Latest news with #2024CentennialCup
Ottawa Citizen
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Lucky toonies and life-long 'brothers': Host Calgary Canucks win Centennial Cup in dominating style
Article content 'Whatever it takes' was how Brad Moran worded his team's run to a national puck title. Article content Article content So when the Calgary Canucks dug a couple of toonies out of the ice amid Sunday's celebration of winning the 2025 Centennial Cup, it seemed to come as no surprise to the head coach of the newly minted Canadian Junior Hockey League champions … Article content Even though he knew nothing of the lucky coins or who put them there. Article content Article content 'One from 1995, and one from 2025,' said the Canucks GM and head coach, his voice dripping with joy after watching his charges score the coveted CJHL crown 30 years — almost to the day — of the franchise's first and only other Centennial Cup. Article content Article content 'So whatever it takes …' continued Moran of the buried treasure. 'I guess that was the gesture.' Article content If there was magic in those toonies, it didn't take the shine off the determination of the Canucks. Article content Moran's men were full marks for the title victory Sunday, executing dominance in a 7-2 taming of the Melfort Mustangs in Sunday's finale, much to the delight of a frenzied 2,720 fans at jam-packed Max Bell Centre. And it was quite the delight for themselves, coming 12 months after losing 2-1 to the same Mustangs in last year's semifinal round of the 2024 Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ont. Article content Revenge best served cold, you could say. Article content Article content 'It's everything I've dreamed of,' said Canucks captain Bowden Singleton, in the moments after hoisting the Centennial Cup on home ice. 'I might get emotional here in a bit, but I'm just soaking everything in right now. Article content 'That feeling of losing last year and looking at the guys that lost is probably one of the saddest things you ever have to go through, because those 20-year-olds, they gave everything they had.' Article content It was a feeling neither he or any of the seven other returnees of the reigning two-time Alberta Junior Hockey League kings wanted to go through again, unlike the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League-champion Mustangs themselves were forced to do for a second straight Centennial Cup after losing last year in the final to Ontario's Collingwood Blues. Article content 'We started off with one goal to win the regular season and then win the AJHL playoffs and then win the Centennial Cup playoffs,' Singleton said. 'Super surreal, the full circle, and we're going to enjoy it for a long time. We're brothers for the rest of our lives.'
Calgary Herald
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Lucky toonies and life-long 'brothers': Host Calgary Canucks win Centennial Cup in dominating style
Article content 'Whatever it takes' was how Brad Moran worded his team's run to a national puck title. Article content Article content So when the Calgary Canucks dug a couple of toonies out of the ice amid Sunday's celebration of winning the 2025 Centennial Cup, it seemed to come as no surprise to the head coach of the newly minted Canadian Junior Hockey League champions … Article content Even though he knew nothing of the lucky coins or who put them there. Article content Article content 'One from 1995, and one from 2025,' said the Canucks GM and head coach, his voice dripping with joy after watching his charges score the coveted CJHL crown 30 years — almost to the day — of the franchise's first and only other Centennial Cup. Article content Article content 'So whatever it takes …' continued Moran of the buried treasure. 'I guess that was the gesture.' Article content If there was magic in those toonies, it didn't take the shine off the determination of the Canucks. Article content Moran's men were full marks for the title victory Sunday, executing dominance in a 7-2 taming of the Melfort Mustangs in Sunday's finale, much to the delight of a frenzied 2,720 fans at jam-packed Max Bell Centre. Article content And it was quite the delight for themselves, coming 12 months after losing 2-1 to the same Mustangs in last year's semifinal round of the 2024 Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ont. Article content Revenge best served cold, you could say. Article content Article content 'It's everything I've dreamed of,' said Canucks captain Bowden Singleton, in the moments after hoisting the Centennial Cup on home ice. 'I might get emotional here in a bit, but I'm just soaking everything in right now. Article content 'That feeling of losing last year and looking at the guys that lost is probably one of the saddest things you ever have to go through, because those 20-year-olds, they gave everything they had.' Article content It was a feeling neither he or any of the seven other returnees of the reigning two-time Alberta Junior Hockey League kings wanted to go through again, unlike the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League-champion Mustangs themselves were forced to do for a second straight Centennial Cup after losing last year in the final to Ontario's Collingwood Blues. Article content 'We started off with one goal to win the regular season and then win the AJHL playoffs and then win the Centennial Cup playoffs,' Singleton said. 'Super surreal, the full circle, and we're going to enjoy it for a long time. We're brothers for the rest of our lives.'
Ottawa Citizen
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Bowden Singleton helps push Calgary Canucks into Centennial Cup playoffs with chip on shoulder
Bowden Singleton missed out on all the fun at the 2024 Centennial Cup. Article content But the local puck talent still lived the heartbreak felt by the Calgary Canucks at the Canadian Junior Hockey League championship. Article content And the diminutive forward plans to help the Alberta Junior Hockey League kings push through that at this year's national finale hosted at the city's Max Bell Centre. Article content Article content 'Playing with a chip on my shoulder,' confirmed the Canucks captain, who was sidelined by injury last spring when his teammates fell short of the coveted junior hockey crown by two victories in Oakville, Ont. Article content Article content 'But I'm playing with excitement,' continued Singleton. 'I've never been here before, so it's uncharted territory. But I was there watching last year, so I kind of knew what's going on, so super exciting.' Article content It has been all that and more for not only Singleton but the entire host squad so far at this Centennial Cup. Article content After Wednesday night's 8-2 thump of the CJHL's top-ranked team, New Brunswick's Edmundston Blizzard, the Canucks are playoff-bound at the 11-day tournament. In fact, their first-place Group B record of 3W-0OTW-1L-0OTL actually earns them a bye through Friday's quarterfinal round and slots them into a Saturday semifinal — which of the 4 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. game starts is yet to be determined. Article content Regardless, their success puts them just two wins away — again — from hoisting the Centennial Cup. Article content Article content Capturing the national championship has only happened once — back in 1995, when the Canucks edged the host Gloucester Rangers 5-4 in Ontario — in the junior team's storied history. Article content Of course, this year's edition is hoping to be a winning host side this time around not only to add to that singular title but to avenge last year's early elimination in a 2-1 semifinal loss to Saskatchewan's Melfort Mustangs. Article content 'He's a game-breaker,' said Moran of Singleton, who stands in at just 5-foot-9, 160 lb. 'I think he's the best offensive guy in the AJHL, no question. And he drives our offence. We saw that in the playoffs with him being the MVP. Article content 'You know … Bowden's the kind of guy that put you over the hump in these things,' continued Moran. 'And last year, we scored only one goal in the semifinal. If there's Bowden Singleton there, you'd like to think you get a point out of him and it's a 2-2 game and anybody can win.
Calgary Herald
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Bowden Singleton helps push Calgary Canucks into Centennial Cup playoffs with chip on shoulder
Bowden Singleton missed out on all the fun at the 2024 Centennial Cup. Article content But the local puck talent still lived the heartbreak felt by the Calgary Canucks at the Canadian Junior Hockey League championship. Article content And the diminutive forward plans to help the Alberta Junior Hockey League kings push through that at this year's national finale hosted at the city's Max Bell Centre. Article content Article content 'Playing with a chip on my shoulder,' confirmed the Canucks captain, who was sidelined by injury last spring when his teammates fell short of the coveted junior hockey crown by two victories in Oakville, Ont. Article content Article content 'But I'm playing with excitement,' continued Singleton. 'I've never been here before, so it's uncharted territory. But I was there watching last year, so I kind of knew what's going on, so super exciting.' Article content It has been all that and more for not only Singleton but the entire host squad so far at this Centennial Cup. Article content After Wednesday night's 8-2 thump of the CJHL's top-ranked team, New Brunswick's Edmundston Blizzard, the Canucks are playoff-bound at the 11-day tournament. Article content In fact, their first-place Group B record of 3W-0OTW-1L-0OTL actually earns them a bye through Friday's quarterfinal round and slots them into a Saturday semifinal — which of the 4 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. game starts is yet to be determined. Article content Regardless, their success puts them just two wins away — again — from hoisting the Centennial Cup. Article content Article content Capturing the national championship has only happened once — back in 1995, when the Canucks edged the host Gloucester Rangers 5-4 in Ontario — in the junior team's storied history. Article content Of course, this year's edition is hoping to be a winning host side this time around not only to add to that singular title but to avenge last year's early elimination in a 2-1 semifinal loss to Saskatchewan's Melfort Mustangs. Article content And with Singleton healthy and on board, Canucks GM/head coach Brad Moran believes his charges' chances have climbed considerably. Article content 'He's a game-breaker,' said Moran of Singleton, who stands in at just 5-foot-9, 160 lb. 'I think he's the best offensive guy in the AJHL, no question. And he drives our offence. We saw that in the playoffs with him being the MVP. Article content 'You know … Bowden's the kind of guy that put you over the hump in these things,' continued Moran. 'And last year, we scored only one goal in the semifinal. If there's Bowden Singleton there, you'd like to think you get a point out of him and it's a 2-2 game and anybody can win.
Ottawa Citizen
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Guide to the 2025 Centennial Cup in Calgary: The skinny on the 10 contenders
Brad Moran and the Calgary Canucks host the 2025 Centennial Cup, beginning Thursday at Max Bell Centre. Article content Article content The annual hockey tournament to crown a Canadian Junior Hockey League king begins Thursday and runs through May 18, with 10 teams vying for the coveted championship, won last year by the Ontario Junior Hockey League's Collingwood Blues. Article content The teams are split into two pools — Group A featuring the Trenton Golden Hawks, the Northern Manitoba Blizzard, the Grande Prairie Storm, the Greater Sudbury Cubs and the Kam River Fighting Walleye and Group B comprised of the host Canucks, the Melfort Mustangs, the Rockland Nationals, the Valleyfield Braves and the No. 1-ranked Edmundston Blizzard — with each team lining up for four round-robin contests to start the event. Article content Article content Article content The skinny: The Canucks — one of just three teams returning from the 2024 Centennial Cup — are the only team of the 10 competing for this year's crown which has won the national championship. That came in 1995 over the host Gloucester Rangers. Seven players return for another run at the title. Article content Canucks GM/head coach Brad Moran: 'We've gotta play our game. Speed and execution will be our key. If we keep it simple and execute, I think we'll be OK.' Article content National ranking: Unranked, 38-21-7 Article content Article content The skinny: The only team at the Centennial Cup which wasn't crowned a league king because it was swept by the Canucks in the AJHL best-of-seven final series. But the Storm have been to the championship before, finishing third with a 3-2 record in 2004. Article content Article content Moran: 'I think as good a team as we're going to find here. They've got a ton of offence, and defensively, they've got big, strong guys on the back end and a good goalie.'
