Bracco's return to the AJHL's latest “turning point” for the Calgary Canucks

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Ken Bracco is proud of how the year turned out for the Calgary Canucks.

After a disappointing season, the team he believed in for decades returned to championship form, threatening to finish at the top of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

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In fact, the Bracco Bunch could reach that peak once again, finally, Wednesday night at the Max Bell Center.

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“It's really special,” said Riley Bracco, Ken's grandson and a freshman forward for the Canucks. “I grew up watching my grandfather really build this franchise and do a good job of bringing teams to this place.

“It's very special to be here now.”

It's now two games into the AJHL finals for the young Bracco and the Canucks, a 2-0 lead over the Whitecourt Wolverines to open a pair of home ice contests – Games 3 and 4, of the best-of-seven championship series – Tuesday and Wednesday at Ken Bracco Arena (7 p.m.). .

A win in either or two of the next five finals games would give them their 10th AJHL crown, but their first since 1999 and a berth in either the Canadian Junior Hockey League or Centennial Cup.

“My dad (Carey) says, 'Just go out there and prove yourself and play hard and my grandpa will be proud no matter what,'” Bracco, 19, said. “If we can take it to the Centenary Cup and win it, it could be really special. This is a turning point for the organization in setting a new standard for how we want to be treated and respected in this league.”

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Winning in the AJHL has been a spring tradition for the Canucks, especially under Ken Bracco.

The Canucks have made 34 straight playoff appearances, a streak that ended in 2006-07. Along the way, the club won 11 regular season pennants, nine league titles and the 1995 Centennial Cup, under the leadership of Don Phelps and Bracco as president.

“There's a lot of pride here,” said Riley Bracco, whose grandfather died in 2015 after 32 years of service to the Canucks — many of them as an active fundraiser who helped keep the club alive in the 2000s. “So it's bigger than either of us. He is older than you. There are a lot of people who are at the club or were at the club ten years ago and want to see us succeed since we last won. So we have to win it again for these people.”

Canucks GM/head coach Brad Moran believes his first championship in 25 years is a foundation to help shape his charges.

“I think it's great for the organization,” Moran said. “We've made strides every year, but it's a confidence boost for these kids knowing that this organization has won championships and fought. Even though it's been a while since we've been to the finals, they've taken the pride of the organization and the city will get behind you and you'll have that connection.”

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On that front, the Canucks are drawing more eyeballs than they have in a while.

Winning will do that to anyone.

“It's been hard work getting this far,” Moran said. “And a lot of people behind the scenes go unrecognized — the board, the president, the banquet people and the AJHL Showcase volunteers … that gives us credibility both on the ice and in the office.

“There have been ups and downs since I've been here. There's been seasons of COVID, there's been renovations (to the Max Bell Center), there's been movement … But in the last couple of years, it's gotten stronger and we've taken a big step this year.”

Basically like a giant leap.

After all, a quarter of a century has passed since the last time they reached the finals.

“The games were great,” Moran said. “Crowds in the first two games have gone from 1,000 to 1,500 in the second round and are still going up. When April rolls around and hockey winds down in town, people are looking for something to do. When you're winning, people want to check it out.”

Tickets are on sale to check out the remaining playoff games in the AJHL Finals, hoping to change the venue for the hockey championship that will continue in the 2024 Centennial Cup next month.

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The CJHL tournament, which will decide the next king after the three-time league and national champion Brooks Bandits left for the independent BCHL, will be held May 9-19 in Oakville, Ont.

“It's a big goal for us,” Riley Bracco added. “It's a dream. You grow up watching junior hockey and you grow up watching people win these championships.

“And you want to do it yourself. You hear the stories and it's very special. Not many people can say they've done that. You want to be part of a team that says, 'We did it.''

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AJHL FINAL

(Canucks 2-0 in best-of-seven series)

Game 1: Calgary 5, Whitecourt 1

Game 2: Calgary 5, Whitecourt 2

Tuesday: @ Max Bell Centre, 7pm

Wednesday: @ Max Bell Centre, 7pm

*Saturday 20th April: @ Whitecourt, 7pm

*Tuesday 23 April: @ Max Bell Centre, 7pm

*Friday 26 April: @ Whitecourt, 7pm

* — if necessary

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