Eagles descend on Summerside in their Centennial Cup quest
The Canmore Eagles arrived in Summerside, P.E.I., today (Tuesday, May 5).
The Alberta Junior Hockey League champions are just a couple of days away from participating in the Centennial Cup championship. Ten teams are in the Maritime community for 11 days of national junior A tournament action.
The Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons runs Thursday, May 7, through May 17 with the teams split into two pools of five teams. A four-game, round-robin will be played with the first-place finishers in each pool advancing to the semifinal round while the second- and third-place finishers will face off in the quarterfinals.
“We have to stay sharp that whole time,” said Eagles captain John Szabo. “… every game matters. Every game is a Game 7. We are good with that. We are ready for that. We can play desperate hockey when we need to.”
For the Canmore Eagles franchise, which came into existence in the 1995-96 season as the Bow Valley Eagles, this marks the first time the team will be participating in the event after winning its first AJHL title in its 31st season.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said playoff MVP goaltender Alex Scheiwiller. “We have such an unbelievable team. … we just have to go out and play our game. I just have to give the guys a chance to win.”
Canmore’s bracket includes a pair of heavyweights in the Canadian Junior Hockey League: the top-ranked Rockland Nationals, champions of the Central Canada Hockey League; No. 2-ranked Niverville Nighthawks, winners of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League; Thunder Bay North Stars, who won the Superior International Junior Hockey League; and the host Summerside Western Capitals. Here is a look at teams in that pool:
Canmore Eagles: After finishing tops in the AJHL South Division (but fourth overall) at 32-19-3-1 the Eagles rose above all in the playoffs going 12-3 to claim the Inter Pipeline Cup.
Scheiwiller posted a 2.38 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. In the five-game championship set win over favoured Whitecourt, the 20-year-old, Calgary minor hockey product was 4-1 with a 2.00 GAA and a .940 S/Pct.
Scheiwiller was named the AJHL’s top goaltender at the conclusion of the regular season, appearing in 36 games, going 22-12-1-1 with a 2.91 GAA and .921 S/Pct. He was also shortlisted for the league’s MVP award for the second successive season.
Will Lutic was the top playoff scorer with seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points. The St. Albert native at just 18 years old and in his second season with the Eagles had points in each of the five games versus Whitecourt: two goals and five assists.
Cohen Daoust led the Eagles in scoring during the regular season with 75 points (31G-44A).
The AJHL has won four of the past five Centennial Cups contested: with the tournament cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last AJHL champion to win the Centennial Cup: Calgary Canucks, 2025.
Rockland Nationals: A 26-game winning streak during the regular season allowed the Nationals to finish with 52 wins and three losses to top the CCHL. The team went 12-1 in the postseason to gain back-to-back trips to the Centennial Cup scoring 60 goals in the process led by Mavrick Brunet with 34 points (8G-26A) and Bogart Cup MVP Gabriel Le Houillier with 33 points (18G-15A).
During the regular season, Le Houillier led the CCHL with 120 points (59G-61A). He was named the league’s MVP and is in the running for the CJHL’s top forward award, which will be announced during the Centennial Cup.
Goaltender Kayden Newton was a late season pickup out of junior B, played all 13 playoff games and posted a 2.00 GAA and a .928 S/Pct.
Defenceman Mathys Laurent was named the CCHL’s top defenceman and is a finalist for the CJHL top defenceman award.
The Nationals won the Centennial Cup in 1976 defeating the AJHL champion Spruce Grove Mets in a best-of-seven series 4-1. The team narrowly missed out on appearing in its second national championship title game last May when they lost in the semifinal round 3-2 in overtime to host and eventual champion Calgary Canucks.
Last CCHL champion: Pembroke Lumberjacks, 2011.
Niverville Nighthawks: Winners of 51 of 58 regular-season games the Nighthawks finished first overall in the MJHL and went 12-1 in the playoffs, sweeping the Virden Oil Capitals to win the Turnbull Cup.
Hayden Wheddon led the league in scoring with 90 points (36G-54A). Adam Vigfusson, also in his third year with the team, topped all playoff point collectors with 19 points (10G-9A).
Albertan Austin Dubinsky, who played for the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm in the 2023-24 season, in his second season with the Manitoba team was named the MJHL’s top goaltender and is shortlisted for the CJHL’s top goaltender award after going 19-3 during regular season record with a 1.97 GAA and .926 S/Pct. The Ardrossen native posted a 1.31 goals-against average and .956 save percentage on his way to being named playoff MVP.
Last MJHL champion: Portage Terriers, 2015.
Thunder Bay North Stars: Third place during the regular season at 30-14-3-1 didn’t deter the North Stars as they went 12-4 in the SIJHL playoffs, defeaed both the second-place Dryden GM Ice Dogs in five games in the semifinal round and won a Game 7 to claim the Bill Salonen Cup over favoured regular-season champion Fort Frances Lakers, who were looking for a return trip to the Centennial Cup.
Thunder Bay scored 78 goals in their 16 playoff games led by Mitch Vanderwey with 30 points (8G-22A) as six players averaged at least one point per game through the postseason tournament.
Matthew Bertolin was the regular season scoring leader with 76 points (37G-39A), was named the league’s top forward, then finished the playoffs with 23 points (10G-13A) and was named the playoff MVP.
Chance Loke was named the SIJHL’s top defenceman finishing the regular season with 54 points (12G-42A).
The North Stars evenly split their playoff goaltending duties between Connor Dunham-Fox (1.96GAA, .934S/Pct.) and rookie Morgan Blackwood (2.26GAA, 2.26S/Pct), each going 6-2.
The North Stars franchise last appeared in the Centennial Cup in 2006 when they were known as the Fort William North Stars reaching the semifinal round, losing 3-2 to the eventual champion Burnaby Express.
Last SIJHL champion: None.
Summerside Western Capitals: The host team posted the best regular-season record in the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) at 32-12-5-3 edging out the Truro Bearcats, who went 34-14-3-1, by virtue of more regulation-time wins (29-26).
The Bearcats got their payback in the semifinals, knocking out the Western Capitals out of the playoffs with a 3–2 Game 7 victory on April 16 in front of 3,778 fans at Credit Union Place in Summerside.
Defenceman Simon Mullen led the Western Capitals in regular-season scoring with 68 points (14G-54A) with the hometown product in the running for the CJHL’s top defenceman award.
Justin Ouellette was the Capitals top playoff scorer with 15 points (4G-11A).
Goaltender Kolton Bourrett joined the team in November, making the move from the B.C. Hockey League’s Cranbrook Bucks in November. The 20-year-old, who is from Thunder Bay – and so will be facing off against his hometown team in this tournament – posted a 1.85 GAA and a .929 S/Pct. in the playoffs.
Summerside is hosting the Centennial Cup for the fourth time, winning it all in 1997, and finishing runner-up in 1989 and 2013.
Last MHL champion: Halifax Oland Exports, 2002.
The No. 3 Toronto Patriots of the Ontario Junior Hockey League is the top-ranked team in the other bracket, which includes No. 4 Collège Français de Longueuil from the Quebec Junior Hockey League (LHJAAAQ); Greater Sudbury Cubs representing the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League for the third consecutive year; Flin Flon Bombers, despite being a northern Manitoba community due to logistical challenges competes in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League; and Truro, the MHL champions. Here is a look at each team:
Toronto Patriots: Emerging out of the OJHL is no easy feat with 24 teams from across the southern part of the province to go up against each season. The playoffs feature an extra playoff round compared the rest of the CJHL, so the Patriots needed to win 16 games to claim the title, losing just four times with three of those losses coming in a tough seven-game series with the Collingwood Blues in the West Conference final.
The Patriots were a league best 47-8-0-1 while also leading the league in offence (296 goals) and defence (132 goals against). Hudson Cummins was the Patriots leading scorer during the regular season with 84 points (32G-54A).
In the playoffs, it would be Luciano Bruno who would lead the offence with 37 points (10G-27A) on his way to being named the playoff MVP.
The Patriots went with two goaltenders throughout the regular season, with each appearing in 30 games, and continued the process in the playoffs with Trey Caracciolo appearing in 11 games, going 9-2 with a 1.76 GAA and a .951 S/Pct. and Nico Armellin posting a 2.42 GAA and a .929 S/Pct.
The Buckland Cup winners last appeared in the Centennial Cup in 2014 finishing fifth in a five-team tournament.
Last OJHL champion: Collingwood, 2024.
CF de Longueuil: The Quebec champions are looking to do something no LHJAAAQ team has ever done and that is win a national junior A championship.
Longueuil was the class of the league going 41-6-0-1 during the regular season and 12-1 in the NAPA Cup playoffs.
Goaltender Mathis Lacroix-Goulet appeared in 34 games, going 28-5-0-12 with five shutouts, a 2.04 GAA and a .918 S/Pct. He is a CJHL top goaltender award finalist. In 13 playoff games, the Delson, QC, product posted a 1.42 GAA and a .946 S/Pct. with two shutouts.
Two forwards to watch are Isaiah Parent, who began the season with the Gatineau Flames before spending some time with the QMJHL Gatineau Olympiques, then traded in January to Longueuil, finishing the regular-season with a combined 69 points (29G-40A) and adding 18 points (10G-8A) in the playoffs, and Gabriel Provencher, who in the regular season had 68 points (24G-44A) and also registering 18 points (4G-14A) in the playoffs.
Last LHJAAAQ champion: None.
Greater Sudbury Cubs: This is another league that has yet to lift the Centennial Cup in the NOJHL. The Cubs finished first in the regular season, going 39-8-3-2, and then rolled undefeated through the playoffs posting 12 consecutive wins.
Nolan Newton was the team’s top scorer during the regular season with 91 points (37G-54A) but missed the entirety of the playoffs.
Briir Long produced 24 points (8G–16A) in just 10 regular‑season games after being released by the OHL’s North Bay Battalion, and he went on to lead the team in playoff scoring with 28 points (10G–18A). His season also included a notable 20‑game suspension for a slashing match penalty that sidelined him from mid‑December to early March, after which he returned with impact.
Mason Walker at 27 playoff points (9G-18A) was named the Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy MVP.
Spencer Horgan is the NOJHL’s all-time scoring leader among defencemen with 228 points (70G-158A) after a 72-point season (19G-53A). He is a finalist for the CJHL’s top defenceman award.
Last NOJHL champion: None.
Flin Flon Bombers: Geographically rooted in Manitoba, this border town finds it far more practical to compete against Junior A teams from its western neighbour.
The Bombers posted the best regular-season record in the SJHL at 41-11-3-1 and went 12-3 in the playoffs, with all three losses coming in a tough seven-game series against the Weyburn Red Wings in the semifinal round. The Bombers swept the Yorkton Terriers in the Canterra Seeds Cup final.
Charlie Tritt was the SJHL’s top goaltender with a 23-9-2-0 record, 2.12 GAA, five shutouts and a .934 S/Pct. He was equally as good in the playoffs with a 1.67 GAA and a .938 S/Pct. The Vancouver, B.C., product is also a CJHL top goaltender finalist.
Joey Lies was the top scorer during the regular season with 54 points (27G-27A). Connor Miller led the team in the playoffs with 15 points (9G-6A).
Flin Flon hosted the 2001 Centennial Cup, losing 5-0 to the AJHL Camrose Kodiaks in the championship game.
Last SJHL champion: Humboldt Broncos, 2008.
Truro Bearcats: Much like the Eagles, the Bearcats had been chasing their first league title since their inception, entering the MHL in 1997-98 just two years after Canmore came into existence in the AJHL.
As previously mentioned, the Nova Scotia squad had to settle for second best to the Western Captials during the regular season then went 12-5 in the playoffs, winning their first MetalFab MHL Cup in five games over the defending champion Edmunston Blizzard.
Sixteen-year-old goaltender Sam Berthiaume started this season in the backup role, appearing in 16 games during the regular season, then took over the No. 1 spot in the playoffs, appearing in 12 playoff games, posting a 1.71 GAA with a pair of shutouts and a .947 S/Pct.
The playoffs featured 19 skaters registering at least nine points led by William Labranche with 18 points (11G-7A). The playoff MVP was defenceman Jayden Connors (2G-7A).
Centre Jake Todd led all regular-season scorers for the Bearcats with 58 points (16G-42A).
Last MHL champion: Halifax Oland Exports, 2002.
Centennial Cup Schedule
(All times MT)
Thursday, May 7: Greater Sudbury vs Toronto, 9 a.m., Rockland vs Canmore, 1 p.m., Niverville vs Summerside, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 8: Flin Flon vs CF de Longueuil, 9 a.m., Canmore vs Thunder Bay, 1 p.m., Greater Sudbury vs Truro, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 9: Thunder Bay vs Niverville, 9 a.m., Flin Flon vs Toronto, 1 p.m., Summerside vs Rockland, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 10: Truro vs CF de Longueuil, 1 p.m., Summerside vs Canmore, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 11: Flin Flon vs Greater Sudbury, 9 a.m., Rockland vs Thunder Bay, 1 p.m., Toronto vs Truro, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12: Greater Sudbury vs CF de Longueuil, 9 a.m., Niverville vs Canmore, 1 p.m., Thunder Bay vs Summerside, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13: CF de Longueuil vs Toronto, 9 a.m., Rockland vs Niverville, 1 p.m., Truro vs Flin Flon, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 15: Quarter-final No. 1, 1 p.m., Quarter-final No. 2, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 16: Semifinal No. 1, 1 p.m., Semifinal No. 2, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: May 17: Championship Game, 4 p.m. (available on TSN+)
OVERTIME: The Canmore Eagles Go Fund Me page, is closing in on its goal of $35,000 to cover expenses and give the players an experience they will forever cherish. The fund currently is at more than $31,000. For more information go to gofundme.com/f/canmore-eagles-
Story by Russ Ullyot
