Dauphin, Brockville, Vernon, Oakville, La Ronge

These are the five squads that remain out of 144 teams and 11 leagues. Everybody has a shot at the RBC Cup, but experience at the National stage will definitely help. Three of the five teams have played in the RBC Cup before…

VERNON VIPERS (BCHL)

1996 in Melfort, Saskatchewan (2-2 round robin record) 26GF 20 GA

Won the championship game 2-0 over the host Melfort Mustangs (SJHL)

1999 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan (1-3 round robin record) 23GF 20GA

Won the championship game 9-3 over the Charlottetown Abbies

2009 in Victoria, British Columbia (4-0 round robin record) 32GF 15GA

Won the championship game 2-0 over the Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)

OAKVILLE BLADES (OJAHL)

2008 in Cornwall, Ontario (1-3 round robin record) 15GF 21GA

Did not make the semi-finals

BROCKVILLE BRAVES (CJHL)

1998 in Nanaimo, British Columbia (0-4 round robin record) 8GF 23GA

Did not make semi-finals

BOTH THE DAUPHIN KINGS (MJHL) AND LA RONGE ICE WOLVES (SJHL) HAVE NEVER APPEARED IN THE CENTENNIAL CUP OR RBC CUP

Last MJHL club to win the National Title- Selkirk Steelers 1974

Last MJHL team to appear in RBC Cup- Selkirk Steelers 2008 (0-4 in round robin)

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE SQUADS IN THE RBC CUP

- 13 players that played in the RBC Cup with the Vernon Vipers last year are still on the team. In fact Johnathon Milhouse was with the host Victoria Grizzlies last season and is now a member of the Vipers.

- Curtis Gedig of the Vipers is a seventh round selection of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils in last year’s Entry Draft (204th overall).

- Rob Short has played four years with the Vipers and 250+ games with the franchise.

- Goaltender Grahame Gordon (20-year-old) is 1-0 in RBC Cup play as he helped the Vipers defeat the Kingston Voyageurs of the OJAHL 8-5 on the final day of round robin play during last years event. He stopped 16 of 21 shots (5.00 GAA .762 save percentage)

- Vernon Vipers/Lakers last team to win back to back National Championships (1990 and 1991)

- Vernon has ten players with Division 1 NCAA Scholarships

- Brockville Braves won 26 games in a row during the CJHL’s Regular season

- Dauphin Kings set a new franchise record with 50 wins during the regular season. They also won their first Turnbull Cup since 1993 and the ANAVET Cup for the first time in 27 years (1983)

- La Ronge Ice Wolves Captain Dustin Stevenson has a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

- Blades forward Ryan Murphy leads Oakville with seven game winning goals.

- Kings forward and ANAVET Cup MVP Mitch Czibere won a Memorial Cup with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) back in 2007. He’s riding a seven game point streak heading into the RBC Cup (3 goals, 8 assists).

CKDM will be all over the RBC Cup with coverage everyday from the event. It’ll include the One Hour Powerplay hosted by Mitchell Clinton following the 1:00 news and sports package. Adam Sargent and I will provide play-by-play of all 13 games during the RBC Cup. Also we will present the pre-game show at 6:30pm.

It should be a lot of fun to cover the event and call games for the station as well as Hockey Canada through FastHockey.

Enjoy the coverage!

Kings help Canadian Cancer Society!

Several Dauphin Kings players will be shaving their heads following the RBC Cup and they’re accepting pledges which will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.
The head shave with take place Wednesday May 12th. Defenceman Patrick Kozyra is the one who kick started the idea. Pledges can be made by calling 622-5461.

Canada comes to Dauphin, Manitoba!

First off congratulations to the Dauphin Kings for winning the ANAVET Cup in five games over the La Ronge Ice Wolves. Regardless of the fact that the series only lasted five games, it was great to see Manitoba and Saskatchewan go head to head. Taking nothing away from the Kings victory but La Ronge Head Coach and GM Bob Beatty eluded to the fact in Thursday’s pre-game interview that his team is human and they were showing signs of fatigue after playing almost half of a season in seven weeks. With a number of days for rest and some relaxation, I expect both the Kings and the Wolves to be tough competition for the rest of Canada. Here’s the five team field for this year’s RBC Cup…

HOST TEAM-           DAUPHIN KINGS (MJHL)

WESTERN-               LA RONGE ICE WOLVES (SJHL)

PACIFIC-                   VERNON VIPERS (BCHL)

CENTRAL-                OAKVILLE BLADES (OJAHL)

EASTERN-                BROCKVILLE BRAVES (CJHL)

The Vipers needed seven games to knock off the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in the Doyle Cup. The Saints nearly pulled the rarely done three games to one comeback but full marks to the Vipers for their second consecutive Doyle Cup.

Meantime the Blades went undefeated through the entire Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. They outscored the opposition 13-3 which included a 2-1 victory over the SIJHL’s Fort William Northstars in the tournament final.

Finally the Braves, despite losing the Bogart Cup to their league rival Pembroke Lumber Kings, got the redemption they were looking for. They clinched the East representatives spot in the RBC Cup with a 5-1 victory in the final of the Fred Page Cup.

Here’s the schedule for the RBC Cup

Saturday May 1^st         

Oakville Blades vs. La Ronge Ice Wolves

Vernon Vipers vs. Dauphin Kings

Sunday May 2^nd

 Brockville Braves vs. Oakville Blades

La Ronge Ice Wolves vs. Vernon Vipers

Monday May 3^rd

Dauphin Kings vs. Brockville Braves

Tuesday May 4^th

Oakville Blades vs. Vernon Vipers

La Ronge Ice Wolves vs. Dauphin Kings

Wednesday May 5^th

Vernon Vipers vs. Brockville Braves

Dauphin Kings vs. Oakville Blades

Thursday May 6^th

Brockville Braves vs. La Ronge Ice Wolves

Semi-finals

Saturday May 8^th at 2:00pm and 7:00pm

FINAL

Sunday May 9^th

All games will be on CKDM with myself and Adam Sargent. Game One on days where there are two games will start at 2pm Central with the next game to follow at 7pm.

I’ll have more later in the week

Conclusion or continuation PT 4

The MJHL’s Dauphin Kings have an opportunity to do something that they haven’t done in 27 years, win the ANAVET Cup.

Thanks to their 5-3 victory in Game Four last night, Marlin Murray’s crew are just one win away from earning the ANAVET Cup against the SJHL champion La Ronge Ice Wolves. 

The Kings captain back in 1983 was none other than current Nashville Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz. The team was able to beat the Yorkton Terriers in five games to clinch the trophy. 

Dauphin came close in 1993 but fell in six games to the Flin Flon Bombers; this year they’re in the drivers seat. They’ve limited the Ice Wolves to just 22 shots against in the last four periods of play and have outscored La Ronge 19-15 in the four games thus far.

Kings forward Mitch Czibere is riding a six game point streak heading into tonight’s contest (2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points).

Can the Dauphin Kings make history once again tonight? You’ll have to head down to the rink or tune into CKDM to find out!

RECORDS (OVERALL)

Dauphin Kings 15-2 (9-0 at home, 6-2 on the road)

La Ronge Ice Wolves 16-9 (10-3 at home, 6-6 on the road)

GOALS (OVERALL)

Dauphin Kings 76 (53 even strength, 19 powerplay, 3 short-handed)

La Ronge Ice Wolves 79 (55 even strength, 23 powerplay, 1 short-handed)

POWERPLAY (Series)

Dauphin Kings 4/17 23.5%

La Ronge Ice Wolves 4/18 22.2%

PENALTY KILL (Series)

Dauphin Kings 14 for 18 77.8%

La Ronge Ice Wolves 13 for 17 76.5%

 

SERIES POINT SCORING (TOP 5)

DAUPHIN KINGS (Through 4 games)

Joel Kot 2G, 8A, 10PTS (6PIM)

Mitch Czibere 1G, 6A, 7PTS (4PIM)

Troy Hunter 4G, 1A, 5PTS (PPG, 4PIM)

Ryan Dreger 2G, 3A, 5PTS (PPG)

Shane Luke 2G, 2A, 4PTS (PPG)

Joe Caligiuri (2-1) 9 GA 3.00 GAA .886 save percentage

Brett Willows (1-0) 6 GA 3.67 GAA .913 save percentage

LA RONGE ICE WOLVES (through 4 games)

Dan Conacher 4G, 1A, 5PTS (PPG)

Doug Lindensmith 2G, 3A, 5PTS (4PIM)

Dustin Stevenson 1G, 3A, 4PTS (PPG)

Leo Lacourciere 1G, 3A, 4PTS (2PIM)

Marc Andre Carre 1G, 3A, 4PTS (PPG)

Adam Bartko (0-2) 12 GA 4.56 GAA .890 save percentage

Joel Danyluk (1-1) 6 GA 3.03 GAA .941 save percentage

I’ll have all the action from Credit Union Place on CKDM alongside Adam Sargent and Christian Laughland starting with the pre-game show at 7:10pm.

Kings up 2-1 heading to Game Four

Full credit to the Dauphin Kings for putting together a solid effort and showing no signs of slowing down due to food poisoning. The Wolves had the early advantage in the opening period but once the Kings got into their comfort zone on home ice, the game was theirs. Dauphin outshot La Ronge 55-23 which included the Kings defence holding the Ice Wolves to just eleven shots on goal in the final two periods. 

The line of Mitch Czibere, Cody Esposito and Troy Hunter had a very good game in Game Three, chipping in with a goal and an assist and creating chances all over the ice. The efforts of guys like Joel Kot and Bryce Lamb should not be overlooked either.

The goaltending was very good in Game Three as Joe Caligiuri made 22 saves, including a number of second and third opportunities on the La Ronge Ice Wolves. Joel Danyluk of the Ice Wolves was one of the main reasons why the game was close after two periods of play as he stopped 51 of 54 shots he faced against the Kings (The 55th shot was the empty net goal by Bryce Lamb).

The Dauphin Kings will look to continue their winning ways on home ice tonight.

RECORDS (OVERALL)

Dauphin Kings 14-2 (8-0 at home, 6-2 on the road)

La Ronge Ice Wolves 16-8 (10-3 at home, 6-5 on the road)

GOALS (OVERALL)

Dauphin Kings 71 (50 even strength, 17 powerplay, 3 short-handed)

La Ronge Ice Wolves 76 (52 even strength, 23 powerplay, 1 short-handed)

POWERPLAY (Series)

Dauphin Kings 2/13 15.4%

La Ronge Ice Wolves 4/15 26.7%

PENALTY KILL (Series)

Dauphin Kings 11 for 15 73.3%

La Ronge Ice Wolves 6 for 7 84.6%

 

SERIES POINT SCORING (TOP 5)

DAUPHIN KINGS (Through 3 games)

Joel Kot 1G, 5A, 6PTS (4PIM)

Ryan Dreger 2G, 3A, 5PTS (PPG)

Mitch Czibere 1G, 4A, 5PTS (2PIM)

Troy Hunter 3G, 3PTS (PPG, 4PIM)

Shane Luke & Bryce Lamb 1G, 2A, 3PTS (Lamb 2PIM)

Joe Caligiuri (1-1) 6 GA 3.00 GAA .898 save percentage

Brett Willows (1-0) 6 GA 3.67 GAA .913 save percentage

LA RONGE ICE WOLVES (through 3 games)

Dan Conacher 4G, 4PTS

Doug Lindensmith 1G, 3A, 4PTS (4PIM)

Dustin Stevenson 1G, 3A, 4PTS (PPG)

Liam Brennan 2G, 1A, 3PTS

Marc Andre Carre 1G, 2A, 3PTS (PPG)

Adam Bartko (0-1) 7 GA 4.29 GAA .896 save percentage

Joel Danyluk (1-1) 6 GA 3.03 GAA .941 save percentage

I’ll have all the action from Credit Union Place on CKDM alongside  Adam Sargent and Adam Bernardin starting with the pre-game show at 7:10pm.

La Ronge Ice Wolves @ Dauphin Kings

Only fifteen players participated in the pre-game skate for the Dauphin Kings this morning. 32 people made the trip to La Ronge this weekend with 23 still feeling the effects of food poisoning and flu-like symptoms. The line-up changes for tonight’s game are still to be determined but I’m curious to see how the Kings will play tonight on home ice. They’ve always been a strong team at Credit Union Place this season but the Ice Wolves will be anxious to steal a game in Dauphin and get used to playing at this arena for the RBC Cup.

With a 1-1 series tie it’s still anybody’s trophy at this juncture. The La Ronge Ice Wolves have a very good goaltending tandem and solid defence led by Captain Dustin Stevenson. The Dauphin Kings also possess an excellent duo in the crease as well as hard working individuals on the blue line. Both teams can put the puck in the net, but defence wins championships. Should be a good game three!

Statistical breakdown heading into Game Three

RECORDS (OVERALL)

Dauphin Kings 13-2 (7-0 at home, 6-2 on the road)

La Ronge Ice Wolves 16-7 (10-3 at home, 6-4 on the road)

GOALS (OVERALL)

Dauphin Kings 66 (47 even strength, 16 powerplay, 3 short-handed)

La Ronge Ice Wolves 75 (51 even strength, 23 powerplay, 1 short-handed)

POWERPLAY (Series)

Dauphin Kings 1/7 14.3%

La Ronge Ice Wolves 4/11 36.4%

PENALTY KILL (Series)

Dauphin Kings 7 for 11 63%

La Ronge Ice Wolves 6 for 7 85.7%

 

SERIES POINT SCORING (TOP 5)

DAUPHIN KINGS (Through 2 games)

Mitch Czibere 1G, 3A, 4PTS (2PIM)

Ryan Dreger 1G, 3A, 4PTS

Joel Kot 1G, 3A, 4PTS (2PIM)

Troy Hunter 2G, 2PTS (2PIM)

Zeanan Ziemer 1G, 1A, 2PTS (2PIM)

Joe Caligiuri (0-1) 5 GA 5.00 GAA .861 save percentage

Brett Willows (1-0) 6 GA 3.67 GAA .913 save percentage

LA RONGE ICE WOLVES (through 2 games)

Doug Lindensmith 1G, 3A, 4PTS

Dustin Stevenson 1G, 3A, 4PTS (PPG)

Dan Conacher 3G, 3PTS (PPG)

Liam Brennan 2G, 1A, 3PTS

Marc Andre Carre 1G, 2A, 3PTS (PPG)

Adam Bartko (0-1) 7 GA 4.29 GAA .896 save percentage

Joel Danyluk (1-0) 3 GA 3.00 GAA .936 save percentage

Christian Laughland and I will have all the action from Credit Union Place in Dauphin starting with the pre-game show at 7:10pm. Our focus will be the food poisoning/flu-like symptoms that have hit the Kings as we’ll talk to Dauphin Head Coach and GM Marlin Murray, MJHL Commissioner Kim Davis, Kings president Darren Russell and Dr. Anna Johnston, who is the medical officer of health for the Parkland Region.

Game Three is a go!

It’s official, Game Three of the ANAVET Cup between the Dauphin Kings and La Ronge Ice Wolves will go as scheduled tomorrow night at Credit Union Place.

We’ll have all the action starting at 7:10 with the pre-game show on CKDM. Face off with be 7:30.

Status of Game Three Kings and Ice Wolves

The date of Game Three in the ANAVET Cup at this time is still up in air after seventeen members of the Dauphin Kings came down with cases of food poisoning and flu-like symptoms.

The team started experiencing the symptoms early Sunday and they continued throughout the bus ride home to Dauphin.

Head Coach and General Manager Marlin Murray, who was one of those hit, tells CKDM that two players received intravenous fluids at a hospital in Prince Albert while one other player and a parent’s father were admitted to hospital in Dauphin Sunday night. According to the Winnipeg Sun, the player was defenceman Dallas Drysdale.

Murray has expressed interest in game three of the series being pushed from Tuesday night to Wednesday night at Credit Union Place.

Earlier reports say the team got sick from the post-game meal ate on Saturday night in La Ronge, but Murray figures it was actually the pre-game meal that was tainted, since the father ate it as well.

MJHL Commissioner Kim Davis, along with SJHL President Laury Ryan, are expected to make a decision regarding game three this afternoon.

The ANAVET Cup is here!

For the first time in six years the SJHL champion is not either the Yorkton Terriers (2005, 2006) or the Humboldt Broncos (2007-2009). Also there will be a new ANAVET Cup champion, which by the way was won by the Broncos in 2008 and 2009. The Kings are looking to become the first Manitoba champion since the Selkirk Steelers in 2007.

The La Ronge Ice Wolves have been a neat story to follow the entire Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League post-season. This team was seventh ranked in the league after the regular season, and many were picking the Weyburn Red Wings or the Flin Flon Bombers to win the championship. In the Bauer Conference playoffs, the Wolves swept the three time SJHL champions Broncos in the best of five survivor series which was followed by three consecutive six game victories against the Bombers, Northstars and Yorkton Terriers on route to the Credit Union Cup. In total, the Ice Wolves are 15-6 in the second season and have clinched a berth in the National Championship as the West representative.

Meanwhile what more can be said about the Dauphin Kings and their run, although their stretch has been more different than the Ice Wolves. They’ve lost just once in thirteen playoff match-ups and their last game was a huge comeback to win the Turnbull Cup. Before I discuss that, let’s recap who they had to beat to get to this point…

In the Sherwood Division playoffs the Kings swept the Neepawa Natives in the division semi-final, knocked off the Swan Valley Stampeders in the division final four games to one. That came before a four game sweep of the Winnipeg Saints in the League Final. Game Four was one I’ll never forget; the Saints took a 4-0 lead early in the second period at Credit Union Place. The Kings turned their game around and stormed back to win the game and championship 5-4.

Looking at this series, the factors are simple; who will get the better goaltending, offense from all lines and play solid defense. Joe Caligiuri has had the playoffs of his life in goal for Dauphin regardless of his numbers in game four of the league final (3 goals against on 10 shots); the Ice Wolves have a two goaltender system that they’ve been running with for the playoffs and it’s worked for them. Both Adam Bartko and Joel Danyluk have gotten this team to the RBC Cup.

One thing that the La Ronge Ice Wolves have prided themselves on is secondary scoring. Doug Lindensmith and Dustin Stevenson are one and two point scoring for the Wolves with 22 and 21 points respectively. The Wolves also have six other players with at least ten points in the playoffs (Marc Andre Carre 18, Dan Conacher and Ben Findlay 15, Liam Brennan 14, Mike Alexander 12, Travis Eggum 11). Compare those to the Kings numbers, Steven Shamanski has 22 points to lead Dauphin in points while Bryce Lamb and Zeanan Ziemer both have 18. Five other skaters have at least ten points (Shane Luke 15, Ryan Dreger 13, Devin Mitzner and Troy Hunter 11 and Mitch Czibere 10).

Good defense seems to be overshadowed these days but in order to compete with the best in the country you have to have it! The Kings are lead by Mike Boese, Joel Kot and Patrick Kozyra. Dallas Drysdale and Colin Paull have also held their own in the playoffs while rookies Mathew Backhouse and Tyler Gaudry have not looked out of place during the RBC Cup season. The Ice Wolves sport the only player who already has a NHL entry level contract for next season; Dustin Stevenson. He’ll join the Washington Capitals organization in the summer.

The Kings may have dominated their own league, but now comes the real test; will their winning ways continue against the rest of Canada? It all starts Friday. Here’s the statistical summer heading into Game One tomorrow…

RECORDS

Dauphin Kings 12-1 (7-0 at home, 5-1 on the road)

La Ronge Ice Wolves 15-6 (9-2 at home, 6-4 on the road)

GOALS

Dauphin Kings 56 (39 even strength, 15 powerplay, 2 short-handed)

La Ronge Ice Wolves 64 (44 even strength, 19 powerplay, 1 short-handed)

POWERPLAY

Dauphin Kings 15/62 24% 2 goals against

La Ronge Ice Wolves 19/84 22.6% 2 goals against

PENALTY KILL

Dauphin Kings 40 for 45 89% 3 SHG (Mitch Czibere, Bryce Lamb, Troy Hunter)

La Ronge Ice Wolves 115 for 131 87.8% 1 SHG (Liam Brennan)

PLAYOFF POINT SCORING (TOP 5)

DAUPHIN KINGS (Through 13 games)

Steven Shamanski 7G, 15A, 22PTS (PPG, 14PIM)

Bryce Lamb 9G, 9A, 18PTS (5PPG, 12 PIM)

Zeanan Ziemer 6G, 12A, 18PTS (3PPG, 12PIM)

Shane Luke 10G, 5A, 15PTS (PPG, 6PIM)

Ryan Dreger 3G, 10A, 13PTS (PPG, 20PIM

Joe Caligiuri (11-1) 23 GA 1.71 GAA .930 save percentage 2 shutouts

Brett Willows (1-0) 1 GA 3 GAA .957 save percentage

LA RONGE ICE WOLVES (through 21 games)

Doug Lindensmith 9G, 13A, 22PTS (3PPG, 34PIM)

Dustin Stevenson 10G, 11A, 21PTS (3PPG, 22PIM)

Marc Andre Carre 8G, 10A, 18PTS (2PPG, 18PIM)

Dan Conacher 7G, 8A, 15PTS (PPG, 30PIM)

Ben Findlay 7G, 8A, 15PTS (3PPG, 15PIM)

Adam Bartko (11-6) 49 GA 2.71 GAA .925 save percentage 1 shut out

Joel Danyluk (4-0) 8 GA 1.77 GAA .946 save percentage

Adam Sargent and I will have all the action in La Ronge, note the start time of the pre-game show will be 8:10pm because of the time difference in Saskatchewan. We’ll talk to Kings forward Travis Cech as well as both Head Coaches; Marlin Murray of the Kings and Bob Beatty of the Ice Wolves.

During the intermission I have a special interview with CBC’s Mark Lee, who’s providing play-by-play commentary for the San Jose Sharks/Colorado Avalanche first round series.

Enjoy the weekend!

ANAVET Cup schedule released

Here’s the complete schedule for the 2010 ANAVET Cup…

(1) DAUPHIN KINGS vs. (7) LA RONGE ICE WOLVES

Friday April 16^th                Dauphin Kings at La Ronge Ice Wolves 8:30pm

Saturday April 17^th            Dauphin Kings at La Ronge Ice Wolves 8:30pm

Tuesday April 20^th             La Ronge Ice Wolves at Dauphin Kings 7:30pm

Wednesday April 21^st        La Ronge Ice Wolves at Dauphin Kings 7:30pm

Thursday April 22^nd    La Ronge Ice Wolves at Dauphin Kings 7:30pm

Saturday April 24^th       Dauphin Kings at La Ronge Ice Wolves 8:30pm

Sunday April 25^th           Dauphin Kings at La Ronge Ice Wolves 7:00pm

As you may know, because the Dauphin Kings won the MJHL title the La Ronge Ice Wolves will qualify for next months RBC Cup regardless of who wins this series.

CKDM will have every game in this series. Our pre-game show will be 20 minutes in length.

I’ll put together a preview later this week.