Hockey Canada announces shift to virtual summer camps for national teams
Host communities announced for national championships and events cancelled in 2020
CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced today that it has cancelled all summer camps for national teams through Sept. 1 due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As the decision was made with the health and safety of all coaches, staff and participants as the top priority, Hockey Canada maintains a commitment and high standard of excellence to learning and coaching. As such, various programming and training sessions will be held virtually this summer.
“It is certainly disappointing to come to this decision for our summer events this year, but it is the right decision as we keep the health and safety of our participants a priority,” said Tom Renney, chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “There is level of camaraderie and learning that takes place in-person, but we have found a way to mitigate some of the impact and still share best-in-class experiences through virtual learning. The coaches and professionals in their field will continue to guide and lead our athletes so when we are able to return to hockey, they will be physically and mentally prepared and equipped to compete at the highest level.”
The following national team camps and programs will be delivered virtually:
- BFL Canada National Women’s Under-18 Team Summer Camp, presented by Sobeys (April 26 until 2021 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship)
- BFL Canada National Women’s Development Team Summer Camp, presented by Sobeys (May 3 until athletes return to university)
- Program of Excellence coach seminar (May 25-June 5)
- Program of Excellence goaltender development camp (June 9-12)
- Canada’s national under-17 development camp (July 19-25)
- Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp (July 27-31)
Topics for virtual sessions will include at-home strength and conditioning plans, mental performance plans and check-ins, nutrition, dry-land skills, skating simulations, team-building activities, short-term international competition preparation and meetings with coaching staffs.
The online seminar delivery for both women’s programs will take place up to twice weekly, with critical information being communicated to athletes to allow them to continue to evolve as high-performance athletes in this new environment, and will utilize the strengths and experience of Canada’s National Women’s Program leadership to help connect one-on-one, athlete-to-athlete. The men’s programs will take place during the specified dates.
In the coming weeks, Hockey Canada will also be announcing the rosters and staff named to the national team programs.
HOCKEY CANADA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS & EVENTS
Following the March cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-20 hockey season, which included all national championships, Hockey Canada has worked diligently with the various host organizing committees to plan for the 2020-21 season and beyond.
“During these unprecedented times, Hockey Canada has had to make changes to its season schedule to prioritize the health and safety of all participants at our national events, impacting various host committees and communities across the country,” said Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. “We appreciate the support and dedication by our upcoming host committees to adjust our schedule for the next two hockey seasons, and we look forward to working with these communities to put on world-class events.”
The following changes have been made to Hockey Canada event hosting agreements following the cancellation of all spring events this season:
- Prince Albert, Sask., which was set to host the 2020 Esso Cup, Canada’s U18 Women’s Club Championship, will retain its hosting rights for the 2021 Esso Cup. Lloydminster, Alta., will host the 2022 Esso Cup.
- Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., and Cape Breton, N.S., were awarded the TELUS Cup, Canada’s U18 Club Championship, in 2020 and 2021, respectively, but Hockey Canada has worked with both communities and Members to re-assign future hosting. Cape Breton has been confirmed as the host in 2022, and Saint-Hyacinthe is being considered as the host in 2021 or 2023.
- The 2020 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, set to be played in Portage la Prairie, Man., will be hosted in Penticton, B.C., in May 2021. Estevan, Sask., will host Canada’s National Junior A Championship in 2022, with the potential for the event to return to Portage la Prairie in 2023.
- Niagara Falls, Ont., was selected to host the 2020 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf this June, but instead will host the 2021 edition of the event.
While Hockey Canada continues to work closely with local, provincial, territorial and national health authorities, the current event schedule remains unchanged for the fall and winter. This includes the 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Oct. 31-Nov. 7 in Charlottetown and Summerside, P.E.I.; 2020 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, Nov. 2-8 in Dawson Creek, B.C.; 2020 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup, Dec. 6-12 in Bridgewater, N.S.; 2020 World Junior A Challenge, Dec. 13-20 in Cornwall, Ont.; and 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26 to Jan 5 in in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta.
For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.
Road to the 2024 Centennial Cup: Miramichi Timberwolves
After winning their first-ever league championship, the MHL champions have set their eyes on a national title
This year’s playoffs are one for the record books for the Miramichi Timberwolves, and now the focus turns to an opportunity to compete for a national title at the 2024 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.
When the postseason began, the Timberwolves were in the middle of the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) standings, fourth with a 31-16-2 record, scoring the fifth-most goals (211), allowing the fourth-most goals against (182). Special teams were a bright spot for Miramichi, boasting an 82.1% success rate on the penalty kill.
However, when it was time for the playoffs, the Timberwolves kicked things into high gear. After a five-game series with the third-place West Kent Steamers, Miramichi swept the Edmundston Blizzard for a spot in the MHL final against the first-place Summerside Western Capitals.
It was a close matchup with five one-goal games, but the Timberwolves got the job done in six games to win the first MHL championship in their 24th season and advance to the Centennial Cup for the first time.
Ludovic Dufort was a leader on offence, registering 46 goals and 82 points during the regular season. The 21-year-old added three goals and 16 points during the playoffs.
Goaltender Jack Flanagan came off the bench during Game 3 against the Steamers and went on an 11-2 run, posting a 2.86 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. The 19-year-old earned playoff MVP honours for his efforts.
The Timberwolves also have talent behind the bench. Kory Baker played 15 years of pro hockey in the ECHL, Sweden, Denmark and Finland before returning home to Miramichi to become head coach at the start of the 2022-23 season.
It’s been over 20 years since an Atlantic team has won Canada’s National Junior A Championship. The Halifax Oland Exports were the last national titlists, winning on home ice in 2002.
HOW THEY GOT TO OAKVILLE
Maritime Junior Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated West Kent Steamers 4-1 (3-5, 5-1, 2-1, 5-4, 4-3 OT) Semifinal: defeated Edmundston Blizzard 4-0 (3-2, 5-4, 4-3 2OT, 4-2) Final: defeated Summerside Western Capitals 4-2 (5-6 2OT, 5-1, 4-3, 4-3, 1-2 2OT, 5-4)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 31-16-2 (4th in MHL) Goals for: 211 (5th in MHL) Goals against: 182 (4th in MHL) Power play: 43 for 209 (20.6% – 7th in MHL) Penalty killing: 170 of 207 (82.1% – 3rd in MHL) Longest winning streak: 7 (Sept. 27-Oct. 22)
Top 3 scorers: • Ludovic Dufort – 46G 36A 82P (3rd in MHL) • Hugo Audette – 14G 46A 60P (18th in MHL) • Jeremy Duhamel – 23G 35A 58P (20th in MHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-3 Goals for: 59 Goals against: 44 Power play: 11 for 52 (21.2%) Penalty killing: 42 of 53 (79.2%)
Top 3 scorers: • Zachael Turgeon – 9G 14A 23P • David Doucet – 13G 7A 20P • Hugo Audette – 3G 17A 20P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Jeremy Duhamel – Nipissing University (2024-25)
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Oct. 2 – not ranked Oct. 9 – 16th Oct. 16 – 8th Oct. 23 – 8th Oct. 30 – 9th Nov. 6 – 14th Nov. 13 – 19th Nov. 20 – not ranked Nov. 27 – Honourable Mention Dec. 4 – not ranked Dec. 11 – not ranked Dec. 18 – not ranked Jan. 8 – not ranked Jan. 15 – not ranked Jan. 22 – not ranked Jan. 29 – not ranked Feb. 5 – not ranked Feb. 12 – not ranked Feb. 19 – not ranked Feb. 26 – not ranked March 4 – not ranked March 11 – 11th
Road to the 2024 Centennial Cup: Navan Grads
The CCHL champions finally got over the hump to win their first league crown and move into the national spotlight
Thirty-two years in the making, the Navan Grads are finally going to play under the brightest lights in Junior A hockey.
The Grads claimed their first-ever Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) championship – and earned a place at the 2024 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, in the process – by downing the Pembroke Lumber Kings, Rockland Nationals and Smiths Falls Bears.
Amazingly, the three series wins brought the Grads’ all-time total to FOUR since joining the CCHL (then known as the Central Junior A Hockey League) in 1991. The only previous victory? A sweep of the Kanata Stallions in 2003.
Navan was the class of the CCHL in the regular season, finishing 11 points clear of Smiths Falls on the back of a league-best offence (235 goals scored) led by Gabriel Crete (24-50—74) and Devon Savignac (35-31—66), who were third and fourth, respectively in CCHL scoring.
At the other end of the ice, Jaeden Nelson was a workhorse; the 17-year-old rookie was fourth in the CCHL with 2,173 minutes played, and posted top-five finishes in wins (25, first) goals-against average (2.57, fourth), save percentage (.921, third) and shutouts (3, tied for third).
The Grads ran into early adversity in the playoffs, pushed to double overtime in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Lumber Kings with the series even at 2-2. But Sebbie Johnson scored the winner, Navan closed out the series in Game 6 and never trailed in a series again.
It’s been 13 years since Pembroke won the most recent National Junior A Championship by a CCHL team. It has been in the mix over the last decade, though; the Ottawa Jr. Senators reached the semifinals in 2018 , 2019 and 2023, while the Carleton Place Canadians were national runners-up in 2014 and 2015.
HOW THEY GOT TO OAKVILLE
Central Canada Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings 4-2 (5-1, 2-1 OT, 1-3, 1-5, 5-4 2OT, 4-3) Semifinal: defeated Rockland Nationals 4-1 (5-4. 1-0 OT, 4-6, 5-3, 1-0) Final: defeated Smiths Falls Bears 4-2 (3-2 OT, 3-4 OT, 4-1, 3-2, 0-5, 5-2)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 41-9-5 (1st in CCHL) Goals for: 235 (1st in CCHL) Goals against: 144 (3rd in CCHL) Power play: 36 for 183 (19.7% - 5th in CCHL) Penalty killing: 186 of 216 (86.1% - 3rd in CCHL) Longest winning streak: 9 (Feb. 23-March 16)
Top 3 scorers: • Gabriel Crete – 24G 50A 74P (3rd in CCHL) • Devon Savignac – 35G 31A 66P (4th in CCHL) • Sebbie Johnson – 24G 25A 49P (23rd in CCHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-5 Goals for: 52 Goals against: 46 Power play: 11 for 60 (18.3%) Penalty killing: 53 of 61 (86.9%)
Top 3 scorers: • Colin MacDougall – 10G 11A 21P • Sebbie Johnson – 6G 12A 18P • Nicholas Paone – 7G 7A 14P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Gabriel Crete – Mercyhurst University (2024-25) Cristobal Tola – Amherst College (2024-25) Matthew Roy – Bowdoin College (2024-25) Devon Savignac – Concordia University Wisconsin (2024-25)
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Oct. 2 – not ranked Oct. 9 – not ranked Oct. 16 – not ranked Oct. 23 – not ranked Oct. 30 – Honourable Mention Nov. 6 – Honourable Mention Nov. 13 – 20th Nov. 20 – 18th Nov. 27 – 17th Dec. 4 – 17th Dec. 11 – 13th Dec. 18 – 14th Jan. 8 – 11th Jan. 15 – 13th Jan. 22 – 16th Jan. 29 – 11th Feb. 5 – 11th Feb. 12 – 6th Feb. 19 – 7th Feb. 26 – 7th March 4 – 7th March 11 – 5th
Road to the 2024 Centennial Cup: Melfort Mustangs
It was a challenging playoff journey, but the SJHL champions are hungry to bring a national title back to Saskatchewan
It’s been quite the playoff run for the Melfort Mustangs, and now their postseason will continue at the 2024 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.
The Mustangs finished with a 38-14-4 record in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL)—which placed them second to the Flin Flon Bombers. Defence and goaltending stood out for Melfort, allowing only 158 goals (second in SJHL) and having a strong penalty kill (88.2% - second).
In the playoffs, Melfort wrapped up a five-game series against the Estevan Bruins to set up a semifinal against the Humboldt Broncos. The series pushed both teams to the limit and included seven periods of overtime, ending on Ryan Duguay’s goal 2:55 into overtime in Game 7 that propelled the Mustangs to the league final.
The season came down to the Mustangs and the Bombers—who had spent 15 consecutive weeks in the No. 1 spot of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) rankings. But Melfort began the series with a defiant 9-2 victory and wrapped up the title in six games.
James Venne led the Mustangs in the crease this year. Referred to as the best goalie in Mustangs history by head coach and general manager, Trevor Blevins, Venne led the SJHL with 2,661 minutes played during the regular season, boasting a .912 save percentage and 2.62 goals-against average. In the playoffs, the 20-year-old had a 12-3 record with a 2.50 GAA and a .925 save percentage.
Aidyn Hutchinson was the top skater for the Mustangs, finishing third in SJHL scoring with 33 goals and 78 points during the regular season before adding 15 goals and 32 points in the playoffs.
The Mustangs are hungry for a national title—it has been a decade since the Yorkton Terriers defeated the Carleton Place Canadians 4-3 in overtime to give the Prairie league its most recent National Junior A Championship.
HOW THEY GOT TO OAKVILLE
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated Estevan Bruins 4-1 (5-1, 7-4, 3-4, 5-2, 4-2) Semifinal: defeated Humboldt Broncos 4-3 (4-2, 4-3, 2-3 3OT, 4-3 OT, 2-4, 3-4 2OT, 5-4 OT) Final: defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4-2 (9-2, 4-1, 4-3 2OT, 3-4 OT, 2-5, 4-1)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 38-14-4 (2nd in SJHL) Goals for: 218 (4th in SJHL) Goals against: 158 (2nd in SJHL) Power play: 58 for 268 (21.6% – 5th in SJHL) Penalty killing: 208 of 250 (88.2% – 2nd in SJHL) Longest winning streak: 9 (Feb. 16-March 10)
Top 3 scorers: • Aidyn Hutchinson – 33G 45A 78P (3rd in SJHL) • Clay Sleeva – 25G 34A 59P (15th in SJHL) • Chase Friedt-Mohr – 14G 42A 56P (20th in SJHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-6 Goals for: 74 Goals against: 52 Power play: 14 for 72 (19.4%) Penalty killing: 60 of 75 (80.0%)
Top 3 scorers: • Aidyn Hutchinson – 15G 17A 32P • Ryan Duguay – 14G 10A 24P • Chase Friedt-Mohr – 9G 15A 24P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2015 – Melfort Mustangs | 4th place | 2-3 | 12GF 19GA 1996 – Melfort Mustangs | runners-up | 5-1 | 35GF 10GA
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Chase Friedt-Mohr – University of Regina (2024-25) Hayden Prosofsky – Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (2024-25) Zackery Somers – University of Maine (2024-25)
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Oct. 2 – 6th Oct. 9 – 4th Oct. 16 – 7th Oct. 23 – 11th Oct. 30 – Honourable Mention Nov. 6 – not ranked Nov. 13 – not ranked Nov. 20 – not ranked Nov. 27 – not ranked Dec. 4 – not ranked Dec. 11 – not ranked Dec. 18 – not ranked Jan. 8 – Honourable Mention Jan. 15 – not ranked Jan. 22 – Honourable Mention Jan. 29 – Honourable Mention Feb. 5 – 15th Feb. 12 – not ranked Feb. 19 – not ranked Feb. 26 – Honourable Mention March 4 – 12th March 11 – 11th
Road to the 2024 Centennial Cup: Collingwood Blues
The OJHL champions dominated defensively to defend their title and earn a return trip to the national stage
They’re back!
The Collingwood Blues will be the only returnee at the 2024 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, after defending their Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) championship with a dominant defensive performance.
The Blues, who were knocked out in the quarterfinals a year ago in Portage la Prairie, lost only seven times in 56 regular-season games and dropped only three of 19 on their playoff run, stifling opponents from the goaltender out.
They allowed just 88 goals in the regular season – a miniscule average of 1.57 per game and 56 fewer than the second-best Trenton Golden Hawks – before giving up 36 in 19 postseason contests.
Noah Pak put up video-game numbers in the Collingwood goal, going 37-5 with a 1.30 goals-against average, .945 save percentage and 12 (that’s right, 12!) shutouts. In his 41 starts, he allowed more than three goals exactly twice, and zero or one a whopping 25 times.
But that’s not to say the Blues can’t put the puck in the net. Exactly the opposite, in fact. They finished second with 284 goals – just five back of Trenton – with Dylan Hudon and his 73 points (29-44—73) leading an offence that featured eight 50-point scorers and seven who reached the 20-goal plateau.
Collingwood was rarely tested as it rolled through the playoffs. It posted sweeps of Brantford and Leamington in the opening round and West Conference final, respectively, and dropped just one game to Oakville, losing Game 4 after winning the first three against the Centennial Cup hosts.
It’s lone bit of adversity came in the league final when Trenton evened the series with wins in Games 3-4, but the Blues retook the advantage with a 7-2 rout in Game 5 and finished things off on the road.
Making the short 144-kilometre trip south to Oakville, the Blues will look to become the first OJHL champion to win Canada’s National Junior A Championship since the Aurora Tigers in 2007.
HOW THEY GOT TO OAKVILLE
Ontario Junior Hockey League Round 1: defeated Brantford 99ers 4-0 (2-1 2OT, 5-1, 4-0, 4-3) Quarterfinal: defeated Oakville Blades 4-1 (3-2, 4-2, 10-1, 3-5, 3-0) Semifinal: defeated Leamington Flyers 4-0 (3-0, 2-1 OT, 6-2, 4-2) Final: defeated Trenton Golden Hawks 4-2 (5-4, 4-0, 4-5, 1-3, 7-2, 3-2)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-T-OTL): 49-6-0-1 (1st in OJHL) Goals for: 284 (2nd in OJHL) Goals against: 88 (1st in OJHL) Power play: 56 for 173 (32.4% - 2nd in OJHL) Penalty killing: 139 of 167 (83.2% - 6th in OJHL) Longest winning streak: 14 (Dec. 22-Feb. 11)
Top 3 scorers: • Dylan Hudon – 29G 44A 73P (13th in OJHL) • Spencer Young – 39G 33A 72P (14th in OJHL) • Jack Rimmer – 25G 40A 65P (24th in OJHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 16-3 Goals for: 77 Goals against: 36 Power play: 21 for 71 (29.6%) Penalty killing: 70 of 79 (88.6%)
Top 3 scorers: • Spencer Young – 12G 18A 30P • Dylan Hudon – 10G 14A 24P • Jack Rimmer – 10G 12A 22P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2023 – Collingwood Blues | 5th place | 3-2 | 14GF 11GA
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Declan Bowmaster – Merrimack College (2025-26) Ryan Cook – Wilfrid Laurier University (2024-25) Cameron Eke – Niagara University (2025-26) Dylan Hudon – University of Guelph (2024-25) Marcus Lougheed – Lake Superior State University (2025-26) Noah Pak – Yale University (2024-25) Jack Rimmer – Niagara University (2025-26) Jack Silverman – Middlebury College (2024-25) Landon Wright – University of Maine (2026-27) Spencer Young – Niagara University (2024-25)
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Oct. 2 – 8th Oct. 9 – 5th Oct. 16 – 4th Oct. 23 – 2nd Oct. 30 – 2nd Nov. 6 – 4th Nov. 13 – 2nd Nov. 20 – 3rd Nov. 27 – 3rd Dec. 4 – 3rd Dec. 11 – 3rd Dec. 18 – 3rd Jan. 8 – 3rd Jan. 15 – 3rd Jan. 22 – 3rd Jan. 29 – 2nd Feb. 5 – 2nd Feb. 12 – 2nd Feb. 19 – 2nd Feb. 26 – 1st March 4 – 1st March 11 – 1st
Road to the 2024 Centennial Cup: Winkler Flyers
An early-season hot streak put the MJHL champions on the path to their second trip to nationals
In 1992, the Winkler Flyers were the runners-up to the Thunder Bay Flyers for Canada’s National Junior A Championship. Thirty-two years later, the Flyers have another chance at national glory at the 2024 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.
The road to Oakville was not necessarily an easy one as the Flyers faced tough competition in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) playoffs. After a five-game series win over the Portage Terriers, the Flyers and Virden Oil Capitals had three games go to overtime—including four periods of overtime in the series-deciding Game 6, where Jakob Jones notched the game-winner for Winkler.
Two additional games went to overtime in the MJHL final, but the Flyers were able to pull off a four-game sweep over the Steinbach Pistons to lock up its spot in Oakville.
The Flyers had a strong regular season with a 42-11-5 record—the second-best record in Manitoba and equalling the fourth-most wins in franchise history (which dates back to 1980). They were red-hot from the first drop of the puck in September, winning each of their first nine games and claiming top spot in the CJHL Top 20 rankings for two weeks in late October.
Dalton Andrew and Trent Penner have led the Flyers’ offence. Andrew was the top scorer in the MJHL regular season with 43 goals and 82 points, while Penner – named MJHL MVP – followed closely behind in second with 29 goals and 78 points.
Malachi Klassen earned playoff MVP honours; the 20-year-old had a 12-3 postseason record with a 2.07 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.
The Flyers also have talent behind their bench—Justin Falk (283), Ryan White (332) and Eric Fehr (722) have a combined 1,337 games of NHL experience. Falk was hired as assistant general manager and assistant coach in March 2021, before being promoted to GM and head coach three months later. White as added as an assistant coach in August 2021, while Fehr was brought on as the director of player development in June 2022.
HOW THEY GOT TO OAKVILLE
Manitoba Junior Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated Portage Terriers 4-1 (4-1, 2-3, 5-3, 3-1, 6-3) Semifinal: defeated Virden Oil Capitals 4-2 (0-4, 2-1, 1-4, 5-4 2OT, 2-1 2OT, 2-1 4OT) Final: defeated Steinbach Pistons 4-0 (2-1, 3-1, 4-3 OT, 5-4 OT)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 42-11-5 (2nd in MJHL) Goals for: 234 (2nd in MJHL) Goals against: 122 (2nd in MJHL) Power play: 63 for 243 (25.9% – 1st in MJHL) Penalty killing: 225 of 266 (84.6% – 3rd in MJHL) Longest winning streak: 9 (Sept. 22-Oct. 23)
Top 3 scorers: • Dalton Andrew – 43G 39A 82P (1st in MJHL) • Trent Penner – 29G 49A 78P (2nd in MJHL) • Brody Beauchemin – 13G 53A 66P (4th in MJHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-3 Goals for: 45 Goals against: 35 Power play: 8 for 43 (18.6%) Penalty killing: 37 of 49 (75.6%)
Top 3 scorers: • Trent Penner – 6G 8A 14P • Dalton Andrew – 4G 10A 14P • Zach Nicolas – 6G 7A 13P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
1992 – Winkler Flyers | runners-up | 3-3 | 24GF 33GA
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Malachi Klassen – College of the Holy Cross (2024-25) Zach Nicolas – Stonehill College (2024-25) Trent Penner – University of Alaska Fairbanks (2024-25)
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Oct. 2 – 5th Oct. 9 – 3rd Oct. 16 – 1st Oct. 23 – 1st Oct. 30 – 5th Nov. 6 – 3rd Nov. 13 – 5th Nov. 20 – 7th Nov. 27 – 6th Dec. 4 – 6th Dec. 11 – 6th Dec. 18 – 7th Jan. 8 – 9th Jan. 15 – 8th Jan. 22 – 6th Jan. 29 – 6th Feb. 5 – 5th Feb. 12 – 5th Feb. 19 – 5th Feb. 26 – 4th March 4 – 4th March 11 – 4th
Road to the 2024 Centennial Cup: Collège Français de Longueuil
The LHJAAAQ champions got red-hot when it mattered most to return to the national championship for the second time in three years
There’s something to be said for timing.
Languishing in the middle of the standings in the Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec (LHJAAAQ) as the regular season wound down, Collège Français de Longueuil picked the perfect time to play its best hockey of the season and earn its spot at the 2024 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.
Longueuil won its final nine games to close out its schedule before embarking on an epic playoff run that included a seven-game win over the top-ranked Cobras de Terrebonne in the semifinals and another over L’Everest de la Côte-du-Sud in the LHJAAAQ final.
Collège Français played its best games when it mattered most. Facing elimination in Game 7 against the Cobras, it romped to a 5-0 win, backed by a 31-save shutout from Mathis Lacroix-Goulet. It was only the second time in 60 games Terrebonne had been shut out. The other? Game 4, when Longueuil evened the series at two apiece.
In the final, after dropping the first two games to Côte-du-Sud, Longueuil responded by winning the next two by a combined 15-3, and took Games 6-7 by a combined 9-3 to punch its ticket to Oakville.
Collège Français wasn’t overly dominant in any single aspect – it was fifth in the LHJAAAQ in goals scored, fifth in goals allowed, eighth in power play and seventh in penalty kill – but when it came to playoff wins, nobody else got to 12.
Individually, Olivier Denis led the way in the regular season with 58 points (20-38—58), good for 27th in the LHJAAAQ, while Simon Laramée paced the offence in the playoffs with 19 points (10-9—19) in 18 games.
It’s the second time in three years Collège Français will represent Quebec at Canada’s National Junior A Championship; two years ago in Estevan, it reached the semifinals before bowing out to the eventual national champion Brooks Bandits.
HOW THEY GOT TO OAKVILLE
Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec Quarterfinal: defeated VC de Laval 4-0 (5-0, 4-1, 4-2, 2-1) Semifinal: defeated Cobras de Terrebonne 4-3 (6-3, 2-8, 3-5, 3-0, 6-2, 0-4, 5-0) Final: defeated L’Everest de la Côte-du-Sud 4-3 (1-6, 2-5, 7-2, 8-1, 1-3, 5-2, 4-1)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 30-14-4 (4th in LHJAAAQ) Goals for: 232 (5th in LHJAAAQ) Goals against: 185 (5th in LHJAAAQ) Power play: 46 for 200 (23.0% - 8th in LHJAAAQ) Penalty killing: 141 of 182 (77.5% - 7th in LHJAAAQ) Longest winning streak: 13 (Feb. 10-March 8)
Top 3 scorers: • Olivier Denis – 20G 38A 58P (27th in LHJAAAQ) • Jean-Thomas Turp-Tremblay – 24G 27A 51P (35th in LHJAAAQ) • Brandon Boudreau – 28G 20A 48P (41st in LHJAAAQ)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-6 Goals for: 68 Goals against: 46 Power play: 14 for 95 (14.7%) Penalty killing: 78 of 91 (85.7%)
Top 3 scorers: • Simon Laramée – 10G 9A 19P • Thomas Bourbonnais – 8G 10A 18P • Jean-Thomas Turp-Tremblay – 5G 12A 17P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2022 – Collège Français de Longueuil | 4th place | 3-3 | 21GF 26GA 1990 – Sieurs de Longueuil | 4th place | 1-4 | 16GF 34GA
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
None
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Oct. 2 – not ranked Oct. 9 – not ranked Oct. 16 – not ranked Oct. 23 – not ranked Oct. 30 – not ranked Nov. 6 – not ranked Nov. 13 – not ranked Nov. 20 – not ranked Nov. 27 – not ranked Dec. 4 – not ranked Dec. 11 – not ranked Dec. 18 – not ranked Jan. 8 – not ranked Jan. 15 – not ranked Jan. 22 – not ranked Jan. 29 – not ranked Feb. 5 – not ranked Feb. 12 – not ranked Feb. 19 – not ranked Feb. 26 – not ranked March 4 – not ranked March 11 – not ranked
Canada wins gold medal at 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship
National Men's Under-18 Team scores three power-play goals in third period to win first world title since 2021
ESPOO, Finland – Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team made it a comeback for the ages to win its fifth gold medal—and first since 2021—at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, beating the United States 6-4 at Metro Areena on Sunday.
Tij Iginla (Lake Country, BC/Kelowna, WHL) buried the game-winning goal at 14:19 of the third period, capping off a stretch of three power-play goals in 3:54 during a five-minute power play.
Canada was trailing 3-2 midway through the third period when Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, YT/Medicine Hat, WHL) started the comeback with his second goal of the game, tying it at 3-3. Just over three minutes later, Cole Beaudoin (Kanata, ON/Barrie, OHL) found the back on the net for Canada’s first lead of the game.
McKenna sealed the win, scoring an empty-netter to complete the hat trick with his 10th goal, which set a new record for goals by a Canadian at the tournament. He also finished with 20 points, the most by a Canadian at a single U18 Men’s Worlds.
“Obviously you can’t do it by yourself. I had an unbelievable line and a great team,” McKenna said. “I couldn’t have done it without them, there were so many guys that stepped up when we needed it and it all paid off in the end. There was never a doubt in our room. We have built unbelievable friendships that we’ll have for a lifetime. The U.S. played really well, but with the penalty—the power play is something we practiced all tournament, it came up big today and that was the key to our win.”
The U.S. took the lead with a goal in the final minute of the first period before Ryder Ritchie (Kelowna, BC/Prince Albert, WHL) tied the game with his fourth of the tournament in the middle frame. Canada would trail by two before McKenna found the top corner with a backhand that beat American goaltender Nick Kempf for a power-play goal, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Carter George (Thunder Bay, ON/Owen Sound, OHL) was a difference-maker again, making one outstanding save after another, including a goal-line save on James Hagens just seconds after McKenna made it a one-goal game. George was named the Best Goaltender by the IIHF directorate following his 31 saves in the gold medal game.
“I have no words for him, Georgie is unbelievable,” McKenna said. “He kept us in it this whole game, honestly. There were times in this tournament where we might not have won, he’s an unbelievable person and player, and the sky is the limit for him.”
“We talk about grit and it being the guts of a team. We had needed a lot of guts just to hang in during the second period,” said head coach Gardiner MacDougall (Bedeque, PE/University of New Brunswick, AUS). “There’s grit, but also resilience and this team showed unbelievable resilience. We also showed initiative (with the score and the power play in the third) and tenacity is just about staying with it. All that shows the grit this group had. If you watched the game, there were times you probably thought there was no hope with this team, but George kept us in it. We pride ourselves that the longer we play, the better we should get, and it all proved true today. That speaks to the character of our group.”
Following the game, George, McKenna and Porter Martone (Peterborough, ON/Mississauga, OHL) were named to the media all-star team.
A full game summary can be found at HockeyCanada.ca.
Canada was undefeated in the tournament, beating Sweden, Czechia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan while outscoring its opponents 31-7 in the preliminary round. It booked its spot in the gold medal game with a 4-0 shutout of Latvia in the quarterfinals and a 5-4 win in the semifinal over Sweden.
Since 2002, Canada has won five gold medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021, 2024), in addition to one silver (2005) and four bronze (2012, 2014, 2015, 2023).
Road to the 2024 Centennial Cup: Greater Sudbury Cubs
After a strong season, the NOJHL champions are eager to take their first national title 400 kilometres north to Sudbury
Over three decades ago, Sudbury hosted Canada’s National Junior A Championship and the hometown Cubs were the runners-up. Now, the latest iteration of the Greater Sudbury Cubs will travel over 400 kilometres south to Oakville to represent the Big Nickel at the 2024 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.
The Cubs had a strong season in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), boasting a43-12-3 regular-season record to finish second in the standings. They ranked in the top three in goals for (285 – first), goals against (167 – third), power play (25.5% – third) and penalty kill (85.9% – first).
The division semifinal matchup was a rematch of last year’s West Division championship, with the Cubs facing off against the Soo Thunderbirds. Last season, that series marked the end of the Cubs’ playoff journey, but this year, Greater Sudbury prevailed with a six-game series win.
A five-game victory over the Blind River Beavers led the Cubs to a showdown with the Powassan Voodoos that wrapped up on April 25 with a 5-3 Cubs win in Game 5 and an NOJHL championship.
Co-captain Oliver Smith led the offence, recording 45 goals and 102 points to sit fourth in NOJHL scoring. The Lively, Ontario, native became the first Cubs’ player to have a 100-point season since the 2011-12 season, when Sudbury had three players pass the century mark: Jordan Carrol (157), Jamie Haines (128) and Nick Esposto (115).
Another standout for the Cubs this year was rookie Hudson Chitaroni, who joined brother Mason on the Greater Sudbury roster. The 16-year-old averaged 1.4 points per game, registering 31 goals and 77 points in the regular season and adding 12 goals and 22 points in the playoffs.
An additional advantage for the Cubs? Their home rink, the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex, has Olympic-sized ice, which will make playing at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville an easy transition.
HOW THEY GOT TO OAKVILLE
Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated Soo Thunderbirds 4-2 (2-1, 2-3 OT, 2-4, 4-3, 4-0, 4-0) Semifinal: defeated Blind River Beavers 4-1 (2-1, 2-6, 5-1, 9-2, 3-1) Final: defeated Powassan Voodoos 4-1 (2-5, 2-0, 5-0, 4-3 OT, 5-3)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 43-12-3 (2nd in NOJHL) Goals for: 285 (1st in NOJHL) Goals against: 167 (3rd in NOJHL) Power play: 61 for 239 (25.5% – 3rd in NOJHL) Penalty killing: 201 of 234 (85.9% – 1st in NOJHL) Longest winning streak: 9 (Sept. 7-Oct. 3)
Top 3 scorers: • Oliver Smith – 45G 57A 102P (3rd in NOJHL) • Hudson Chitaroni – 31G 46A 77P (6th in NOJHL) • Samuel Assinewai – 21G 43A 64P (16th in NOJHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-4 Goals for: 57 Goals against: 33 Power play: 14 for 53 (26.4%) Penalty killing: 52 of 67 (77.6%)
Top 3 scorers: • Nolan Newton – 12G 10A 22P • Hudson Chitaroni – 12G 10A 22P • Samuel Assinewai – 5G 9A 14P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Ethan Larmand – Queen’s University (2024-25)
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Oct. 2 – 4th Oct. 9 – 6th Oct. 16 – 11th Oct. 23 – not ranked Oct. 30 – 15th Nov. 6 – 16th Nov. 13 – 15th Nov. 20 – 13th Nov. 27 – 13th Dec. 4 – 12th Dec. 11 – 12th Dec. 18 – 15th Jan. 8 – 15th Jan. 15 – 15th Jan. 22 – 13th Jan. 29 – 12th Feb. 5 – 13th Feb. 12 – 12th Feb. 19 – 14th Feb. 26 – 15th March 4 – 14th March 11 – 13th
Road to the 2024 Centennial Cup: Sioux Lookout Bombers
Just two seasons into their existence, the SIJHL champions won their way to Oakville with a dominant playoff run
Well, that didn’t take long.
Just two years after joining the Superior International Junior Hockey Legaue (SIJHL) as an expansion franchise, the Sioux Lookout Bombers are SIJHL champions.
With that title comes a trip to the 2024 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.
After a third-place finish in their inaugural season, which ended with a Game 7 overtime loss to the Wisconsin Lumberjacks in the first round of the playoffs, the Bombers settled in as the No. 2 team in the SIJHL in 2023-24, finishing five points back of the Kam River Fighting Walleye.
While Sioux Lookout iced the fourth-ranked offence in the regular season – led by Owen Riffel’s 67 points (36-31—67), good for third in SIJHL scoring – it was the defence that led the way. It allowed just 113 goals in 49 games, 17 less than the Fighting Walleye, and the one-two punch of Jack Osmond (2.22 GAA, .939 SV%) and Matthew Spencer-Diehl (2.15 GAA, .938 SV%) finished first and second in goals-against average and save percentage.
Winners of their final four games – and six of their last seven – to close out the regular season, the Bombers stayed hot in the playoffs. They won 12 of 13 in all, dropping an overtime decision to Thunder Bay in Game 4 of the semifinals, and played only four one-goal games.
They capped their run to the Bill Salonen Cup in style, sweeping aside Kam River, the defending league champion, when Jonah Smith scored the overtime winner in Game 4 to set off a raucous celebration at Memorial Arena.
SIJHL champions have not had a tremendous amount of success since the National Junior A Championship went to a 10-team format, missing out on the playoff round in 2022 and 2023. The last time an SIJHL team made noise at the tournament was 2013, when the Minnesota Wilderness reached the semifinals.
HOW THEY GOT TO OAKVILLE
Superior International Junior Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated Fort Frances Lakers 4-0 (7-3, 9-0, 3-0, 4-1) Semifinal: defeated Thunder Bay North Stars 4-1 (3-2, 7-4, 4-3 OT, 5-6 OT, 4-2) Final: defeated Kam River Fighting Walleye 4-0 (5-3, 6-2, 4-2, 3-2 OT)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 35-10-4 (2nd in SIJHL) Goals for: 200 (4th in SIJHL) Goals against: 113 (1st in SIJHL) Power play: 64 for 278 (23.0% - 4th in SIJHL) Penalty killing: 186 of 220 (84.5% - 2nd in SIJHL) Longest winning streak: 13 (Nov. 16-Jan. 12)
Top 3 scorers: • Owen Riffel – 36G 31A 67P (3rd in SIJHL) • Blake Burke – 19G 37A 56P (8th in SIJHL) • Connor Burke – 28G 25A 53P (9th in SIJHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-1 Goals for: 64 Goals against: 30 Power play: 21 for 62 (33.9%) Penalty killing: 43 of 52 (82.7%)
Top 3 scorers: • Jonah Smith – 11G 6A 17P • Alex Lucas – 3G 13A 16P • Owen Riffel – 6G 8A 14P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
None
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Oct. 2 – 7th Oct. 9 – 15th Oct. 16 – 15th Oct. 23 – 14th Oct. 30 – not ranked Nov. 6 – not ranked Nov. 13 – not ranked Nov. 20 – not ranked Nov. 27 – 20th Dec. 4 – 20th Dec. 11 – Honourable Mention Dec. 18 – 20th Jan. 8 – 16th Jan. 15 – 18th Jan. 22 – 18th Jan. 29 – 20th Feb. 5 – 19th Feb. 12 – 20th Feb. 19 – 20th Feb. 26 – not ranked March 4 – not ranked March 11 – not ranked
Road to the 2024 Centennial Cup: Calgary Canucks
The AJHL champions are back at nationals almost three decades after their first and only national title
Almost 30 years in the making, the Calgary Canucks are back to compete for a national title.
Calgary dominated the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) playoffs, solidifying their place at the 2024 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, with a four-game sweep of the Whitecourt Wolverines.
The Canucks come into Oakville as a relatively young team, with only six 2003-born players on the roster. But it’s been the young players making an impact, including 18-year-old Gavin Garland, who co-led Calgary in the playoffs with nine goals and 18 points.
They finished the regular season with a 31-23-3 record, which, with only four wins separating the top four teams, landed them third overall in league standings, and moved into the AJHL final with a six-game series win over the Grande Prairie Storm and a five-game triumph over the Drumheller Dragons.
Bowden Singleton was fantastic for the Canucks, registering 21 goals and 67 points to finish fourth in AJHL scoring. The 19-year-old captain added seven goals and 15 points during the playoffs.
Behind the bench for Calgary is Brad Moran, who has an extensive hockey history of his own. An all-star in the Western Hockey League, Moran suited up for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks and played over 500 games in the American Hockey League (Syracuse Crunch, Manitoba Moose, Oklahoma City Barons). The 45-year-old played eight seasons in Europe before he hung up his skates. Moran started as an assistant coach with the Canucks during the 2018-19 season and was promoted to head coach that fall.
The Canucks have only one previous appearance at the Centennial Cup, but it was a good one; in 1995, they claimed Canada’s National Junior A Championship with a 5-4 overtime win over the Gloucester Rangers.
HOW THEY GOT TO OAKVILLE
Alberta Junior Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated Grand Prairie Storm 4-2 (4-3 OT, 4-3, 2-3, 3-4, 4-1, 5-4 OT) Semifinal: defeated Drumheller Dragons 4-1 (5-2, 3-2 OT, 3-6, 4-0, 3-2) Final: defeated Whitecourt Wolverines 4-0 (5-1, 5-2, 5-4, 3-2)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 31-23-3 (3rd in AJHL) Goals for: 176 (T-5th in AJHL) Goals against: 190 (4th in AJHL) Power play: 41 for 232 (17.7% – 6th in AJHL) Penalty killing: 208 of 250 (83.2% – 2nd in AJHL) Longest winning streak: 6 (Sept. 23-Oct. 7)
Top 3 scorers: • Bowden Singleton – 21G 46A 67P (4th in AJHL) • Ty Hipkin – 25G 27A 52P (12th in AJHL) • Julien Gervais – 13G 38A 51P (13th in AJHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-3 Goals for: 58 Goals against: 39 Power play: 12 for 47 (25.5%) Penalty killing: 50 of 58 (86.2%)
Top 3 scorers: • Ty Hipkin – 9G 9A 18P • Gavin Garland – 9G 9A 18P • Julien Gervais – 7G 11A 18P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
1995 – Calgary Canucks | 1st place | 5-1 | 25GF 17GA
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Ben Buckley – Dartmouth College (2024-25) Gavin Garland – University of Nebraska-Omaha (2024-25) Easton Hewson – Minnesota State University (2024-25) Chris Kobelka – University of Alaska-Fairbanks (2024-25) Julian Molinaro – Northern Michigan University (2024-25) Nolan Paquette – Western Michigan University (2025-26)
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Oct. 2 – 14th Oct. 9 – Honourable Mention Oct. 16 – not ranked Oct. 23 – not ranked Oct. 30 – not ranked Nov. 6 – not ranked Nov. 13 – not ranked Nov. 20 – not ranked Nov. 27 – not ranked Dec. 4 – not ranked Dec. 11 – not ranked Dec. 18 – not ranked Jan. 8 – not ranked Jan. 15 – not ranked Jan. 22 – not ranked Jan. 29 – 16th Feb. 5 – 20th Feb. 12 – not ranked Feb. 19 – Honourable Mention Feb. 26 – not ranked March 4 – Honourable Mention March 11 – Honourable Mention
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