2012 MJHL/MMJHL

|> [MMJHL.ca - with live updates] : [Playoff Schedule]


CHARLESWOOD HAWKS 6
FORT GARRY/FORT ROUGE TWINS 2
(Hawks win series 4-2.)
|> [Boxscore]
|> [Free Press story]

The Hawks got off to a fast start to dump the Twins and claim yet another Jack McKenzie Trophy. At the end of the 1st period the shot clock said 22-7 and scoreboard said 3-0, both in favour of the Charleswood Hawks. After that the Twins rallied a bit but the Hawks don't blow 3-0 leads.

With this title, the Hawks have now won 9 of the last 11 MMJHL championships.


|> [MJHL] : [Playoff Schedule] : [Live Scores]



PORTAGE TERRIERS 2
HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 8
|> [Story]
|> [Boxscore]
|> [CFRY 920AM 93.1FM]

The Derrieres were whupped it the opener of the final Anavet Cup. Since Humboldt is hosting the RBC Cup, both teams are assured of a spot in the nationals, thus taking a bit of an edge off of this series.

This is the last Anavet Cup because starting next year there will be one tournament between the winners of each western province and a host team, with the top two going to the RBC Cup. This series between the Manitoba and Saskatchewan champs started in 1971 (when the St. Boniface Saints beat the Weyburn Red Wings) at which time Canadian junior hockey was divided into "Major Junior" (or Tier I) and "Junior A" (or Tier II). The winners of Alberta and BC play for the Doyle Cup. Until 1990 the Anavet Cup winner would play the Doyle Cup winner for the Abbott Cup. After 1990 the RBC Cup (national) finals became a 5 team tournament instead of an east-west best-of-seven series. So the country was divided into four regions, and the Anavet and Doyle champs qualified without having to play the Abbott Cup series.

I find that to be a step backwards. The new tournament will be a 5 team round-robin followed by sudden-death semi-finals and a final. So instead of getting a best-of-seven series to gain a berth, one must win a single sudden-death game. I also know that the Anavet Cup has been a big money-maker for Junior "A" teams.

In the last five years the only Anavet Cups won by Saskatchewan have been the wins by Humboldt over Portage in 2008 and 2009. But the first time they met was in 1973. The Terriers beat the Ponies in game 5, which featured a 3rd period brawl, to take a 3-2 series lead. Humboldt chose to forfeit game 6 rather than face the Terriers once more. A 2008 story recalls that series.



OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD

Doyle Cup (Pacific Region)

Penticton Vees 7
Brooks Bandits 2
(Penticton leads series 1-0)
|> [Boxscore]

Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central Region)

Round-Robin
Game 1: Soo 4 Wisconsin 3 (OT)
Game 2: Stouffville 2 Thunder Bay 1 (OT)
Game 3: Wisconsin 5 Stouffville 2
Game 4: Soo 4 Thunder Bay 3
Game 5: Stouffville 10 Soo 2
Game 6: Thunder Bay 4 Wisconsin 3 (OT)

Semi-final:
Soo Thunderbirds 8
Thunder Bay North Stars 5
|> [Boxscore]

Final:
Soo Thunderbirds -
Stouffville Spirit -
Saturday - 7:30 p.m.

Fred Page Cup (Eastern Region)

This is the only regional yet to start. Here is how the component leagues stand:

CCHL
Nepean Raiders 3
Cornwall Colts 2
(in overtime)
(Series tied 3-3)

LHJQ
The Princeville Titan already beat the St. Jerome Panthers 4-2.

MHL
Yarmouth Mariners 3
Woodstock Slammers 4
(in triple overtime)
(Woodstock wins series 4-2)
|> [Boxscore]

CCHL, LHJQ, and MHL winners join Kanata Stallions in tournament for the Fred Page Cup and East region berth in the RBC Cup.

|> [MJHL] : [Playoff Schedule] : [Live Scores]



PORTAGE TERRIERS 3
HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 6
(Humboldt leads series 2-0)
|> [Story]
|> [Boxscore]
|> [CFRY 920AM 93.1FM]

The Terriers must have a serious aversion to banjo music. Either that or the toilet water in Humboldt makes them sick. Two decisive losses make it possible that they will lose an Anavet Cup to the Horsies for the 3rd time in 6 years.

The series shifts to Portage for games 3-5 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. Those games will be the last games in the province for the season.



OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD

Doyle Cup (Pacific Region)

Penticton Vees 1
Brooks Bandits 0
(Penticton leads series 2-0)
|> [Boxscore]

Although Humboldt stacked up for a run as host of the RBC Cup, Penticton has been the team in the headlines for their record-breaking season. After being whipped on home ice in game 1, one had to expect a rebound from Brooks and, to an extent, that happened.

Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central Region)

Soo Thunderbirds 5
Stouffville Spirit 3
(tournament final)
|> [Boxscore]

Stouffville outshot Soo 47-16. Holy crap! It is not often that a team from Northern Ontario qualifies for the RBC Cup, so good for the Soo. The OJHL had won 5 straight, and 8 of the last 9. Thunder Bay of the SIJHL won the other title.

Fred Page Cup (Eastern Region)

With just one berth to be confirmed, here's the schedule:

Wednesday, April 25th
Game 1 4:00 - CCHL vs Princeville Titan
Game 2 7:30 - Woodstock Slammers vs Kanata Stallions

Thursday, April 26th
Game 3 4:00 - Princeville Titan vs Woodstock Slammers
Game 4 8:00 - CCHL vs Kanata Stallions

Friday, April 27th
Game 5 4:00 - CCHL vs Woodstock Slammers
Game 6 8:00 - Princeville Titan vs Kanata Stallions

Saturday, April 28th
Game 7 7:00 - Semi-Final (2nd vs 3rd)

Sunday, April 29th
Game 8 2:00 - FPC Championship

CCHL
Nepean Raiders -
Cornwall Colts -
(Series tied 3-3)
Game 7: Sunday 1:30 CDT

OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD

Fred Page Cup (Eastern Region)

CCHL
Nepean Raiders 4
Cornwall Colts 3
(Nepean wins series 4-3)
|> [Boxscore]

Nepean takes the CCHL and will now face the host Kanata Stallions, the Princeville Titan, and the Woodstock Slammers.

|> [MJHL] : [Playoff Schedule] : [Live Scores]



HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 2
PORTAGE TERRIERS 1
(Humboldt leads series 3-0)
|> [Story]
|> [Boxscore]
|> [CFRY 920AM 93.1FM]

HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 2
PORTAGE TERRIERS 3
(Humboldt leads series 3-1)
|> [Story]
|> [Boxscore]
|> [CFRY 920AM 93.1FM]

After a pair of blow-outs in Banjoland the Terriers have had two tight battles back at home. Game 5 goes Thursday at 7:30 in Portage and is on-line at CFRY. Either way it will be the last game in Manitoba this year.



OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD

Doyle Cup (Pacific Region)

Brooks Bandits 4
Penticton Vees 3
(Penticton leads series 2-1)
|> [Boxscore]

Brooks Bandits 1
Penticton Vees 6
(Penticton leads series 3-1)
|> [Boxscore]

Brooks took game 3 on Tuesday night on the road. But I bet Penticton was still feeling secure since games 3-7 were scheduled for their home ice. Odd scheduling, that. So the Vees got back on track in game 4. Game 5 goes Friday.

Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central Region)

Soo Thunderbirds won the berth.

Fred Page Cup (Eastern Region)

Nepean Raiders 4
Princeville Titan 0
|> [Boxscore]

Woodstock Slammers 4
Kanata Stallions 3
|> [Boxscore]

These were the opening games of a round-robin tournament. Game 2 for everybody goes Thursday.

|> [MJHL] : [Playoff Schedule] : [Live Scores]



HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 0
PORTAGE TERRIERS 1
(Humboldt leads series 3-2)
|> [Story]
|> [Boxscore]
|> [CFRY 920AM 93.1FM]

Could this be a miracle comeback? Well, taking two home games is one thing. But taking another pair in The Land of Inbreds is another. Especially after the results of last weekend. Still, with a berth in the RBC assured it does the confidence level plenty of good to beat the host team. Game 6 goes Saturday and is available for on-line listening at the CFRY link.



OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD

Fred Page Cup (Eastern Region)

Woodstock Slammers 5
Princeville Titan 3
(Woodstock 2-0, Princeville 0-2 in round-robin)
|> [Boxscore]

Nepean Raiders 1
Kanata Stallions 2
(in overtime)
(both teams 1-1 in round-robin)
|> [Boxscore]

Here's a twist: There is no point for an OTL in this tournament. Nepean could really use that point. The round-robin wraps up on Friday and the semi-final and final go on the weekend.

OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD

Doyle Cup (Pacific Region)

Brooks Bandits 2
Penticton Vees 6
(Penticton wins series 4-1)
|> [Boxscore]

One has to be impressed with Penticton's record this year and so a berth in the RBC Cup is warranted.

Fred Page Cup (Eastern Region)

Woodstock Slammers 3
Nepean Raiders 2
(Woodstock 3-0, Nepean 1-2 in round-robin)
|> [Boxscore]

Princeville Titan 4
Kanata Stallions 7
(Princeville 0-3, Kanata 2-1 in round-robin)
|> [Boxscore]

The round-robin is over and Princeville is out. On Saturday it will be Kanata v Nepean and the winner of that faces Woodstock on Sunday for the title.

|> [MJHL] : [Live Scores] : [SJHL Live Scores]



PORTAGE TERRIERS 5
HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 4
(in overtime)
(Series tied 3-3)
|> [Boxscore]
|> [CFRY 920AM 93.1FM]

I was listening on-line and what a win. The Terriers have now come back from down 3-0 and the Broncos are in full-fledged choke mode. The Terriers had leads of 3-1 and 4-3. After the teams combined for 8 goals in 60 minutes it took 33 minutes of overtime for another goal.

Game 7 goes Sunday night at 8:30 pm CDT.



OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD

Fred Page Cup (Eastern Region)

Nepean Raiders 6
Kanata Stallions 1
(sudden-death semi-final)
|> [Boxscore]

Nepean avenged their OTL from earlier in the tournament to stake a decisive victory. I don't like to see a "host" team win a tournament, so I guess this is good. Nepean faces Woodstock on Sunday at 1:00 CDT.

|> [MJHL] : [Live Scores] : [SJHL Live Scores]



PORTAGE TERRIERS 0
HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 4
(Humboldt wins series 4-3)
|> [Boxscore]
|> [Story]
|> [CFRY 920AM 93.1FM]

So the miracle comeback fell one game short. Still, with both teams already qualified for the RBC Cup, this series had a bit of a pre-season feel to it. Portage clearly have confidence that they can win in the land of moonshine and kissin' cousins.

Of note, this was the final Anavet Cup. Next year begins a new format where all four western provinces play for one cup. The first Anavet Cup winner was the St. Boniface Saints, who will be moving to Virden next year.



OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD

Fred Page Cup (Eastern Region)

Nepean Raiders 2
Woodstock Slammers 3
(sudden-death final)
|> [Boxscore]
|> [Story]

Woodstock fittingly gets to represent the Eastern region at the RBC Cup after going undefeated in the tournament. This completes the field. Here's the schedule:

Saturday, May 5, 2012
03:00 PM Soo v Penticton
07:30 PM Humboldt v Woodstock

Sunday, May 6, 2012
03:00 PM Soo v Portage
07:30 PM Penticton v Humboldt

Monday, May 7, 2012
07:30 PM Woodstock v Portage

Tuesday, May 8, 2012
03:00 PM Humboldt v Soo
07:30 PM Penticton v Woodstock

Wednesday, May 9, 2012
07:30 PM Portage v Penticton

Thursday, May 10, 2012
03:00 PM Woodstock v Soo
07:30 PM Portage v Humboldt

Saturday, May 12, 2012
02:00 PM Semifinal
06:00 PM Semifinal

Sunday, May 13, 2012
TBD Final

|> [RBC CUP SITE]
|> [CFRY 920AM 93.1FM]



SOO THUNDERBIRDS 2
PENTICTON VEES 1
|> [Story and Summary]



HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 4
WOODSTOCK SLAMMERS 1
|> [Story and Summary]

To watch on-line check out the RBC link above and click through to Fast Hockey. Once you register you can see this whole tournament plus other Hockey Canada events free on your computer.

The Soo win over Penticton was a shocker. The Vees outshot and outplayed Soo (45-15 SOG) but in the end a PP goal in the 3rd period decided it. Humboldt's win was decisive but the scoreboard may have flattered them a bit.

When you check on-line note that the tournament is in Humboldt and is on Central Standard Time, i.e. one hour behind.

Today's games:
04:00 PM Soo v Portage
08:30 PM Penticton v Humboldt

|> [RBC CUP SITE]
|> [CFRY 920AM 93.1FM]
|> [PortageTerriers.com]
|> [MJHLhockey.ca]


SOO THUNDERBIRDS 3
PORTAGE TERRIERS 4
(in overtime)
|> [Story and Summary]
|> [Portage Daily Graphic]
|> [Portage Online - with pics and videos]


PENTICTON VEES 2
HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 3
(in overtime)
|> [Story and Summary]

The Terriers won the afternoon game in almost 5 periods of hockey. That's tough when you have to play 4 games in 4 days. The Terriers outshot the Tweety Birds 72-44. But just ask Penticton about outshooting the Soo. Every time the Terriers scored, the Soo equalized.

The nightcap was a quick one, requiring just under 5 minutes of overtime. Penticton were the favourites, with the hosts having a home town chance at an upset. Thus far it looks like the field is extremely balanced.

Monday's game:
08:30 PM Woodstock v Portage

|> [RBC CUP SITE]
|> [CFRY 920AM 93.1FM]
|> [PortageTerriers.com]
|> [MJHLhockey.ca]


WOODSTOCK SLAMMERS 4
PORTAGE TERRIERS 1
|> [Story and Summary]

The Terriers were dog-tired after Sunday's marathon and Woodstock punced on them in the 1st period. The Dogs trailed 3-0 and then the Slammers hung on for the win. Both sides are now 1-1. After a day off the Terriers will face the winless (and favoured) Penticton Vees.

Tuesday's games:
04:00 PM Humboldt v Soo
08:30 PM Penticton v Woodstock

HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 3
SOO THUNDERBIRDS 0
|> [Story and Summary]


PENTICTON VEES 2
WOODSTOCK SLAMMERS 1
|> [Story and Summary]

These games marked the 3rd games of the round-robin for the participating teams. Humboldt has 3 wins and everybody else has one. Portage, however, has only played twice.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012
07:30 PM Portage v Penticton

Thursday, May 10, 2012
03:00 PM Woodstock v Soo
07:30 PM Portage v Humboldt
(end of round-robin)

PORTAGE TERRIERS 1
PENTICTON VEES 3
|> [Summary]
|> [Story]

Portage led 1-0 after two periods but gave up 3 goals on 9 shots in the 3rd period.

Their win allows Penticton to advance to the semi-finals. They finish the round-robin at 2-2. Portage is tied with Woodstock and Soo at 1-2. One of those will be eliminated. Woodstock plays Soo in the early game. If Woodstock wins then Soo is out and Portage advances regardless. If Soo wins then Portage would have to beat Humboldt to eliminate Woodstock.

Thursday, May 10, 2012
03:00 PM Woodstock v Soo
07:30 PM Portage v Humboldt
(end of round-robin)

WOODSTOCK SLAMMERS 4
SOO THUNDERBIRDS 7
|> [Summary and Story]


PORTAGE TERRIERS 3
HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 5
|> [Summary and Story]

The Terriers had two chances to qualify for the semi-finals. First, had Woodstock won the early game over Soo they would have guaranteed a berth by virtue of a win over Soo in the round-robin. That hope was dashed when Woodstock gave up 5 goals in the first 11 minutes. Second, they could beat Humboldt in the nightcap. After a 7 game loss in the Anavet final, the game had to be considered a toss-up.

As it happened, the game was quite tight. However, Humboldt was usually ahead. The Terriers trailed 3-2 entering the 3rd period and then outshot the Broncos 22-7. However, all the teams did was trade goals before an empty-netter put the Dogs out of their misery.

So yet another disappointing Anavet for the Terriers, hockey's answer to the Buffalo Bills.

Saturday Semi-Finals
3:00 CDT Woodstock v Humboldt
7:00 CDT Penticton v Soo

Sunday Final
6:30 CDT

Free online viewing: http://hockeycanada.fasthockey.com/login.php

WOODSTOCK SLAMMERS 4
HUMBOLDT BRONCOS 3
(in overtime)
|> [Summary and Story]


PENTICTON VEES 3
SOO THUNDERBIRDS 0
|> [Summary and Story]

Humboldt picked a fine time to lose for the first time. They outshot Woodstock 15-3 and outscored them 2-0 in the first period and appeared well on their way to the final. Then came the rally to force overtime. It only took 35 seconds for the Broncos to be eliminated.

Penticton has now won 3 straight and avenged an opening round loss to Soo. They were the favourites going into this.

Sunday's final is therefore Woodstock v Penticton at 6:30 CDT. There is free online viewing: http://hockeycanada.fasthockey.com/login.php