The 2024 Centennial Cup was the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) championship for the 2023–24 season won by the Collingwood Blues of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. It was the 52nd Canadian junior A ice hockey national championship and took place at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ontario from May 9 to 19, 2024. The competition included all nine CJHL champions and hosts the Oakville Blades.
| Centennial Cup | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tournament details | |
| City | Oakville, Ontario |
| Venue(s) | Sixteen Mile Sports Complex |
| Dates | 9–19 May 2024 |
| Teams | 10 |
| Host team | Oakville Blades |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Collingwood Blues |
| Runner-up | Melfort Mustangs |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Games played | 25 |
| MVP | Julien Gervais |
| Official website | |
| Hockey Canada | |
Format
editThe format consisted of a 4-game round-robin with two groups of five teams, followed by a six-team single-elimination play-off. The top team from each group of the round-robin had a bye to the semifinal round.[1]
Competing teams
editThe tournament included the championship teams from each of the 9 leagues in the Canadian Junior Hockey League and the Oakville Blades.
Calgary Canucks
editThe Calgary Canucks qualified as Inter Pipeline Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.[2]
- Regular season: 31-23-1-2 (3rd in AJHL)
- playoffs: Defeated Grande Prairie Storm 4-2, Defeated Drumheller Dragons 4-1, Defeated Whitecourt Wolverines 4-0
Melfort Mustangs
editThe Melfort Mustangs qualified as the Canterra Seeds Cup champions of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.[3]
- Regular season: 38-14-3-1 (2nd in SJHL)
- Playoffs: Defeated Estevan Bruins 4-1, Defeated Humboldt Broncos 4-3, Defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4-2
Winkler Flyers
editThe Winkler Flyers qualified as Turnbull Cup champions of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.[4]
- Regular season: 42-11-2-3 (2nd in MJHL)
- Playoffs: Defeated Portage Terriers 4-1, Defeated Virden Oil Capitals 4-2 Defeated Steinbach Pistons 4-0
Sioux Lookout Bombers
editThe Sioux Lookout Bombers qualified as the Bill Salonen Cup champions of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.[5]
- Regular season: 35-10-2-2 (2nd in SIJHL)
- Playoffs: Defeated Fort Frances Lakers 4-0, Defeated Thunder Bay North Stars 4-1, Defeated Kam River Fighting Walleye 4-0
Greater Sudbury Cubs
editThe Greater Sudbury Cubs qualified as the Copeland Cup champions of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.[6]
- Regular season 43-12-1-2 (2nd in NOJHL)
- Playoffs: Defeated Soo Thunderbirds 4-2, defeated Blind River Beavers 4-1, defeated Powassan Voodoos 4-1
Collingwood Blues
editThe Collingwood Blues qualified as the Buckland Cup champions of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.[7]
- Regular season: 49-6-0-1 (1st in OJHL)
- Playoffs: Defeated Brantford 99ers 4-0, Defeated Oakville Blades 4-1, Defeated Leamington Flyers 4-0, Defeated Trenton Golden Hawks 4-2
Navan Grads
editThe Navan Grads qualified as the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Canada Hockey League.[8]
- Regular season 41-9-3-2 (1st in CCHL)
- Playoffs: Defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings 4-2, Defeated Rockland Nationals 4-1, Defeated Smiths Falls Bears 4-2
Collège Français de Longueuil
editThe Collège Français de Longueuil qualified as the NAPA Cup champions of the Quebec Junior Hockey League.[9]
- Regular season: 30-14-2-2 (4th in LHJQ)
- Playoffs: Defeated Laval VC 4-0, Defeated Terrebonne Cobras 4-3, Defeated L'Everest de la Côte du Sud 4-3
Miramichi Timberwolves
editThe Miramichi Timberwolves qualified as the Maritime Hockey League champions.[10]
- Regular season: 31-16-3-2 (4th in MHL)
- Playoffs: Defeated West Kent Steamers 4-1, Defeated Edmundston Blizzard 4-0, Defeated Summerside Western Capitals 4-2
Oakville Blades
editThe Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League were admitted to the tournament by virtue of being the host team.[11]
- Regular season: 32-20-1-3 (9th in OJHL)
- Playoffs: Defeated Buffalo Jr. Sabres 4-2, defeated by Collingwood Blues 1-4
Map of competing teams
edit
Round Robin
editThe top 3 teams from each group advanced to the playoffs, and the 1st place teams in each group had a bye to the semifinals.
| Group A | CB | CC | NG | GSC | CFL | |
| 1 | Collingwood Blues | 5-4 | 3-2 | 10-2 | 8-0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Calgary Canucks | 4-5 | 4-3 | 3-2 | 5-1 | |
| 3 | Navan Grads | 2-3 | 3-4 | 5-1 | 5-1 | |
| 4 | Greater Sudbury Cubs | 2-10 | 2-3 | 1-5 | 6-0 | |
| 5 | Collège Français de Longueuil | 0-8 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 0-6 |
| Group B | MM | MT | WF | OB | SLB | |
| 1 | Melfort Mustangs | 4-1 | 6-5 | 3-1 | 5-3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Miramichi Timberwolves | 1-4 | 3-2 | 7-4 | 5-3 | |
| 3 | Winkler Flyers | 5-6 | 2-3 | 4-0 | 4-2 | |
| 4 | Oakville Blades | 1-3 | 4-7 | 0-4 | 5-2 | |
| 5 | Sioux Lookout Bombers |
3-5 | 3-5 | 2-4 | 2-5 |
Playoffs
edit| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||
| Miramichi Timberwolves | 8 | ||||||||||
| Navan Grads | 4 | ||||||||||
| Collingwood Blues | 5 | ||||||||||
| Miramichi Timberwolves | 2 | ||||||||||
| Collingwood Blues | 1 | ||||||||||
| Melfort Mustangs | 0 | ||||||||||
| Melfort Mustangs | 2 | ||||||||||
| Calgary Canucks | 1 | ||||||||||
| Calgary Canucks | 4 | ||||||||||
| Winkler Flyers | 2 | ||||||||||
Awards
edit- Roland Mercier Trophy (Tournament MVP): Julien Gervais, Calgary Canucks
- Top Forward: Dalton Andrew, Winkler Flyers
- Top Defencemen: Leith Olafson, Melfort Mustangs
- Top Goaltender: Jaeden Nelson, Navan Grads
- Tubby Schmalz Trophy (Sportsmanship): Riley Hearn, Calgary Canucks
- Top Scorer: Dylan Hudon, Collingwood Blues
Julien Gervais, Calgary Canucks
References
edit- ^ Bernasiewicz, Lukas (7 May 2024). "Centennial Cup ready to hit the ice". Oakville News. Village Media. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ Saelhof, Todd (17 April 2024). "'Surreal' sweep earns Canucks a 10th AJHL championship". Calgary Herald. Postmedia. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Zary, Darren (1 May 2024). "Melfort Mustangs win SJHL championship, advance to Centennial Cup". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Postmedia. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "Winkler Flyers ride OT victory to first MJHL title in 26 years". Winnipeg Free Press. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Brody, Tim (24 April 2024). "Champions! - Sioux Lookout Bombers sweep reigning champion Kam River Fighting Walleye to win Bill Salonen Cup". siouxbulletin.com. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Leeson, Ben (8 May 2024). "'We're not satisfied' — Cubs look to close out dream season with Centennial Cup win". Sudbury Star. Postmedia. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Engel, Erika (30 April 2024). "Collingwood Blues win OJHL playoffs again". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Sherwin, Fred (26 April 2024). "Navan Grads capture the Bogart Cup for the first time in franchise history". orleansonline.ca. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Dostie, Ali (27 April 2024). "Le Collège français remporte la Coupe Napa". Le Courrier du Sud (in French). Gravité Média Web. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Price, Melanie (3 May 2024). "Miramichi Timberwolves earn franchise's first MHL title with game 6 win over Summerside Western Capitals". CTV News Atlantic. Bell Media. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Brown, Ben (29 April 2024). "Centennial Cup estimated to bring $5 million for Oakville businesses". Oakville News. Village Media. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
Further reading
edit- Zary, Darren (20 May 2024). "Shooting blanks: Melfort Mustangs shut out 1-0 in Centennial Cup national final". Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- Dreger, Clayton. "Flyers clinch playoff spot at Centennial Cup". PembinaValleyOnline. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- O'Flanagan, Rob (18 May 2024). "Melfort Mustangs advance to Centennial Cup final". Melfort Journal. Postmedia. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- O'Flanagan, Rob (19 May 2024). "Mustangs fall short in Centennial Cup final". Melfort Journal. Postmedia. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- Saelhof, Todd (13 May 2024). "Calgary Canucks defeat Greater Sudbury Cubs to stay in the playoff hunt". Calgary Herald. Postmedia. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- Tompkins, Ben (19 May 2024). "Melfort falls to Collingwood, earns runner-up at national championship". northeastNOW. Pattison Media. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- "Centennial Cup field finalized, Collingwood Blues play Calgary". CollingwoodToday.ca. Village Media. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- Loewen, Adi. "La Broquerie hockey player competing in the 2024 Centennial Cup". SteinbachOnline. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- Robinson, Peter (21 May 2024). "'Amazing feeling': Collingwood Blues score first Centennial Cup". BarrieToday.com. Village Media. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- Dankochik, Cassidy (23 May 2024). "Winkler Flyers lose in Centennial Cup quarterfinals". The Carillon. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- "Collingwood Blues edge Melfort Mustangs to win Centennial Cup". TSN. Bell Media. Canadian Press. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- "2024 Centennial Cup Guide & Record Book" (PDF). hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada. Retrieved 17 August 2024.