RBC Cup Preview 2015

WEST 1 Representative

 Penticton Vees

Their WCC Story:
The Penticton Vees continued their dominant play at the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup in Fort McMurray Alberta last week. The BCHL club rolled to victory at the five team tournament, edging the RBC Cup host Portage Terriers 4-3 in overtime. Don’t worry, the two teams will meet again for a rematch in the RBC Cup’s opening contest Saturday afternoon. Penticton won the RBC Cup in 2012, this is their first time back at the national tournament since then.  

Western Canada Cup Rundown (4-1):
Beat Spruce Grove (AJHL) 11-3
Beat Fort McMurray (AJHL) 6-0
Lost to Portage (MJHL) 3-2
Beat Melfort (SJHL) 3-1
Championship Game: Beat Portage 4-3 in OT

Top WCC Scorer:
Dakota Conroy (2G & 6A in 5GP)
Neat: Conroy (20 years) played in the BCHL for the first time this season. Before this year he spent his time in the WHL, he had stints with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Prince Albert Raiders and Victory Royals. In that span in the WHL he racked up 137 points in 214 games.  

Top WCC Goalie:
Hunter Miska – 4-1 / 1.99 GAA / .932 SV% / 1 SO
Neat: Miska, a University of Minnesota-Duluth commit, was named Top Goaltender and Most Valuable Playerof the Western Canada Cup.

WEST 2 Representative

Melfort Mustangs

Their WCC Story:
The SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs were happy the Portage Terriers came to the Western Canada Cup. With the RBC Cup host in the event it meant that three teams would go to the national tournament. The game the Mustangs needed to win was the Saturday afternoon affair against the host Fort McMurray Oil Barons. They did, beating them 4-2 to advance.  Melfort’s record at the WCC was 2-4, although you shouldn’t put too much into that, considering the last game they played was a meaningless one. Give the Mustangs credit though, they won the games they had to to get into the RBC Cup.  Melfort is back at the RBC Cup for the first time since 1996 when they hosted the five team tournament.
 

Western Canada Cup Rundown (2-4):
Lost to Portage (MJHL) 6-3
Beat Spruce Grove (AJHL) 4-3 in OT
Lost to Penticton (BCHL) 3-1
Lost to Fort McMurray (AJHL) 3-2 in OT
Berth Game: Beat Fort McMurray 4-2
Lost to Portage 4-2
Neat: Despite grabbing RBC Cup berth, the Mustangs were the fourth place team at the WCC with an overall record of 2-4.
 

Top WCC Scorer:
Justin Boyer (3G & 2A in 6GP)

Top WCC Goalie:
Richard Palmer – 2-3 / 2.91 GAA / .910 SV%

 

HOST Team

Portage Terriers

Their WCC Story:
Even though they didn’t bring home the Western Canada Cup it was a successful tournament for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Portage Terriers. They finished the round robin atop the standings and were one goal away from taking the title. The Terriers also saw a couple players win awards at the event, including Landon Peel who was named one of the tournament’s Top D-men. Portage is back at the RBC Cup for the first time since 2012 in Humboldt.
 

Western Canada Cup Rundown (4-2):
Lost to Fort McMurray (AJHL) 3-1
Beat Melfort (SJHL) 6-3
Beat Penticton (BCHL) 3-2
Beat Spruce Grove (AJHL) 4-2
Championship Game: Lost to Penticton 4-3 in OT
Beat Melfort 4-2

Top WCC Scorer:
Brad Bowles (1G & 6A in 6GP)
Neat: Bowles was named a Top Forward at the Western Canada Cup.

Top WCC Goalie:
Justin Laforest – 2-2 / 2.74 GAA / .905 SV%
Neat: Laforest will meet his former team at the RBC Cup, the CCHL’s Carleton Place Canadians.

 

EAST Representative

Carleton Place Canadians

Their Story:
Back at the RBC Cup for a second straight season fans will remember the Carleton Place Canadians as the team that bumped the Dauphin Kings out of the national tournament last year in Vernon BC. The CCHL club then went on to blow a 3-1 lead in the third period to fall to the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers in the championship contest. This year Carleton Place is fuelled by thoughts of redemption, they finished with a 3-1 record at the Fred Page Cup.
 

Fred Page Cup Rundown (3-1):
Beat Dieppe (MHL) 3-2
Lost to Cornwall (CCHL) 3-2
Beat Longueuil (QJHL) 4-2
Championship Game: Beat Dieppe 3-1

Top Fred Page Cup Scorer:
Craig Pefley (1G & 5A in 4GP)
Neat: Like a number of players on the Carleton Place Canadians this will be the second straight RBC Cup for Pefley. Last year he had two assists in the six contests he played in.

Top Fred Page Cup Goalie:
Guillaume Therien – 3-0 / 1.92 GAA / .933 SV%
Neat: Therien has very good numbers when it comes to playoffs and tournaments. In his career with the Carleton Place Canadians he’s only had a goals against average above 2.50 once, that was at last year’s RBC Cup (2.82).

 

CENTRAL Representative

Soo Thunderbirds

Their Story:
The Soo Thunderbirds, like Portage and Penticton, return to the RBC Cup for the first time since 2012 in Humboldt. That season they lost in the semi finals to Penticton. Soo only lost once at the Dudley Hewitt Cup last week. It was in overtime and to the winner of last year’s event, the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots. Soo doubled their opponents at the tournament, outscoring them 20-10 and finishing with a 3-1 record.
 

Dudley Hewitt Cup Rundown (3-1):
Beat Dryden (SIJHL) 8-1
Beat Fort Francis (SIJHL) 6-3
Lost to Toronto Lakeshore (OJHL) 4-3 in OT
Championship Game: Beat Fort Francis 3-2

Top Dudley Hewitt Cup Scorer:
Boris Katchouk (3G & 3A in 4GP)
Neat: Katchouk spent 12 games in the OHL this season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds where he notched two assists. The 16 year old had 45 points in 29 games for the Thunderbirds during the regular season.

Top Dudley Hewitt Cup Goalie:
Mario Culina – 2-1 / 2.53 GAA / .904 SV%
Neat: Culina had a very strong playoff run with Soo, his numbers were sparkling and included a 1.23 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.

 

RBC Cup Schedule
(All times CDT)

Saturday May 9

Penticton vs. Portage – 2:00pm
Soo vs. Carleton Place – 7:00pm

Sunday May 10

Melfort vs. Penticton – 2:00pm
Portage vs. Carleton Place – 7:00pm

Monday May 11

Melfort vs. Soo – 7:00pm

Tuesday May 12

Carleton Place vs. Penticton – 2:00pm
Soo vs. Portage – 7:00pm

Wednesday May 13

Carleton Place vs. Melfort – 7:00pm

Thursday May 14

Penticton vs. Soo – 2:00pm
Portage vs. Melfort – 7:00pm

Saturday May 16

Semi Final 1– 2:00pm
Semi Final 2 – 7:00pm

Sunday May 17

Championship Game – 7:00pm