The road to Thunder Bay goes through the Stampede City, with the Calgary Buffaloes – looking for an eighth trip to the TELUS Cup – set to host the Cariboo Cougars, who are in search of a second appearance in three years on the national stage.

Both teams made it through their respective league playoffs relatively unscathed, outside of a little bit of semifinal drama – the Buffaloes needed a Game 5 to eliminate the pesky Calgary Royals, while the Cougars had to win consecutive games (the first in double overtime) to knock off the Vancouver NE Chiefs.

Terrific trios have done the damage up front for Calgary and Cariboo in the postseason; Justin Ross (6-6—12), Stephen Rosier (5-6—11) and Carter King (4-7—11) paced the Buffaloes with point-per-game numbers, and Curtis Hammond (3-5—8), Booker Daniel (5-3—8) and Brendan Pigeon (3-4—7) did the same for the Cougars.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (TELUS CUP FINISH)
2018 – Lethbridge Hurricanes (bronze medal)
2017 – Leduc Oil Kings (fifth place)
2016 – Lloydminster Bobcats (fourth place)
2015 – Strathmore Bisons (fourth place)
2014 – Okanagan Rockets (bronze medal)

CALGARY BUFFALOES
AMHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 24-7-3 (1st in AMHL)
Goals for: 144
Goals against: 74
Leading scorer: Justin Ross (15G 27A 42P)

Playoff record: 9-2
Goals for: 43
Goals against: 20
Leading scorer: Justin Ross (6G 6A 12P)

ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL
Quarter-final: defeated Calgary Flames 3-0 (6-1, 3-0, 6-0)
Semifinal: defeated Calgary Royals 3-2 (4-1, 1-2, 3-2 OT, 3-4, 3-1)
AMHL championship: defeated St. Albert 3-0 (3-2 OT, 4-3 2OT, 7-4)

Last national championship appearance: 2009 (silver medal)
Total national championship appearances: 7 (1985, 1987, 1989, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2009)

CARIBOO COUGARS
BCMML CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 27-8-5 (2nd in BCMML)
Goals for: 182
Goals against: 90
Leading scorer: Curtis Hammond (26G 17A 43P)

Playoff record: 6-1
Goals for: 32
Goals against: 14
Leading scorer: Booker Daniel (5G 3A 8P)

ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL
Quarter-final: defeated Greater Vancouver 2-0 (8-2, 4-2)
Semifinal: defeated Vancouver NE 2-1 (2-4, 3-2 2OT, 4-2)
BCMML championship: defeated Fraser Valley 2-0 (3-0, 8-2)

Last national championship appearance: 2017 (sixth place)
Total national championship appearances: 4 (1978, 1981, 2001, 2017)