 2011.
