For the first time since 2012, the Doyle Cup will be contested between the BCHL and the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).
The Wenatchee Wild are the BCHL champions, having defeated the Prince George Spruce Kings four games to one in the league finals while the AJHL crown belongs to the Spruce Grove Saints who got past the Okotoks Oilers four games to one. Wenatchee and Spruce Grove will meet in Game 1 of the Doyle Cup on Friday, April 27 in Wenatchee.
The location for the start of the Doyle Cup alternates from year to year. In 2012, it began in Brooks, Alta. so this year the BCHL team hosts the opener.
It’s a best-of-seven series that will change sites just once. If one of the teams wins Games 1 and 2 in Wenatchee, the series will shift to Spruce Grove for the remainder. If the teams split Games 1 and 2, there will be a Game 3 in Wenatchee before moving to Spruce Grove. The possible game dates are as follows:
SWEEP OF FIRST TWO GAMES
Game 1 – April 27 in Wenatchee
Game 2 – April 28 in Wenatchee
Game 3 – May 1 in Spruce Grove
Game 4 – May 2 in Spruce Grove
*Game 5 – May 4 in Spruce Grove
*Game 6 – May 5 in Spruce Grove
*Game 7 – May 6 in Spruce Grove
SPLIT FIRST TWO GAMES
Game 1 – April 27 in Wenatchee
Game 2 – April 28 in Wenatchee
Game 3 – April 29 in Wenatchee
Game 4 – May 2 in Spruce Grove
Game 5 – May 3 in Spruce Grove
*Game 6 – May 5 in Spruce Grove
*Game 7 – May 6 in Spruce Grove
*if necessary
The Doyle Cup was established in 1985 upon a donation by Penticton businessman Pete Doyle. Teams from the BCHL claimed the trophy 19 times through 2012, the last time it was awarded. The Penticton Vees are the last team to have their name etched on the trophy as they defeated the Brooks Bandits on their way to the 2012 RBC Cup national title.
The winner of the Doyle Cup has gone on to claim the national Junior A title 14 times.
From 2013 to 2017, the Western Canada Cup (WCC) replaced the Doyle. The WCC was a five-team event that featured the winners of the four Western CJHL leagues (B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) plus the host team with the top two advancing to the RBC Cup.
