Canadian Junior Hockey League
Media Update
CJHL Western Canada Cup preview
Penticton Vees; Chilliwack Chiefs; Brooks Bandits; Battlefords North Stars; Portage Terriers to compete for pair of RBC Cup berths
CALGARY, Alta. (Friday, April 28, 2017) – The first of three Canadian Junior Hockey League regional championships gets underway Saturday in Penticton, B.C. as the Sun Life Financial Western Canada Cup begins at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
That five-team event will feature the host and BCHL champion Penticton Vees going up against the BCHL finalist Chilliwack Chiefs, the AJHL-winning Brooks Bandits, the SIJHL titlist Battlefords North Stars and the winners of the MJHL, the Portage Terriers, as they all vie for two spots into the RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A Championship, May 13-21, in Cobourg, Ont.
Here’s a look at the five competing teams:
PENTICTON VEES (HOST-BCHL) – It couldn’t have been any closer in the BCHL as the league final went right down to the wire and even needed some extra time before the Vees finally prevailed in a tremendous seven-game series vs. Chilliwack and took the finale 1-0 in overtime.
Penticton was busy in the playoffs as all three series they played went the maximum of seven games before winning each deciding contest to capture their fourth league Fred Page Cup crown in the past 12 years.
Vees’ captain Nicholas Jones led his squad in offensive production in the postseason by scoring 10 times and setting-up 17 others for 27 points. That was also the second highest total in the league.
Next on the club was Chris Klack, who collected 18 points along the way, including 14 assists.
Gabe Bast led Penticton and the BCHL in points among defencemen with 17.
Mathew Robson started every game for the Vees in the playoffs and went 12-9 with a 2.21 average and a .920 save percentage.
VEES’ HEAD COACH/GM: Fred Harbinson
CHILLIWACK CHIEFS (BCHL) – Chilliwack’s comeback from being down three games to one in the BCHL final fell just short as they rallied to take Games 5 & 6, but eventually dropped a hard-fought, narrow 1-0 decision in OT on home ice vs. Penticton in Game 7.
Chilliwack’s Jordan Kawaguchi was the runaway leader in BCHL playoff scoring amassing an impressive 43 points in just 23 games notching a league-best 18 goals and 25 assists along the way. 12 of those outings were multi-point affairs.
Kohen Olischefski was second on the squad and third overall in postseason numbers that featured 10 goals and 13 assists while Jake Smith and Anthony Vincent chipped in with 17 points each.
Carver Watson led all blueliners on Chilliwack in points with 10.
Goaltender Mark Sinclair got the nod in all 23 playoff match-ups the Chiefs had as he went 15-8 along the way with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .923 save mark.
CHIEFS’ HEAD COACH/GM: Jason Tatarnic
BROOKS BANDITS (AJHL) – Back for a second straight WCC appearance are the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL.
The Bandits captured yet another Gas Drive Cup title after posting a four-game sweep of the Whitecourt Wolveries in the AJHL final.
Brooks lost just one game in the postseason while winning 12 times and outscoring their opponents 75-16.
Pacing the squad and the league in playing scoring was Josh McKechney, who registered 23 points in 13 games, including nine goals.
He was among eight players on the team that finished in the Top 10 in AJHL postseason numbers.
Next on the club was Parker Foo, who was fourth overall, with 20 points on 10 markers and as many helpers.
Tying for third in points for Brooks was Tyrell Mappin, who supplied 18.
He was joined by standout Bandits’ defenceman Cale Makar, who also went on to be named AJHL playoff MVP for his contributions on both ends of the ice.
Mitchel Benson went the distance in net for Brooks as he went 12-1 overall. He also led the league in average, save percentage and shutouts at 1.21, .949 and four respectively.
BANDITS’ HEAD COACH/GM: Ryan Papaioannou
BATTLEFORDS NORTH STARS (SJHL) – Representing the SJHL at the Western Canada Cup are the Canalta Cup champion Battlefords North Stars.
The North Stars were a juggernaut in the SJHL playoffs as they reeled off 12 straight victories along the way to capture the first league title in 17 years.
Included in their run was a four-game sweep of the Flin Flon Bombers in the SJHL final.
Earning league most valuable player laurels was Battlefords’ forward Coby Downs as he led all SJHL skaters in playoff offensive production with 25 points on four goals and 21 assists.
Teammate Layne Young was next on the team and the league in scoring with 23 points, which featured nine tallies and 14 helpers.
Among those tied for third postseason scoring were fellow North Stars’ forwards Keaton Holinaty and Ben Allen as the duo chipped in with 13 points each.
Their top point getters, among D-men, was the foursome of Connor Sych, Levi Kleiboer, Ryan Rosenberg and Cody Spagrud who picked up seven points apiece.
Battlefords’ goaltender Taryn Kotchorek was a perfect 9-0 in the playoffs while Joel Grzybowski was 3-0. They had averages of 2.04 and 2.09 respectively while Kotchorek had a save percentage of .925 and Grzybowski .930.
NORTH STARS’ HEAD COACH/GM: Nate Bedford
PORTAGE TERRIERS (MJHL) – No stranger to the Western Canada Cup, the Portage Terriers are taking part for a third consecutive year after claiming the MJHL’s Turnbull Trophy league championship for the third time in succession.
The Terriers earned their way to Penticton after rallying from an early two games to none deficit before reeling off four straight victories over the OCN Blizzard in the MJHL final.
Leading the league in postseason scoring was Jeremey Leipsic of Portage, who averaged just over a point-per-game with 19 in 18 outings with five goals and 14 assists. He also topped the MJHL in the regular season numbers with 100 points.
Next on the squad and tying for fourth in playoff scoring with 15 points apiece were Chase Brakel and Josh Martin.
Martin also went on to earn MJHL playoff MVP laurels.
Topping the club in offensive numbers among defencemen was Mackenzie Dwyer as he scored six times and helped set-up four others in 18 outings.
Netminder Kurtis Chapman had an 8-3 record in the playoffs with a 2.07 goals-against average and a save percentage of .931.
Brock Aiken meanwhile was 4-3 with a GAA of 2.91 along with a save mark of .893.
TERRIERS’ HEAD COACH/GM: Blake Spiller
ONLINE VIEWING: All Sun Life Financial Western Canada Cup contests will be streamed live online and on demand at HockeyTV.com.
WEBSITE: Live online scoring, schedules, results, statistics and news of all games can be found at the official event website at westerncanadacup.com.
SUN LIFE FINANCIAL WESTERN CANADA CUP
All games at South Okanagan Events Centre
Penticton, B.C.
Competing teams
Penticton Vees (Host-BCHL)
Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
Battlefords North Stars (SJHL)
Portage Terriers (MJHL)
Game schedule
All start times local
Saturday, April 29
Brooks vs. Chilliwack 2 p.m.
Battlefords vs. Penticton 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 30
Portage vs. Battlefords 2 p.m.
Penticton vs. Brooks 7 p.m.
Monday, May 1
Chilliwack vs. Portage 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2
Brooks vs. Battlefords 2 p.m.
Chilliwack vs. Penticton 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 3
Portage vs. Brooks 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4
Battlefords vs. Chilliwack 2 p.m.
Portage vs. Penticton 7 p.m.
Friday, May 5
No Games
WCC Awards Gala
Saturday, May 6
4th Round Robin vs. 3rd Round Robin 2 p.m.
Championship Game: 2nd Round Robin vs. 1st Round Robin 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 7
RBC Berth No. 2: 3rd/4th winner vs. Championship Game Runner-up 4 p.m.
