A spring storm is blowing into the Edmonton region just as a blizzard of championship hockey arrives. A flurry of action will take over the Silent Ice Center as the Junior Prospects Hockey League hosts its Prospects Cup Championships beginning Friday.
It has been a season of growth for the JPHL, and the teams competing in the best-of-three championship series are a perfect example of that progress.
Prospects Cup Championship Facts
· Five of the eight teams are first-time finalists.
· Only one of four Winter Champions advanced to the championships (15U AAA Bow Valley HC).
· Four of eight Hubs are represented in the finals for the first time.
· Two teams advanced from the Play-In round: Coquitlam 18U AAA and Calgary Rockies 17U AAA.
“We couldn’t be prouder of the league’s evolution through season four,” said JPHL Commissioner Richard Nault ahead of puck drop. “Having so many new Hubs and teams in the finals shows the parity that has developed across the league. We’re expecting sensational action this weekend.”
The Bouchier 14U AAA division will see Surrey Eagles Hockey Academy - in its first JPHL season - take on HC Edmonton, which is competing for a 14U AAA title for the first time as a Hub.
In the 15U AAA division, Langley Hockey Academy will face Bow Valley HC - the only Bauer Winter Champion to reach the finals - in a matchup where the two teams combined for 42 wins during the regular season.
The 17U AAA championship series pits the Calgary Rockies against Coquitlam HC in what promises to be an intriguing battle. The Rockies faced elimination during the Play-In round and became the first team from the Rockies Hub to reach a championship. Coquitlam, meanwhile, fell short in the Bauer Winter Championship but has been on a mission ever since.
In the 18U AAA division, HC Edmonton returns to the final for the third time in four seasons after winning the league’s inaugural championship. They will face a new opponent in Coquitlam HC, which finished just three points behind HC Edmonton in the overall standings.
As teams pursue championship glory, a select group of officials has been chosen for the weekend based on their performance throughout the season. Referees will wear microphones and utilize video review to help ensure calls are correct.
4Vengeance Media is also expanding its broadcast coverage for the event. The production will feature double-digit camera angles, instant replay, a colour analyst, and a host desk, among other broadcast enhancements.
“Our crew this weekend is top-notch, from camera operators who routinely work NHL games to some who recently covered the Olympic Games,” said 4Vengeance Media’s Director of Broadcast and Digital Media. “Our on-air talent works in the BCHL and on Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi, so we’re very excited for the games to begin.”
All the action can be streamed live on Silent Ice TV at www.silenticetv.com, with an all-access playoff pass available for $19.99 or single games for $6.99.
14U AAA - HC Edmonton
14U AAA - Surrey Eagles HA
15U AAA - Bow Valley HC
15U AAA - Langley HA
14U AAA - Northstars HA
15U AAA - South Sask HC
14U AAA - Langley HA
15U AAA - Island HC
