President's Cup Final Schedule Released

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced the full schedule for the 2012 President’s Cup Final this afternoon.

After months of worrying, there are no serious schedule issues despite Cirque du Soleil and Johnny Reid invading Harbour Station during the series. It will be a 2-3-2 format with the first two and last two (if needed) games being played in Saint John.

The series begins this Friday with the Sea Dogs hosting the Rimouski Oceanic at 8pm in a game that will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet. Game 2 will be on Saturday night at the Station before the series shifts to Rimouski for the next three. There is a three day break between Games 2 and 3.

Saint John advanced to the league final for a third consecutive year after beating the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in five games. The Oceanic needed six games to eliminate the Halifax Mooseheads in the semis. It will be Rimouski's first finals appearance since 2005.

A full schedule for the Sea Dogs – Oceanic series can be found below (all times Atlantic):

GAME ONE – Friday, May 4: 8 p.m. @ Harbour Station

GAME TWO – Saturday, May 5: 7 p.m. @ Harbour Station

GAME THREE – Wednesday, May 9: 8:30 p.m. @ Colisee de Rimouski

GAME FOUR – Thursday, May 10: 8:30 p.m. @ Colisee de Rimouski

*GAME FIVE – Saturday, May 12: 5 p.m. @ Colisee de Rimouski

*GAME SIX – Monday, May 14: 7 p.m. @ Harbour Station

*GAME SEVEN – Wednesday, May 16: 7 p.m. @ Harbour Station

*If necessary

Tickets to Games 1 and 2 at Harbour Station go on sale tomorrow morning at 10am. 

The winner of this series will move on to represent the QMJHL at the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Shawinigan. The President’s Cup winner will play their first game of the tournament on Saturday, May 19 against the Ontario Hockey League champs.

The OHL final features London going up against Niagara while the WHL final will have Portland taking on Edmonton. Both of those series begin on Thursday.