For a complete rundown of the various league and championships leading up to Canada's National Junior A Championship, click HERE for the Road to the RBC Cup report.
Much like their NHL neighbours from Vancouver, the British Columbia Hockey League’s Victoria Grizzlies and Vernon Vipers have been playing the waiting game as teams from across the country have faced off for the final three berths in the 2009 RBC Cup.
As of Monday, however, the field is set and the Grizzlies and Vipers can begin preparations with specific opponents in mind.
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Humboldt Broncos clinched the West region berth in the event, winning the Anavet Cup by defeating Manitoba champs Portage. Meanwhile, the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Kingston Voyageurs earned the Central region entry after beating Fort William for the Dudley Hewitt Cup. And finally, the Maritime Junior A Hockey League’s Summerside Western Capitals triumphed in a double-overtime final over Dieppe to punch their ticket from the East region.
With the schedule set, the Grizzlies are slated to open the RBC Cup against West reps Humboldt in the lone game scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd (7:00 PM). The Vipers will begin the tournament a day later when they face Central reps Kingston (May 3, 2:00 PM).
The RBC Cup is Canada’s National Junior A Championship. The 2009 edition of the tournament will run from May 2nd to 10th at the Bear Mountain Arena in Victoria, BC.
For full event details, visit the BCHL website at www.bchl.bc.ca or Hockey Canada’s RBC page at http://www.hockeycanada.ca/rbccup.
