Tuesday update

Four of the six round-robin games are done at the 2011 Memorial Cup and things have not gone well for the WHL champion Kootenay Ice.

The Ice lost their first two games - Saturday to Owen Sound and Sunday to Mississauga - to sit 0-2 heading into their final round-robin game tonight against the Saint John Sea Dogs, who are 2-0.

Only one team in Memorial Cup history has ever started 0-2 and gone on to win the title. That was the 2009 Windsor Spitfires, who won their final round-robin game against WHL rep Kelowna (who were 2-0 and had already clinched first place and a bye to the final), then reeled off two more wins before beating Kelowna again in the final.

Kootenay has a chance to repeat that performance since tonight's opponent, Saint John, is also 2-0 and have already clinched first place and a bye into Sunday's final. So, there exists the possibility that the Sea Dogs might not be motivated to play 100% for 60 minutes tonight when the outcome of the game means nothing to them.

Regardless of how Saint John plays tonight though, the math is simple for the Ice: they must win four straight games to win the Memorial Cup. They are going to have to win tonight, and assuming that happens, then they must win the 3rd/4th place tiebreaker game on Thursday against either Owen Sound or Mississauga - whichever of those teams loses their round-robin meeting tomorrow night.

Then the Ice will have to win the semifinal on Friday night against the other of Owen Sound/Mississauga, and then finally they will have to beat Saint John on Sunday. Basically, they have to beat Saint John twice and both of the OHL reps once each. No losses allowed or their season is over.