Savoie and Komarov will compete for the respective league championships

Buffalo Sabers 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 week.

Savoie (first round, 2022) and the Moose Jaw Warriors will face the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL Championship. The best-of-seven series begins Friday in Portland.

Komarov (fifth round, 2022) and the Drummondville Voltigeurs will face the Baie-Comeau Drakkar for the QMJHL title. The top seven series begins Thursday when Drummondville visits Baie-Comeau.

Savoie and the Warriors advanced to the WHL Championship Series after a 3-2 overtime victory over the Saskatoon Blades in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Savoie recorded 20 points (8+12) in 15 playoff games, which places him tied for sixth in the league.

Savoie, 20, had 47 points (19+28) in 23 regular season games for the Warriors after being traded to Moose Jaw from the Wenatchee Wild on Jan. 4 in exchange for seven picks. He had 24 points (11+13) and was plus-11 in 11 games for Wenatchee before the trade. His 2.09 points per game in the 2023-24 season ranked first in the WHL.

“Obviously Savvy is a heck of a hockey player and he’s doing some great things this year,” said Sabers forward Zach Benson, Savoie’s former WHL teammate. “…He’s scoring a lot of points and it’s not too much of a surprise after what he did last year too.”

Komarov won the Émile-Bouchard Trophy awarded to the QMJHL’s best defenseman last Wednesday after leading all defensemen in the league in assists (55) and points (69) and ranking fifth among all skaters with a differential of plus-47. The 20-year-old was also named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team on Tuesday and has 12 points (4+8) in 15 playoff games, which ranks second among all defensemen.

Komarov won the QMJHL championship and Memorial Cup last year with the Quebec Remparts.

“Vsevolod had a great season,” said Adam Mair, Sabres’ director of player development. “He is a very smart, two-way defender who can move the puck, contribute offensively and stop plays on the D-side. His growth over the last two years has been impressive and we are very excited about his future.

WHL and QMJHL championship schedules are as follows (all times Eastern). All games can be seen on CHL Televisionwhile some matches will be broadcast on NHL Network in the United States.

WHL Championship Series (Moose Jaw vs. Portland)

Game 1 in Portland – Friday May 10 at 10 p.m.

Game 2 in Portland – Saturday May 11 at 10 p.m.

Game 3 in Moose Jaw – Tuesday, May 14 at 10 p.m.

Game 4 in Moose Jaw – Wednesday, May 15 at 10 p.m.

Game 5 in Moose Jaw* – Friday May 17 at 10 p.m.

Game 6 at Portland* – Sunday, May 19 (time to be determined)

Game 7 at Portland* – Monday, May 20 (time to be determined)

Gilles-Courteau Trophy Championship Series (Drummondville v. Baie-Comeau)

Game 1 in Baie-Comeau – Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m.

Game 2 in Baie-Comeau – Friday May 10 at 7 p.m. (NHL Network)

Game 3 in Drummondville – Monday May 13 at 7 p.m.

Game 4 in Drummondville – Tuesday May 14 at 7 p.m.

Game 5 in Baie-Comeau* – Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m.

Game 6 in Drummondville* – Saturday May 18 at 7 p.m.

Game 7 in Baie-Comeau* – Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m.

*if necessary