A sneak peek into the RBC Cup’s other four

An insight on the other four RBC Cup teams the Penticton Vees will face in Humboldt.

Submitted by BCHL newsletter

With a national championship on the line, here’s a look at the teams and some names to watch for.

Humboldt Broncos (SJHL), host team

Regular season record – 42-11-2-3, 89pts

Top scorer – Andrew Johnston, 29-52-81, 57 games

Likely starting goaltender – Matt Hrynkiw, 22-3-0, 2.28GAA, .921sv%

How they qualified: Host team

Inside stuff – Head coach Dean Brockman was an assistant with Team Canada West in November’s World Junior A Challenge in Langley. While there, he coached Penticton’s Travis St. Denis, Troy Stecher and Curtis Loik and coached against Mike Reilly and Mario Lucia who played with Team USA.

 

Portage Terriers (MJHL), West representative

Regular season record – 42-15-5, 89pts

Top scorer – Brent Wold, 26-45-71, 60 games

Likely starting goaltender – Shea Cooper, 30-13-0, 2.75GAA, .901sv%

How they qualified: Faced Humboldt Broncos in Anavet Cup

Inside stuff – The Terriers are playing in their second-straight RBC Cup and will be motivated to improve their showing after a 1-3 record in the round robin last year.

 

Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL), Central representative

Regular season record – 37-11-2, 76 pts

Top scorer – Micky Sartoretto, 43-54-97, 45 games

Likely starting goaltender – John Kleinhans, 26-9-0, 2.86GAA, .912sv%

How they qualified – Won Dudley-Hewitt Cup over Stouffville Spirit

Inside stuff – The Thunderbirds will be without their head coach stemming from a disciplinary action for an incident after the team’s Dudley-Hewitt Cup victory.

 

Woodstock Slammers (MHL), East representative

Regular season record – 45-6, 91pts

Top scorer – Bradley Greene, 39-35-74, 51 games

Likely starting goaltender – Matt Murphy – 29-6-3, 2.13GAA, .932sv%

How they qualified – Won Fred Page Cup over Nepean Raiders

Inside stuff – The Slammers held the number-one ranking in the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings for all of November and December until they were overtaken by the Vees on Jan. 9. They were sixth in the final CJHL rankings, which came out Feb 27.

 

Penticton Western News