The participants are now set for the 2022 Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial junior “B” hockey championships starting Thursday afternoon at the Ladner Leisure Centre.
The four-team tournament will see the Delta Ice Hawks host the champions from the Pacific, Vancouver Island and Kootenay International junior leagues. Following three-days of round-robin games, the 54th edition of the championships will conclude with the gold and bronze medal games next Sunday.
Here’s a brief look at the four teams:
Revelstoke Grizzlies
Kootenay International Junior Hockey League champions
Regular season 31-9-1-1
Playoffs 16-3
With the tournament being on pause the past two years due to COVID, the 2019 and defending champions are back thanks to capturing the KJHL’s Teck Cup in five games over the Nelson Leafs. The Grizzlies are loaded with Alberta talent including Calgary native goaltender Brandon Weare who was named the playoff MVP.
Peninsula Panthers
Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League playoff champions
Regular season 31-14-1-5
Playoffs 12-6
The Panthers are VIJHL champions for the first time since 2011 after a game six overtime win over the Oceanside Generals on Friday night. The club has dedicated the remainder of its season to teammate Grant Gilbertson, 18, who tragically was killed in a car accident in Langford back on Jan. 3 en route to practice.
Langley Trappers
Pacific Junior Hockey League champions
Regular season 33-9-0-2
Playoffs 12-2
The Trappers are PJHL champions for the first time in their history thanks to being a model of consistency from start to finish. They owned the league’s best regular season record then put together a dominating playoff run that included a five-game series win over the White Rock Whalers to capture the Ray Stonehouse Cup.
Delta Ice Hawks
Host
Regular season 27-13-1-3
Playoffs 5-7
The Ice Hawks have had just over three weeks to prepare for the tournament after being bounced in game six of the PJHL semi-finals by White Rock. They are returning to the Cyclone Taylor Cup for the first time since 2018 when they lost to host Richmond in the gold medal game. Now they are hoping a similar script unfolds next weekend.
Cyclone Taylor Cup Schedule
Thursday, April 7
3:30 p.m. Langley Trappers (PJHL) vs. Peninsula Panthers (VIJHL)
7:30 p.m. Delta Ice Hawks (host) vs. Revelstoke Grizzlies (KIJHL)
Friday April 8
3:30 p.m. Langley Trappers vs. Revelstoke Grizzlies
7:30 p.m. Delta Ice Hawks vs. Peninsula Panthers
Saturday, April 9
3:30 p.m. Revelstoke Grizzlies vs. Peninsula Panthers
7:30 p.m. Delta Ice Hawks vs. Langley Trappers
Sunday, April 10
Noon: Bronze Medal Game (3rd place vs. 4th place)
4 p.m. Championship Game (1st place vs. 2nd place)
