One year ago, Julian Molinaro watched every second of the Centennial Cup from the bench.

In fact, the goaltender didn’t see the ice at all in the Collingwood Blues’ run to the quarterfinals of Canada’s National Junior A Championship, serving as backup as Noah Pak played every second of the Blues’ 24 postseason games.

But this season, it’s a much different story.

One thing has remained the same, though—Molinaro is back at the national championship. He’s just got a much more active role, stopping pucks for the Calgary Canucks as they chase a national title.

And since the hockey gods work in mysterious ways, it was fitting that when Molinaro and the Canucks hit the ice for their first game on May 9, it was Pak standing in the crease at the other end.

Neither goaltender will be adding that game to their personal highlight reel—Molinaro allowed five goals on 26 shots, while Pak surrendered four for just the sixth time in 62 starts as the Canucks dropped a 5-4 decision in a game dominated by special teams.

“Before [the game], I walked into the rink and I saw the Collingwood equipment manager, Richard Judges. So it was kind of crazy,” Molinaro says of seeing familiar faces. “Once I got on the ice, it was so weird playing against Noah and [Mark] McIntosh, [Spencer] Young, all those guys. Obviously, I didn't have my best [game]. Probably one of my worst games of the year, but it's all right. We'll see them again, hopefully.”

When the 2022-23 season ended for Collingwood with its 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Jr. Senators in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, so too did Molinaro’s time as a Blue. He was terrific as a backup, fashioning a 2.33 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 20 appearances, but with Pak set to return for a final Junior A season, Molinaro was ready for a change, and an opportunity to be a starter.

Enter Canucks head coach and general manager Brad Moran, who officially acquired the goaltender on July 11.

“I know he didn't play in the playoffs, but he had been through the experience,” Moran says of Molinaro’s time in Collingwood, “and to come through a winning team in a playoffs where you don't play, but have your teammates, coaches and everyone else commending you for the attitude [and] the effort was something that definitely opened our eyes.”

The Mississauga, Ontario, native was even better than advertised, leading all Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) puck-stoppers with 27 wins and six shutouts, and finishing third with a 2.60 GAA and .916 save percentage.

He then won 12 of his 15 postseason starts with terrific numbers (2.56 GAA, .908 SV%), backstopping the Canucks to their first AJHL championship since 1999 and their first trip to the Centennial Cup since they won their lone national title in 1995.

“Deep down I knew I could [be a starter], but you don't actually know until you do it,” Molinaro says. “And once I got the chance and the opportunity to run with things and Brad gave me the ball, I think I really got in the groove and it helped me a lot. It's a great feeling, knowing you have the whole staff and team behind you.”

“He came in, he was the top goalie in our league this year in my mind, and gave us a chance to win every night,” Moran adds. “He pushed our guys on and off the ice, and that's what we want.”

Two days after the Canucks finished their sweep of the Whitecourt Wolverines to win the AJHL title, Molinaro officially committed to Northern Michigan University, where he’ll join the Wildcats this fall.

It’s been nothing but success for the 20-year-old, and no one is happier for him than his former partner.

“He's got an unreal work ethic, one of the hardest working guys I know,” Pak says. “I'm super happy for him and getting his commitment and his success this year… couldn't be happier for him.”

But there’s one more piece of the puzzle that makes this homecoming even more special for Molinaro.

He and his father, Jason, were fixtures at Blades games as Julian grew up, and when the Canucks stepped onto the ice at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex for the first time, Molinaro knew just where to look.

“I almost started crying, because my dad was in the corner where we grew up watching Blades games,” he says. “I've been at this rink since I was seven years old watching the Blades every Friday night, and me and my dad always sat in the same corner, and now to be on the ice and him to be in that corner, I think it's unbelievable. It's really full circle.”

Now all that’s left is the Hollywood ending. The Canucks face the Winkler Flyers in a Friday quarterfinal, with a semifinal date with the Melfort Mustangs awaiting the winner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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