SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champion Greater Sudbury Cubs now know who their opponents will be in round robin play at the Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, that goes May 9-19 in Oakville, Ont.
Greater Sudbury will take on the Collingwood Blues (OJHL); Navan Grads (CCHL); Calgary Canucks (AJHL) and Collège Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) in the 10-team event.
Here’s a look at the teams the Cubs will meet, and when:
Collingwood Blues (OJHL)
Friday, May 10: 4 p.m.
Collingwood captured their second consecutive Ontario Junior Hockey League Buckland Cup title after knocking off the Trenton Golden Hawks in a best-of-seven affair that went six games.
The Blues were led offensively by veteran forward Spencer Young, who provided 30 points in 19 postseason outings on a dozen tallies and 18 assists.
They also saw Dylan Hudon and Jack Rimmer surpass the 20-point plateau with 24 and 22 respectively.
Netminder Noah Pak was stellar between the pipes for Collingwood, going 16-3 with a 1.74 goals-against average and a solid .939 save percentage, along with an OJHL-best four shutouts.
Navan Grads (CCHL)
Sunday, May 12: 4 p.m.
Navan won the Central Canada Hockey League’s Bogart Cup championship Wednesday night, defeating the Smiths Falls Bears four games to two.
The Grads boasted four of the Top 5 scorers in the CCHL playoffs.
Pacing the group was Colin MacDougall, who registered 21 points on 10 tallies and 11 helpers.
Next was Sebbie Johnson, who was second among CCHL skaters, as he picked up 18 points, including six markers.
Defenceman Nicholas Paone and forward Cristobal Tola provided 14 points apiece to share fourth in league numbers.
Rookie goaltender, and CCHL playoff MVP, Jaeden Nelson went 12-5 in the playoffs to backstop his side to the CCHL crown, sporting an average of 2.41. along with a .932 save mark and a CCHL-high two shutouts.
Calgary Canucks (AJHL)
Monday, May 13: 4 p.m.
Winning the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s interpipeline Cup back on April 17, the Canucks were the first team to join the host Oakville Blades (OJHL) in the Centennial Cup.
A three-player threat in Ty Hipkin, Gavin Garland and Julien Gervais tied for the AJHL playoff scoring lead with 18 points each.
Hipkin and Garland had nine goals apiece while Gervais notched seven markers.
Goaltender Julian Molinaro went 12-3 in the postseason, with an average of 2.56 and a .908 save mark. He also had one shutout.
Collège Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ)
Wednesday, May 15: 12 p.m.
Claiming the Quebec AAA Junior Hockey League NAPA Cup crown, Collège Français downed the Everest de la Côte-du-Sud in a thrilling seven-game affair that went the distance.
Simon Laramee was Longueuil’s top point-getter as he chipped in with 19 points in 18 outings on 10 goals and nine assists.
Next on the squad was Thomas Bourbonnais (8G-10A-18PTS) and Brandon Boudreau (11G-6A-17PTS).
Netminder Mathis Lacroix-Goulet appeared in 18 playoff games, going 12-6 with a 2.37 goals-against average, along with a crisp .924 save percentage.
CENTENNIAL CUP WEBSITE
Photo credit: Rob Fera – Sudbury Light Event Photography
