No. 1 star: Nick Merkley, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Merkley, who's been more playmaker than finisher in the post-season, was the latter as the Rockets won 5-3 at Brandon to take a 2-0 lead in the final as they wing west to the Okanagan. The centre shone brightest among the many higher-echelon NHL draft prospects involved in the championship, snapping a deadlock by scoring a short-handed game-winning goal on a setup from San Jose Sharks prospect Rourke Chartier with 9:44 left in the third period.