Winners will earn trips to Brooks, Alta., for Canadian National Jr. A Championship
CALGARY, Alta. – The four Canadian Junior Hockey League regional championships are gearing up to commence across the country as the remaining teams still in contention look to join the Brooks Bandits (AJHL-Host) and Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL-Pacific) at the Canadian National Jr. A Championship, May 11-19, in Brooks, Alta.
As Brooks is hosting this year’s NJAC, and will be meeting Prince George for the Doyle Cup Pacific Region crown, both clubs automatically earn a place in the nationals.
They’ll be joined by the champions of the ANAVET Cup (Western), Dudley-Hewitt Cup (Central) in Cochrane, Ont., and the Fred Page Cup (Eastern) in Amherst, N.S., regional events.
Both the Doyle and ANAVET Cups begin tonight while the other two events will begin next week.
Vying for ANAVET Cup supremacy will be the Battlesfords North Stars (SJHL) and Portage Terriers (MJHL).
This best-of-seven affair was to have started in Battlefords, but a building booking conflict resulted in the series starting in Portage.
Set to take part in the Dudley-Hewitt Cup, which begins Tuesday in Cochrane, Ont., will be the host Cochrane Crunch (NOJHL) along with the respective title holders from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League and Superior International Junior Hockey League.
Those champions are the Hearst Lumberjacks (NOJHL), Oakville Blades (OJHL) and the Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL).
Over in Amherst, N.S., the Fred Page Cup Eastern Regional will begin Wednesday.
The Amherst Ramblers (MHL) are hosting the four-team event and they will be facing off with the Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL), le Titan de Princeville (LHJAAAQ) and the defending Fred Page Cup-champion Ottawa Jr. A Senators (CCHL).
The following are regional and national championship schedules:
Doyle Cup Pacific Region Jr. A Championship
Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) vs. Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
Schedule if one team wins first two games
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Friday, April 26 @ Brooks 7 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, April 27 @ Brooks 7 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, April 30 @ Prince George 7 p.m.
Game 4: Wednesday, May 1 @ Prince George 7 p.m.
Game 5*: Friday, May 3 @ Prince George 7 p.m.
Game 6*: Saturday, May 4 @ Prince George 7 p.m.
Game 7*: Sunday, May 5 @ Prince George 7 p.m.
*-if necessary
Schedule if teams split first two games
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Friday, April 26 @ Brooks 7 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, April 27 @ Brooks 7 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, April 28 @ Brooks 7 p.m.
Game 4: Wednesday, May 1 @ Prince George 7 p.m.
Game 5*: Thursday, May 2 @ Prince George 7 p.m.
Game 6*: Saturday, May 4 @ Prince George 7 p.m.
Game 7*: Sunday, May 5 @ Prince George 7 p.m.
*-if necessary
ANAVET Cup Western Canadian Jr. A Championship
Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) vs. Portage Terriers (MJHL)
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Friday, April 26 @ Portage 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, April 27 @ Portage 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, April 30 @ Battlefords 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: Wednesday, May 1 @ Battlefords 7:30 p.m.
Game 5*: Friday, May 3 @ Battlefords 7:30 p.m.
Game 6*: Sunday, May 5 @ Portage 7:30 p.m.
Game 7*: Monday, May 6 @ Portage 7:30 p.m.
*-if necessary
Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Jr. A Championship
April 30 – May 4
Tim Horton Events Centre
Cochrane, Ont.
Competing teams
Cochrane Crunch (Host-NOJHL)
Hearst Lumberjacks (NOJHL)
Oakville Blades (OJHL)
Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL)
Schedule
Tuesday, April 30
Oakville vs. Hearst 2:30 p.m.
Thunder Bay vs. Cochrane 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 1
Hearst vs. Thunder Bay 2:30 p.m.
Cochrane vs. Oakville 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 2
Thunder Bay vs. Oakville 2:30 p.m.
Hearst vs. Cochrane 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 3
Semifinal: 3rd round robin vs. 2nd round robin 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 4
Final: Semifinal winner vs. 1st round robin 7:30 p.m.
Fred Page Cup Eastern Canadian Jr. A Championship
Amherst Stadium
Amherst, N.S.
Competing teams
Amherst Ramblers (Host-MHL)
Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL)
Princeville Titan (LHJAAAQ)
Ottawa Jr. A Senators (CCHL)
Schedule
Wednesday, May 1
Princeville vs. Yarmouth 3 p.m.
Ottawa vs. Amherst 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 2
Ottawa vs. Princeville 3 p.m.
Yarmouth vs. Amherst 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 3
Yarmouth vs. Ottawa 3 p.m.
Amherst vs. Princeville 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 4
Semifinal: 3rd round robin vs. 2nd round robin 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 5
Final: Semifinal winner vs. 1st round robin 4 p.m.
Canadian National Jr. A Championship
May 11-19
Centennial Regional Arena
Brooks, Alta.
Competing teams
Brooks Bandits (Host-AJHL)
Prince George Spruce Kings (Pacific)
ANAVET Cup champion (West)
Dudley-Hewitt Cup champion (Central)
Fred Page Cup champion (East)
Schedule
Saturday, May 11
East vs. West 2 p.m.
Central vs. Brooks 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 12
Prince George vs. Central 2 p.m.
Brooks vs. West 7 p.m.
Monday, May 13
Prince George vs. East 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 14
West vs. Central 2 p.m.
East vs. Brooks 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 15
West vs. Prince George 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 16
Central vs. East 2 p.m.
Brooks vs. Prince George 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Semifinal 1: T.B.A. vs. T.B.A. 2 p.m.
Semifinal 2: T.B.A. vs. T.B.A. 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Final: Semifinal winners 3 p.m.
All start times local