Dance partners set for Cyclone Taylor Cup
By The Nelson Daily Sports
All the dance partners have now been confirmed for the 2014 Cyclone Taylor Cup starting Thursday in the Hertiage City at the NDCC Arena.
Beaver Valley was the last team to book its ticket to the BC Hockey Junior B Final Four after the Nitehawks disposed of the Kamloops Storm in six games in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Final Friday in Fruitvale.
The other two dance partners are the Victoria Cougars of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League and Aldergrove Kodiaks of the Pacific Junior Hockey League.
The winner of Cyclone Taylor Cup advances as the provincial champions to the Keystone Cup for the Western Canadian championships.
The Abbotsford Pilots host the tournament April 17-20, featuring the top teams from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario, along with the host Pilots.
The Nelson Daily has a capsule look at the four teams vying for BC Junior B Hockey supremacy:
Nelson Leafs — Cyclone Taylor Host Team
The Green and White took the shortest route to the Junior B tournament.
However, it’s not the way the host team wanted to advance to the four-team affair.
Nelson was knocked out by Beaver Valley in the Murdoch Final in six games.
The Leafs were a battered and bruised team and paid the price of not having their two goalies — Brad Rebagliati and Adam Maida — as well as a healthy leading scorer — Jamie Vlanich on the roster against the Hawks.
However, after being unceremoniously eliminated during the KIJHL playoffs, the Leafs have had a month off to rest those weary bones.
Leaf coach Frank Maida gave the Leafs two full weeks away from the rink before resuming training April 1.
When Nelson opens the tournament Thursday at 7 p.m. against Victoria, Nelson should be ready and rested for the Cougars.
Nelson will rely heavily on Vlanich and linemate Travis Wellman to power the Leafs offence. But don’t be alarmed if Nelson Minor Hockey products Carsen Willans and Linden Horswill, playing their final games for the Green and White, doesn’t continue his goal scoring in the Cyclone Taylor Tournament.
On defence, the Leafs will be bolstered by the return of smooth skating Robson Cramer who sat out the final games of the Murdoch Final due to a suspension. Joining Cramer is hard-hitting captain Darnel St. Pierre, Patrick Crome, Austin Seaman and Nick Trefry.
In goal, Rebagliati is slated to man the nets after recovering from injury.
Nelson will be looking to win its first Junior B title since Fritz Koehle coached the Leafs to the provincial crown in 1968.
The last time the Leafs played in the Cyclone Taylor Cup was in 2009 when the squad, coached by Simon Wheeldon, lost in the final to Richmond Sockeyes.
Beaver Valley Nitehawks — KIJHL Champions
Beaver Valley won its second KIJHL title in three seasons.
The Hawks may have won three straight had the Castlegar Rebels not eliminated Beaver Valley in the seventh game of the Murdoch Final last season.
Castlegar went on to win the 2013 KIJHL crown.d
The Hawks are loaded with talent. But the driving force of the team is the two-headed monster in Dallas Calvin and Ryan Edwards.
The two Trail natives combined for 82 points in 41 games.
However, if Calvin and Edwards are not scoring the Hawks can look down the line up to see Riley Brandt, Dan Holand or Braden Fuller fill the void.
On defence, Fraser Stang anchors a blueline that batters and beats up opposing forwards.
And in goal, all-world Brett Clark, sporting a 14-5 playoff mark with a 2.38 goals against average — and two playoff shutouts — is there to keep Beaver Valley in the game.
Beaver Valley, winners of the BC title in 1997 and 2001, begins play Thursday at 3 p.m. in the NDCC Arena against PJHL chanpion, Aldergrove Kodiaks.
Aldergrove Kodiaks — PJHL Champs
The Kodiaks did the unthinkable in the Pacific Junior Hockey League Final.
Trailing 3-1 to Junior B powerhouse, Richmond Sockeyes, Aldergrove rang off three straight wins — including a 5-1 road win — to dethrone the reigning PJHL champs.
Aldergrove is led by 20-year-old McHaffie twins — Spencer and Scott — who combined for 19 goals while adding 20 assists to lead the Kodiaks in the playoffs.
On the blueline is rookie Jeremy Lagler who finished the PJHL playoffs tied for third in team scoring with 13 points.
In goal, 20-year-old Jordan Liem backstopped Aldergrove to the amazing comeback in the final against Richmond.
Victoria Cougars — VIJHL Champions
Victoria made it look easy en route to capturing its third Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League title.
The Cougs dumped Peninsula Panthers in six games to clinch the Island title.
Victoria is led by Snohomish, Washington sniper Michael Fretz who led the Cougars in playoff scoring with 10 goals and 15 assists in 15 games.
Alberta native Blake Roney was right behind Fretz with 12 goals and 10 assists with 19-year-old Sam McMullen also scoring a dozen goals.
In goal Nathan Hargrave etched out a skinny 1.71 goals against average to lead the Cougs.
Check out the Cylcone Taylor website for full schedule and ticket information.
