CHL players participating in Memorial eCup on NHL 21

The 2020 Memorial Cup may have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Canadian Hockey League will still launch a virtual edition of the event.

Sixty CHL players and four guest participants will partake in a 64-team Memorial Cup eSports tournament on NHL 21 using every club from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL, the league announced Thursday.

“The growth of gaming and eSports offers a new opportunity to stay better connected with our fans," said CHL president Dan MacKenzie. "It is also a fun way to give our players a chance to showcase their skills in a format that many of them enjoy in their spare time.”

The tournament will feature a single-elimination format with a best-of-three series in the semifinals and finals. The event is set to begin Nov. 28 and conclude Dec. 17 with streaming available on Facebook Live and Twitch.