The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Here is an introduction to each team battling for Junior A hockey supremacy. Joliette Action Ð The Action won the Fred Page Cup with a 4-2 win over the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the CJHL in the final game, which is played in a format similar to that of the RBC Royal Bank Cup. The Lumber Kings had compiled the best win-loss record in the CJAHL during the regular season, so knocking them off was no easy feat. The Action are a resilient bunch, winning two Fred Page Cup games in overtime on their way to the championship. Bobby Mazerolle appears to be their top player, taking home QJAAAHL Playoff MVP honors as well as the Fred Page Cup tournament MVP. In league play, Mazerolle racked up 18 goals and 10 assists in 16 games. David Poulin had 11 goals and 13 assists to finish second in team scoring. Jonathan Dick led the team during the regular season (50-49-66-115). In what looks like an offensive league, the Action did not have a defenseman that finished amongst team scoring leaders. The top point getter from the back end was Joel Laliberte (16-3-5-8). The Action will be Yorkton's first opponent at the RBC Royal Bank Cup as the two sides hook up on Sunday afternoon. Streetsville Derbys Ð Yorkton fans may recognize the name Felice Turano. Turano was an offensive defenseman with the Portage Terriers last season, but he took his act to the Derbys this season. He was their second leading scorer with 49 points in 44 games during the regular season. Clayton Windigo (1985 born) had a brief stopover in Humboldt once upon a time. He had four goals and 14 assists in 40 games. Some of the midseason additions added to help boost the team's chances at succeeding as the host club were leading scorer Steven Tamaradis (9-5-8-13 with Streetsville, 41-36-30-66 overall), Mike Scheu (12-7-6-13 with Streetsville, 51-27-20-47 overall), Ryan Silveira (20-8-15-23 with Streetsville, 34-16-24-40 overall), and Brent Alexin (7-1-0-1 with the Derbys, 35-7-22-29 overall). Goalie David Wilson was 10-6-2, 2.68, .923 as a member of the Derbys. Those numbers are superior to his overall ledger of 21-15-5, 2.91, .918. The Derbys lost in the first round of the OPJAHL playoffs to the Georgetown Raiders, a team that competed at the 2005 RBC Royal Bank Cup in Weyburn. However, Streetsville did finish the season with an impressive 11-4-3 mark. Nevertheless, they haven't been on the ice for a competitive game since February 21st. Fort William First Nation North Stars Ð SJHL fans will recognize a few names on the Stars, including their top player and leading point getter, Kory McEwan, an ex-Weyburn Red Wing. Joey Nigro took part in the CJAHL Prospects Game in Yorkton back in December. Norman Grant started this season with the Battlefords North Stars (had a brief stint in Weyburn), and Michael Pilote was a trade deadline acquisition from the La Ronge Ice Wolves. Pilote is serving as the back-up to starter Carter Hutton. Hutton was 7-0, 1.57, .921 in the playoffs. McEwan had 22 points in eight games to lead all skaters. Nigro and Dennis Morrison both had 18 points to tie for second on the team. McEwan also won the SIJHL regular season scoring championship with 119 points in 50 games. Nigro was third in that race with 94 points. The Stars waltzed through the regular season with an astonishing 50-2 mark. They went 7-0 in the playoffs and won the Dudley Hewitt Cup with a thrilling 7-6 overtime win over Sudbury. Incidentally, the Stars were the host team in the event. Burnaby Express Ð The Express won sixteen of twenty games in the BCHL playoffs and then downed the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in six games to lay claim to the Doyle Cup. The Express had four players score more than 10 goals in the BCHL playoffs (Tyler McNeely 20-13-24-37, Geoff Irwin 20-14-16-30, Mark Soares 20-13-10-23, Kyle Turris 20-10-13-23). There are plenty of other dangerous offensive players to keep an eye on, including Paul Crowder (16-8-12-20 in the playoffs), Jovan Matic (18-6-11-17), and defensemen Keith Seabrook (20-9-10-19) and Dave Simoes (20-5-13-18). Goalie Bryce Luker (16-and-4, 2.56, .914) played every minute of the postseason. Perhaps the only player SJHL fans would recognize on this team is tough guy Anthony Wild, who also saw time this year in Battlefords and Weyburn. The Express were somewhat unlikely winners in the BCHL. They were second in the Mainland Division, six points back of Chilliwack. In addition, six other BCHL teams had more regular season points. Pre RBC Royal Bank Cup rankings (according to the CJAHL) 1-Yorkton 2-Burnaby 3-Joliette 4-Fort William 5-Streetsville The championship game will be televised on Sunday, May 14 by TSN.
