Centennial Cup field complete; Collingwood Blues play Calgary

This week, the 10-team field to compete in the 2024 Centennial Cup in Oakville has been set.

Each of the nine-member Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) champions have been determined and will join the host Oakville Blades (OJHL) at the May 9-19 event at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex.

Check out the clubs representing their leagues to participate in the Canadian Junior A National Championships:

Oakville Blades (OJHL) (HOST)
Head Coach: Scott McCrory

The Blades are off to a good start in the Ontario Minor Hockey League playoffs, with Buffalo Jr. beat the Sabers four games to two.

However, their quest to win the OJHL's Buckland Cup was thwarted by eventual winners Collingwood Blues, who returned with a win for the second year in a row.

Collingwood eliminated Oakville in five contests, but the team still continued as the Centenary Cup hosts for the season.

Noah Tyrrell led the team in the playoffs with ten points in 11 games, five goals and six assists.

The Blades' Eric Bonsteel boasted the best scoring average among OJHL defensemen at 1.00, scoring 10 points in as many outings. He was also fifth among the Blues.

Goaltender Gavin McCarthy went 5-6 in the postseason with a 2.44 goals-against average.

His .938 save percentage ranked him fifth among all players in the OJHL.

Calgary Canucks (AJHL)
Head Coach: Brad Moran

On April 17, the Canucks became the first team to join the host Oakville Blades (OJHL) in the Centennial Cup after winning the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Interpipe Cup.

The triple threat in Ty Hipkin, Gavin Garland and Julien Gervais led the AJHL playoffs in scoring with 18 points each.

Hipkin and Garland each scored nine goals and Gervais had seven points.

Goaltender Julian Molinaro went 12-3 in the postseason with a 2.56 ERA and .908 save mark. It also had one closure.

Melfort Mustangs (SJHL)
Head Coach: Trevor Blevins

Melfort punched its ticket to Oakville with a six-game final victory over the Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League regular season champions Flin Flon Bombers.

The Mustangs' four-pack led the SJHL in playoff points.

Leading the charge was skilled forward Aydin Hutchinson, who scored 32 points in 18 games, including a league-best 15 goals.

Ryan Duguay and guard Chase Friedt-Mohr were on the left wing as the duo combined for 24 points in the postseason.

Clay Slava rounded out the group as he scored 20 points for Melfort.

James Venn saw the bulk of the work for the Mustangs.

He recorded 12 playoff wins in 18 starts in the SJHL while posting a 2.50 goals-against average and .925 save percentage.

Winkler Flyers (MJHL)
Head Coach: Justin Faulk

Winkler heads to the Centennial Cup after winning the Manitoba Junior Hockey League crown for the first time in 26 years.

The Flyers' Trent Penner was the leading scorer in the MJHL playoffs.

He had 14 points in 15 games, with four of his six goals coming in the MJHL.

Joining Penner in the top spot in postseason numbers is teammate Dalton Andrew.

Behind them was Winkler's teammate Zach Nicholas, who contributed 13 points.

MJHL playoff MVP Malachi Klaassen stood tall between the pipes for the Flyers, going 12-3 with a 2.07 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.

Sioux Lookout Bombers (SIJHL)
Head Coach: Carson Johnstone

Sioux Lookout, who won the Senior International Junior Hockey League's Bill Salonen Trophy in his second year on the job, shined when called up.

Jonah Smith was the club's leading scorer in the playoffs with 17 in 13 games, an SIJHL-best 11 markers and six helpers.

The Bombers had five others in the top 10 in postseason numbers.

They are Alex Lucas (3G-13A-16PTS); Owen Riffel (6G-8A-14PTS); Coby Delaney (5G-9A-14PTS); Connor Burke (3G-11A-14PTS) and Trevor Sanderson (5G-8A-13PTS).

Goaltender Jack Osmond was named the league's playoff MVP after going 12-1 with a 2.24 ERA, .944 save mark and a pair of shutouts.

Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL)
Head Coach: Darryl Moxham

The defending Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champions, the Greater Sudbury Cubs, had a regular season run to the playoffs to win the 12-team NOJHL.

They defeated the Powassan Voodoos in five games to win the title and finish 12-4 overall.

Led by 16-year-old rookie Hudson Chitaroni and equally versatile forward Nolan Newton, the Cubs combined to tie for the NOJHL lead with 22 points, as well as a dozen.

On the back end, Mason Chitaroni led all NOJHL defensemen with 13 points and all assists in Greater Sudbury's run to the championship. Josh Kavanagh, another veteran, finished second in the division with 11 points.

NOJHL Playoff MVP Noah Metivier matched his efforts to earn a second trip to the Centennial Cup in 2022 when he became a member of the Soo Thunderbirds.

With the Cubs, he went 11-4 with a 1.89 goals-against average and a .932 save mark. His three complete stops and a fourth were tied for the league lead in the postseason.

Collingwood Blues (OJHL)
Head Coach: Andrew Campoli

Collingwood won its second consecutive Ontario Junior Hockey League Buckland Cup title after defeating the Trenton Golden Hawks in a six-game best-of-seven game.

The Blues were led offensively by veteran forward Spencer Young, who had 30 points and 18 assists in 19 postseason games.

They also saw Dylan Hudon and Jack Rimmer surpass the 20-point plateau with 24 and 22 points, respectively.

Netminder Noah Pak was stellar between the pipes for Collingwood, going 16-3 with a 1.74 goals-against average and a solid .939 save percentage, along with an OJHL-best four shutouts.

Navan Grads (CCHL)
Head Coach: Marty Abrams

Navan won the Central Canada Hockey League Bogart Cup championship Wednesday night, defeating the Smiths Falls Bears four games to two.

The Grads boasted four of the top 5 scorers in the CCHL playoffs.

Colin McDougall led the way with 21 points off 10 points and 11 assists.

Next up was Sebby Johnson, who was second among CCHL skaters with 18 points, including six markers.

Defenseman Nicolas Paone and forward Cristobal Tola tied for fourth in league scoring with 14 points.

Rookie goaltender and CCHL playoff MVP Jayden Nelson led his team to the CCHL crown with a 12-5 playoff record and a 2.41 ppg average. Along with a .932 save mark and a CCHL high two shutouts.

Collège Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ)
Head coach: Patrick Bergeron

In claiming the Quebec AAA Junior Hockey League's NAPA Cup crown, Collège Frances toppled top-seeded Everest de la Côte-du-Sud in a seven-game thriller.

Simon Laramie was Longueuil's leading scorer as he scored 19 points with 10 goals and 9 assists in 18 games.

Thomas Bourbonnais (8G-10A-18PTS) and Brandon Boudreau (11G-6A-17PTS) were next on the team.

Netminder Mathis Lacroix-Goulet has appeared in 18 playoff games, going 12-6 with a 2.37 goals-against average along with a .924 save percentage.

Miramichi Timberwolves (MHL)
Head Coach: Corey Baker

The Timberwolves rallied for their first ever Maritime Hockey League championship Thursday night at home in front of 2,300 fans at downtown Miramichi with a 5-4 victory over the Summerside West Capitals. seven events in six games.

Zachael Turgeon led all MHL skaters in scoring to reach Miramichi.

He scored 23 points, scored nine goals and had 14 assists.

The T-Wolves duo of David Doucette and Hugo Doucette tied for third place in the MHL playoffs with 20 points. Doucet led the league with 13 points.

Netminder Jack Flanagan was outstanding for Miramichi, going undefeated in the playoffs and 11-2 overall.

Additionally, Flanagan had a GAA of 2.86 and a .917 SV%.

Action in the 2024 Centennial Cup begins Thursday, May 9 at noon ET as the Winkler Flyers (MJHL) take on the Sioux Lookout Bombers (SIJHL).