The Calgary Canucks have reached the AJHL Finals for the first time in 25 years

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For a quarter of a century, the Calgary Canucks have been left out of the AJHL Finals schedule.

It hasn't been shown since 1999, causing a lot of anxiety at the Max Bell Center for 25 years.

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But this weekend, the city's Junior 'A' franchise will be back in the big dance, looking to put years of frustration — and some might say — failure behind them in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

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“Feels great,” Canucks star Bowden Singleton said. “It's been 25 years since we reached the final. An enthusiastic group in the dressing room. We look forward to playing.

“We have one goal, our goal is to win everything.”

That goal begins Friday night with Game 1 of the AJHL best-of-seven final against the host Whitecourt Wolverines up north at JDA Place (7 p.m.).

The Canucks advanced to the championship after a 4-2 quarterfinal victory over the Grande Prairie Storm and a 4-1 semifinal victory over the Drumheller Dragons.

Additionally, the Wolverines – a strong defensive and opportunistic squad – blanked the Camrose Kodiaks 4-1 and the Canmore Eagles in Rounds 1 and 2, respectively, to reach this final.

Of course, those playoffs are overshadowed by a tumultuous season for the BCJHL in February that saw five of the league's biggest franchises leave the AJHL.

The 16-team roster became an 11-club roster virtually overnight, so many are wondering if the 2024 AJHL champion might end up with an asterisk next to his name.

“I don't feel that way at all,” Canucks forward Riley Bracco, 19, said. “These five teams wanted to leave. They can leave, and we can be champions.”

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“We believed we could win this thing before those teams left,” Singleton said. “Then I'd say our confidence went through the roof when we saw those teams go. But at the end of the day, it's all about trusting each other.

“This year's exception was our culture. We are brothers. By competing against each other, we made each other that much better throughout the year. We will do it together – we will pull in the same direction.”

Rarely has that happened over the past two decades, including on the Canucks.

Any playoff success has been elusive.

But under GM/head coach Brad Moran — now in his fifth year with the club — the future looks bright.

This is also in the final with the team.

“He started changing the whole culture,” said Singleton, a sophomore marksman for coach Moran. “He sat down with me and the captaincy team in the summer and said, 'We've got to change this.' We had our goals, we made it fun to come to the ice rink. Whether it's your fifth year or your first year in the league, everyone in the room has a voice.

“It can be seen from last year that the ice rink was not allocated much. We are a unit – not a group. That's why we are succeeding.”

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Of course, it helped bring the Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Blackfalds Bulldogs, Spruce Grove Saints and Sherwood Park Crusaders to the independent BC league.

For example, the defending three-time national and provincial kingpins, the Bandits and Saints have combined to win the last 12 AJHL titles.

“It is what it is,” Moran said. “I look at our records against teams that have gone, we were a 500 team. So for me, we want to play against good teams.

“Right now we're here and enjoying the ride. If you're not here to be part of it, we don't care.

“And there's trust in our room, yes,” Moran continued. “I think I still have a lot to prove. I think outside the league, 'Are these teams good enough?' there is a question mark. I think parity has pushed teams to be better in our league.

“You get your foot in the door and you never know.”

The Canucks have their feet in the door now.

Jumping full on the Wolves and shutting him down is now the next step to returning to champion status.

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“When we struggled, we didn't score,” Moran said. “So if we can get three or four goals, which can be difficult in the playoffs, if we make a mistake, we can take the pressure off. We scored on time in the playoffs and that was important. We went into overtime where we went full game in all three games.

“If we get four lanes, we can push the offense.”

Singleton, himself the playoff's leading scorer with 15 points, has been “off the charts since Christmas,” as he skated with Julien Gervais (13) and Ty Hipkin (12).

Gavin Garland (13) along with Jack Plandowski (8) and Matthew Paskiewicz (6) further round out the Wolverines' high-end skill set.

“We asked our best players in the regular season to step up and be better – and they did,” Moran added. “But if you look at the roster, everyone contributed. I think some guys get overlooked … Ethan Short has three goals in five games, including two big game-winners.

“Different guys have stepped up, and that's what we need.”

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AJHL FINAL

Best of seven series

Friday: @ Whitecourt, 7pm

Sat: @ Whitecourt, 7pm

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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