The Memorial Cup tournament opens Friday, and a trio of Ottawa Senators prospects will give fans of the team plenty of reasons to watch.
A pair of Kitchener Rangers, defenseman Matthew Andonovski, forward Luke Ellinas and goalie Lucas Beckman of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens will have the eyes of Senators management and fans upon them as all three youngsters are already signed to entry-level contracts.
It’s hoping third time is a charm for Senators prospects earning a Memorial Cup championship, with Blake Montgomery (2024 117th overall selection) earning a win with the London Knights in 2025 and Jorian Donovan (2022 136th overall selection) who assisted on Saginaw Spirit’s final-clincher in 2024.
With Ontario League champion Kitchener and Quebec Maritime League-winner Chicoutimi joining host city from the West, Kelowna and WHL champs Everett Silvertips, odds are good at least one Senators-drafted player will vie for Memorial Cup supremacy, emblematic of the ultimate prize in Canadian Major Junior Hockey.
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Senators’ Memorial Cup participants
Matthew Andonovski – Kitchener Rangers
Selected 140th overall by Ottawa in the 2023 Entry Draft, the simplest comparison of Andonovski is current Senators d-man, Tyler Kleven. A stay-at-home defender who possesses the ability to clear the net, is not shy to drop the gloves, and has a booming shot. The Markham, ON resident led the OHL in penalty minutes (132) as Rangers captain in 2024-25.
In a 2024 OHL coaches poll he was named the league’s top defensive defenseman, penalty killer and body checker in a coaches poll. leading the league with a plus-58. Originally inked to an ELC during a strong Rookie Camp showing in July 2024 by Senators general manager Steve Staios, it was hoped the then 20-year-old would open this season in Belleville. However, the six-foot-two, 200-pound Andonovski was limited to only three games after sustaining a debilitating groin injury.
The Senators loaned Andonovski to Kitchener on January 2. The blueliner registered one goal and 13 assists in 24 regular-season games, accumulating 43 penalty minutes. Andonovski added three goals and five assists in 18 postseason games, including notching an overtime game-winner versus the Barrie Colts in Game 2 of the OHL Final.
Luke Ellinas – Kitchener Rangers
Selected 104th overall by the Senators in the 2024 Entry Draft, Ellinas is known as a versatile two-way forward with exceptional board play and a quick release, whether he’s lining up at centre or left wing. The west-end Toronto area resident was signed to an ELC on May 20, 2025, after a strong 2025 playoff run in which the Rangers’ alternate captain garnered eight goals and eight assists in 14 games.
Unfortunately, Ellinas has been limited to only 56 regular-season games the past two seasons due to undergoing three shoulder surgeries. The 20-year-old was unable to participate in the Senators Development Camp last summer or the subsequent Rookie Camp after a procedure on his right shoulder.
Barely into the 2025-26 campaign, surgery was required to his left shoulder. Ellinas played in only six games, scoring three goals, and didn’t return until the final game of the OHL Semi-Final. To his credit, not being available since early January, Ellinas earned one goal. two assists in his five playoff outings.
Lucas Beckman – Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Selected 97th overall by the Senators in the 2025 Entry Draft, at six-foot-two, 194 pounds, Beckman is small of stature in comparison to the majority of today’s NHL goaltenders. But the Montreal area resident is positionally sound, and his ability to shift across the crease is elite.
Dealt by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar to Chicoutimi in what was hoped to be a long playoff run, it was just that. Beckman, who posted a 4-14-3 record but possessed a .905 save percentage for the Drakkar, produced phenomenal numbers for the Sagueneens, which earned him an ELC on April 21 from the Senators.
The netminder went an astounding 13-1-0, including four shutouts and an impressive .940 save percentage, and amped it up even further during the QMJHL playoffs. Beckman posted three more shutouts, a 16-4 record, .918 save percentage.
At age 19, Beckman is just scratching the surface. It’s likely he’ll return for an encore performance with the Sagueneens next season with a goal to represent Canada at the 2027 World Junior tournament.
Memorial Cup schedule
Fri May 22 9 pm ET – Kitchener vs Kelowna
Sat May 23 9 pm ET – Everett vs Chicoutimi
Sun May 24 9 pm ET – Kelowna vs Chicoutimi
Mon May 25 9 pm ET – Everett vs Kitchener
Tue May 26 9 pm ET – Chicoutimi vs Kitchener
Wed May 27 9 pm ET – Kelowna vs Everett
Thu May 28 9 pm ET – Tie-breaker if necessary
Fri May 29 9 pm ET – Semi-Final
Sun May 31 7 pm ET – Memorial Cup Championship
