Latest news with #AlbertaJuniorHockeyLeague
Calgary Herald
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Canucks get thrilling OT victory to score spot in Centennial Cup finale
Article content The Calgary Canucks have crashed their own party at the 2025 Centennial Cup. Article content Article content In vying to become hosts with the most at the Canadian Junior Hockey League's national championship, they have pushed their way into the heralded event's finale Article content Patience, confidence and a never-in-doubt attitude is paying off for the reigning two-time Alberta Junior Hockey League kings in their own barn. Article content Article content 'Never quit,' agreed Canucks GM/head coach Brad Moran, just moments after Hayden Fechner's overtime goal in Saturday's 3-2 semifinal victory over Ontario's Rockland Nationals sealed a spot for the home side in the championship final. Article content Article content 'That's the M.O. of the group,' continued Moran. 'They just kept going. They didn't get rattled — they stuck with it. Article content 'I think it's a team that has a big goal in mind.' Article content That's, of course, a Canadian title in front of friends, family and feverish fans, as the Canucks play for gold in the gold-medal game against Saskatchewan's Melfort Mustangs set for Sunday at Max Bell Centre (5 p.m., Article content 'We're full of confidence right now,' said Canucks forward Gavin Schmidt, whose two goals in regulation — including one with just three minutes left in regulation — helped send the Canucks to the OT finish. Article content 'There was definitely nerves coming in,' continued Schmidt. 'But even though we have some rough starts in most of our games at this tournament, we're always turning it around.' Article content Article content In this one, they needed to in order to move on and avoid the same heartache felt last year when they lost in the semi at the Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ont. Article content Article content But it didn't come easily. Article content For most of the contest, the Nationals refused to give up much in the way of scoring opportunities. And when they did, goaltender Benoit Forget — who made 28 saves game-wide — was there to shut the door. Article content The Canucks, however, kept pressing, shaking off two goals scored by Nationals sniper Gabriel Le Houillier, to eventually get a monster goal from Schmidt, who snapped home a feed from Fechner with the home squad short-handed late in the second period. Article content The timely marker breathed life into the Cup hosts, as they came out in the third frame and continued with the never-quit attitude that's paced them through much of the 11-day national championship. Article content But between Schmidt's tallies — his third and fourth of the 10-team competition — it was the home-side goalie, Lukas Renaud, with heroics at the other end. The Canucks 'tender almost single-handedly kept the Canucks' comeback hopes alive with a handful of magnificent saves — including a couple on breakaways — as part of a massive 42-stop performance.
Ottawa Citizen
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Calgary Canucks get thrilling OT victory to score spot in Centennial Cup finale
Article content The Calgary Canucks have crashed their own party at the 2025 Centennial Cup. Article content Article content In vying to become hosts with the most at the Canadian Junior Hockey League's national championship, they have pushed their way into the heralded event's finale Article content Patience, confidence and a never-in-doubt attitude is paying off for the reigning two-time Alberta Junior Hockey League kings in their own barn. Article content Article content 'Never quit,' agreed Canucks GM/head coach Brad Moran, just moments after Hayden Fechner's overtime goal in Saturday's 3-2 semifinal victory over Ontario's Rockland Nationals sealed a spot for the home side in the championship final. Article content Article content 'That's the M.O. of the group,' continued Moran. 'They just kept going. They didn't get rattled — they stuck with it. Article content 'I think it's a team that has a big goal in mind.' Article content That's, of course, a Canadian title in front of friends, family and feverish fans, as the Canucks play for gold in the gold-medal game against Saskatchewan's Melfort Mustangs set for Sunday at Max Bell Centre (5 p.m., Article content 'We're full of confidence right now,' said Canucks forward Gavin Schmidt, whose two goals in regulation — including one with just three minutes left in regulation — helped send the Canucks to the OT finish. Article content 'There was definitely nerves coming in,' continued Schmidt. 'But even though we have some rough starts in most of our games at this tournament, we're always turning it around.' Article content Article content In this one, they needed to in order to move on and avoid the same heartache felt last year when they lost in the semi at the Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ont. Article content Article content But it didn't come easily. Article content For most of the contest, the Nationals refused to give up much in the way of scoring opportunities. And when they did, goaltender Benoit Forget — who made 28 saves game-wide — was there to shut the door. Article content The Canucks, however, kept pressing, shaking off two goals scored by Nationals sniper Gabriel Le Houillier, to eventually get a monster goal from Schmidt, who snapped home a feed from Fechner with the home squad short-handed late in the second period. Article content The timely marker breathed life into the Cup hosts, as they came out in the third frame and continued with the never-quit attitude that's paced them through much of the 11-day national championship. Article content But between Schmidt's tallies — his third and fourth of the 10-team competition — it was the home-side goalie, Lukas Renaud, with heroics at the other end. The Canucks 'tender almost single-handedly kept the Canucks' comeback hopes alive with a handful of magnificent saves — including a couple on breakaways — as part of a massive 42-stop performance.
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
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Greater Sudbury Cubs split opening weekend at Centennial Cup
The same group of Greater Sudbury Cubs who helped to power their team to a championship-clinching victory in the NOJHL final continued their strong play to start the Centennial Cup national championship in Calgary. Article content Article content Daks Klinkhammer and Logan Moore had two goals each, Nolan Newton recorded four assists and Karsen Chartier made 35 saves, including a highlight behind-the-back grab with his glove as the Cubs defeated the Grande Prairie Storm 6-2 in their round-robin opener at Max Bell Centre on Friday night. Article content Article content Ryan Rubic and Noah Kohan also scored for the Cubs, who led 1-0 after one period and 4-2 after 40 minutes, before tacking on two more tallies in the final frame. Article content Article content 'We stayed level-headed today compared to our first game last year (a 10-2 loss to Collingwood),' Cubs head coach Darryl Moxam said in a post-game release from Hockey Canada. 'Whether we were up or they came back and tied the hockey game, we just stayed the course and playing a Game 7 in order to get here helped out in that. Props to our leadership group, our coaching staff or anyone else on the bench, they didn't allow anyone to get too high or too low and last year's experience had a lot to do with that.' Colin Doherty and Alec Hall scored, while Nicholas Jones and Keagin Kelln combined to make 16 saves for Grande Prairie, a finalist in the Alberta Junior Hockey League this season. Article content Greater Sudbury got off to a similarly strong start on Saturday, leading the Northern Manitoba Blizzard 1-0 after the first stanza, but the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champions knotted the score in the second, then outpaced the locals with five goals in the final frame to take a 6-3 decision. Article content Article content Moore, Spencer Horgan and Ben Harris had the goals and Chartier made 29 stops for the Cubs, who were scheduled to face the Trenton Golden Hawks, winners of the Ontario Junior Hockey League championship, on Monday at 6 p.m. ET, then the Kam River Fighting Walleye, champs from the Superior International Junior Hockey League, on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET to finish out the round-robin portion of the tournament. Article content Jack Linton, with two goals and an assist, and Brett Ward, with one marker and a pair of helpers, were the offensive leaders for Northern Manitoba on Saturday.
