With Yorkton officially back in the RBC Cup field after their win over the Dauphin Kings took the Terriers back to the Junior A National Championship for the first time since 2006, it is time to preview the field that will be in Vernon, B.C. to decide who is the best team in Junior A hockey.
Yorkton (SJHL), Toronto (OJHL), Carleton Place (CCHL), Dauphin (MJHL) and hosts Vernon (BCHL) have earned their spots into the field of five and will be hungry to represent their leagues and cities on the biggest stage in Jr. A hockey. Here is what you need to know about each team in the RBC Cup.
Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
How They Got Here
Vernon are the hosts, but they did make it all the way to the BCHL Final, losing in five games to the Coquitlam Express. A third place finish in the Interior Division is now long forgotten as the Vipers proved in the playoffs that they are contenders by making it to the final in what is considered the deepest league in the CJHL. Now it is time to prove it for Vernon.
Who to Watch
Colton Sparrow: Sparrow stepped up his game in the Vipers run to the BCHL Final, scoring 22 points along the way. Vernon is a deep team that will need a player or two to take the charge on offense from time to time which makes Sparrow a key.
Josh Bryan Bryan, the Vipers top veteran defenseman is an interesting name because he has now played for two BCHL postseason hosts in back to back seasons after playing with the WCC host Nanaimo Clippers in the 2012/13 season. Bryan, who had 14 playoff assists, will look to share that tournament experience with the Vipers in the RBC Cup.
Who's In Goal
Austin Smith: Smith started every playoff game for the Vipers during the offseason and will be expected to do so in the RBC Cup. Smith's 10-9 record in the postseason will need to improve should Vernon thrive as hosts.
What are Their Chances?
Vernon will have to like their chances, and you can't blame them. After all they are hosts and played in a strong league. Still Coquitlam learned fast in Dauphin that the rest of the Junior A teams don't take the BCHL lightly, and if they want to win as hosts they will need to bring their top game each night.
Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL)
How They Got Here
Carleton place took the CCHL crown despite nearly losing in the league semifinal, needing a double OT win to stay alive in Game Six before winning the Bogart Cup and eventually the Fred Page Cup with a 3-1 win over the host St. Jerome Panthers. Carleton Place also set league records in the regular season with 54 wins and 110 points.
Who to Watch
Stephen Baylis: Baylis shorthanded goal in double OT kept the Canadians alive, and a shorthanded goal was the game winner in the Fred Page cup again for the clutch star. He will hope to continue that magic in Vernon.
Who's in Goal
Guillaume Therien: Therien was lights out for the Canadians in goal during their record setting season, keeping his GAA having just above 2.07 and winning 25 games out of 28 played after being traded from Hawkesbury. If the Canadians want to keep the ride going they will need his efforts to continue.
What are Their Chances?
If there was an East Coast team to be concerned with it would be the 54 win Canadians, but you just don't know what you are going to get until you see them play on the West Coast. Dealing with travel and a potential step up in competition, the Canadians will need some help to win the RBC. As a just five year franchise the Canadians should be proud to be here.
Toronto Patriots (OJHL)
How They Got Here
Toronto won their division in the OJHL regular season with 35 wins before dominating in the playoffs losing just twice before winning the Dudley Hewitt Cup to advance to the RBC Cup.
Who to Watch
Michael Prapavessis: Prapavessis may lead all blueliners in the RBC Cup with 50 regular season assists, good enough to be second on the Patriots in scoring,
Who's in Goal
Evan Buitenhuis: Buitenhuis starred in every playoff game for the Patriots, holding a 2.04 GAA and will be looking to continue that against the best offenses in the country.
What are Their Chances?
Toronto showed they have playoff caliber quality in the OJHL Playoffs and the Dudley Hewitt Cup which will make them contenders in this tournament, if Prapavessis can control the play from the blueline they could make a run at the Cup.
Dauphin Kings (MJHL)
How They Got Here
Dauphin finished third in the league in regular season points, beating up on a weak Addison Division where the second place team was 15 points back of the Kings at regular season's end. Starting the playoffs with four straight shutouts against the OCN Blizzard, Dauphin showed just how much better they were than the rest of the Sherwood Division by going 8-0 on their way to the MJHL Finals. In the Final the Kings would fall short to the Winnipeg Blues, losing in five games to the Addison Division champs before finishing first in the WCC round robin as hosts, losing in the final to the Terriers before earning the second spot in the RBC Cup with a win over the Spruce Grove Saints.
Who to Watch
Dylan Butler: On a balanced team there is not much that sticks out on the Kings roster, but Butler managed to lead the team in playoff scoring with 14 points with seven goals to his credit. Butler also nearly averaged a point per game in the regular season as well, notching 33 points in 34 appearances for the Kings.
Who's in Goal
Michael Stiladis: With a well documented four straight shutouts to start the MJHL Playoffs and 8 straight wins before losing to Winnipeg, Stiladis was red hot in the playoffs before crashing down to earth in the series with the Blues. Stiladis had troubles against the Terriers, allowing plenty of goals in their two games at the Western Canada Cup, but he did enough to give his team a chance at making a run to the National Championship should he get hot again like he was during the league playoffs.
What are Their Chances?
Dauphin defended home ice and the MJHL by beating tough teams in Coquitlam and Spruce Grove to get here, but they did lose twice to eventual WCC champs Yorkton which is a concern. The Kings will play wide open hockey, and proved that they can fill the net enough to hang with some very good opposition over the last two weeks in their own building. They will be even bigger underdogs on the road, but the Kings surely won't mind being in that position after proving what they can do against the best in Western Canada.
