Savoie, Komarov to compete for league championships

Buffalo Sabres prospects Matt Savoie and Vsevolod Komarov will compete for the chance to play for the Memorial Cup when they begin their respective league championship series this weekend.

Savoie (first round, 2022) and the Winnipeg ICE will meet the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL Championship. Komarov (fifth round, 2022) and the Quebec Remparts will play the Halifax Mooseheads for the QMJHL title. Both best-of-seven series begin Friday.

The WHL and QMJHL champions will compete along with the OHL champion and host Kamloops for the Memorial Cup, the top prize in Canadian junior hockey.

Savoie ranks third in the WHL with 27 points (11+16) through 14 playoff contests. He was named Player of the Week by the league on Monday after tallying five points in the final two games of Winnipeg's semifinal series win over Saskatoon.

Savoie ranked seventh in the league with 95 points (38+57) in 62 regular-season games.

"I just describe him as a Sabre and the kind of things we talk about being a fit for the type of players we like to have," Sabres director of player development Adam Mair said. "He's tenacious on pucks. He's competitive, he plays fast, he's dedicated to his craft. He loves hockey. He asks questions. He's aware of himself. That's really exciting when I talk to him and watch him play."

Komarov is tied for fourth in the QMJHL playoffs with a plus-12 rating. The 6-foot-2, right-shot defenseman has five points (1+4) through 12 postseason games after tallying 39 points (12+27) in 62 contests during the regular season.

Mair described how Komarov's offensive game has developed since he spent time in Buffalo last summer.

"When we saw him at rookie camp and development camp, we sort of thought that he was primarily a defender," Mair said. "Which he is, and he's an excellent one. He's big, he's long, he's competitive, and strong in front in front of the net. But he's started to add some offense to his game in Quebec.

"They have a good team and he's a big part of what they're creating. He's been put on the power play. He's taken a big step this year in terms of his puck play and his offensive contributions."

The championship schedules for the WHL and QMJHL are as follows (all times Eastern).

WHL Championship Series (Winnipeg vs. Seattle)

Game 1 at Winnipeg - Friday, May 12 at 8 p.m.
Game 2 at Winnipeg - Saturday, Mat 13 at 7 p.m.
Game 3 at Seattle - Tuesday, May 16 at 10:05 p.m.
Game 4 at Seattle - Wednesday, May 17 at 10:05 p.m.
Game 5 at Seattle* - Friday, May 19 at 10:05 p.m.
Game 6 at Winnipeg* - Sunday, May 21 (Time TBD)
Game 7 at Winnipeg* - Monday, May 22 (Time TBD)

Gilles-Courteau Trophy Championship Series (Quebec vs. Halifax)

Game 1 at Quebec - Friday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
Game 2 at Quebec - Saturday, May 13 at 7 p.m.
Game 3 at Halifax - Tuesday, May 16 at 7 p.m.
Game 4 at Halifax - Wednesday, May 17 at 7 p.m.
Game 5 at Quebec* - Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m.
Game 6 at Halifax* - Sunday, May 21 (Time TBD)
Game 7 at Quebec* - Monday, May 22 (Time TBD)

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