The Pembroke Lumber Kings have won their first RBC Cup title, and their victory came at the expense of one of the tournament's most successful teams.
Francis Dupuis made 40 saves and Jonathan Milley scored twice as the Lumber Kings beat the two-time defending champion Vernon Vipers 2-0 to claim the 2011 National Junior A Championship.
"It's been a long time coming for this organization," said Lumber Kings head coach and general manager Sheldon Keefe.
"To be able to bring a national championship back to Pembroke, I know for a lot of people who have given a lot of years to the organization that today is a big day."
Pembroke is the first team from Ontario since the Aurora Tigers in 2007to win the tournament.
The Vipers, who have won a record six national titles, were looking to become the first team to win three straight championships.
After two scoreless periods, Milley opened the scoring at 13:39 of the third. After a turnover at the Pembroke blue-line, Milley raced away on a breakaway and beat Vernon goaltender Kirby Halcrow. Milley capped the scoring with an empty-net goal with 15 seconds remaining.
The Vipers finished the round-robin with a 4-0 record and looked like the team to beat heading into the semifinals. The Lumber Kings, meanwhile, finished with a 1-3 record, tied with the Wellington Dukes and Portage Terriers, and advanced on goal differential. But Pembroke came alive in the playoffs, first upsetting the host Camrose Kodiaks 4-2 in the semifinals before stunning the Vipers.
EVER WONDERED HOW THE BEST ACTUALLY GET TO BE THE BEST?
We all know The RBC Cup is Canada's National Junior A Hockey Championship. But do you know the path teams take as they battle it out to claim the title?
This diagram helps to explain the long and treacherous road, starting from the ten League Championships leading to the prestigious RBC Cup.
- The BCHL Champions take on the AJHL Champions for the Doyle Cup and the title of Pacific Champion.
- The SJHL Champions take on the MJHL Champions for the Anavet Cup and the title of Western Champion.
- The SIJHL, NOJHL and OJHL Champions plus the Host Team battle it out for the Dudley Hewitt Cup and the title of Central Champion.
- LHJAAAQ, CCHL, and MHL Champions plus the Host Team battle it out for the Fred Page Cup and the title of Eastern Champion.
- The Pacific, Western, Central and Easterns Champions, plus the Host Team, advance to the ultimate challenge to be the last team standing at the end of the road to the RBC Cup.
For more information on the RBC Royal Bank Cup, including news, statistics schedule, and past winners click here.
