Pilot Mound Hockey Academy (5) vs Wenatchee Wild (1) U18 Prep Division II Western Championships
Collin Friedrich and William Picklyk’s two-goal performances powered Pilot Mound Hockey Academy to a 5-1 win over the Wenatchee Wild. Wolfgang Cook scored the lone goal of the first period to give Pilot Mound the lead. Collin Friedrich (2G) extended Pilot Mound’s lead to three with a pair of goals in the first seven minutes of the second period. Collin Ubrig got one back for Wenatchee midway through the frame to make it a 3-1 game. William Picklyk (2G) put the game out of reach in the third, adding on two power play goals for Pilot Mound. Briggs Olson (2A) and Austin Polonoski (2A) each picked up two helpers in Pilot Mound’s win. Aiden Trapp (33/34) turned aside 33 of the 34 shots sent his way in the Pilot Mound net.
RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna (5) vs St. George’s School (3) U18 Prep Western Championships
A three-goal third period lifted RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna to a 5-3 win over St. George’s School. It was a quiet first period due to the stellar goaltending play of the RHA Kelowna’s Conner Nicolson (32/35) and St. George’s Cash Christie (35/40). The scoring ramped up in the second. London Taylor and Harshaan Kaila found the back of the net for St. George’s, giving them a two-goal advantage. RHA Kelowna fought back with a power play marker from Riley Pederson and a goal from Dylan Cawley (1G, 1A) to send the two teams into the room tied at two. RHA Kelowna put the pressure on in the third, outshooting St. George’s 15-8. That pressure would pay off. Mathis Paull (1G, 1A) put RHA Kelowna ahead 3:10 into the third. A couple minutes later, Benjamin Bowtell buried his fifth goal of the Western Championships to double RHA Kelowna’s lead. St. George’s showed some resilience with Lukasz McIsaac scoring to cut the deficit to one with just over eleven minutes left. Ryan Sadovia (1G, 2A) quickly put an end to St. George’s comeback bid, scoring less than two minutes later to seal RHA Kelowna’s win.
Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy (5) vs Notre Dame Hounds (11) U17 Division II Western Championships
The Notre Dame Hounds scored nine unanswered goals to help them get an 11-5 win in a high-scoring game against Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy. The scoring got started early with Mitch Wells (2G) getting CDA on the board 1:56 into the contest. Notre Dame responded with a pair of goals from Landon Sokoloski (2G, 2A) and Jacob Bate (2G) to take their first lead. CDA picked up their game before the period ended, getting another goal from Wells and two goals in 21 seconds from Adam Pflugrath-Davis (2G) to take a 4-2 lead. CDA extended their lead to three with a shorthanded marker from Knox Vogel (1G, 1A) 41 seconds into the second. After that, Notre Dame took over, scoring nine straight goals. Luke White (1G, 3A), Joshua Legette (1G, 3A), and Sokoloski scored before the ten-minute mark to even the game up. Joe Wakabyashi (3G, 2A) put Notre Dame ahead by two before the end of the period with a pair of goals that came 24 seconds apart. Ryder Pisiak (1G, 2A), Brandon Thompson, and Bate tacked on three more in the third for Notre Dame. Wakabyashi capped off his hat trick with a goal in the final minute to close out Notre Dame’s big win. Joshua Heitman (16/17) steadied Notre Dame, stopping 16 of the 17 shots he faced in relief.
RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg (2) vs Pacific Coast Hockey Academy (5) U18 Prep Western Championships
Trace Anderson’s three-point game propelled Pacific Coast Hockey Academy to a 5-2 victory over RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg. Jed Lake scored to give PCHA the first lead of the game with just over five minutes to go in the first period. Regina Pats prospect Jett Deschamps responded quickly for RHA Winnipeg with a rocket of a shot from the faceoff dot. In the second period, River Arnason found the back of the net for the second time in the Western Championships to give RHA Winnipeg a one-goal edge. PCHA took control of the game early in the third with Cadel Gourlay and Jordan Ramsay potting two goals in 19 seconds to restore their one-goal lead. Trace Anderson (1G, 2A) added an insurance marker a few minutes later to extend PCHA’s advantage to 4-2. Ben Wetterberg (3A) played a big role in PCHA’s offensive outburst, picking up assists on the first three goals in the final frame. Midway through the period, RHA Winnipeg had a big opportunity when PCHA was assessed a double-minor but they were unable to convert on the power play. Braden Boman sealed PCHA’s victory with an empty-net goal in the final minutes. Sam Saskiw (28/30) stood tall in the PCHA net, kicking out 28 of the 30 shots he faced.
Bourget College (9) vs CIH Academy (5) East U18
Victor Morissette-Richer’s first career CSSHL hat trick helped Bourget College beat CIH Academy 9-5. It was an even game through the first 30 minutes with the score tied 3-3. Morissette-Richer (3G) scored twice and Olivier Tetreault (2G) added one more for Bourget. Nikita Marinin (2G) scored CIH Academy’s first goal with Andrew Mark (2G) netting the next two. Bourget jumped ahead by two with Tetreault’s second goal and a power play marker from Alexis Gauthier (1G, 1A). Before the end of the frame, Marinin responded for CIH Academy, cutting Bourget’s lead to 5-4. Bourget pulled away in the first ten minutes of the third period with Albert Genest, Morrissette-Richer, and Maxemile Richard (1G, 1A) finding the back of the net. CIH Academy’s Alex Thompson (1G, 2A) made it an 8-5 game with his fourth goal of the season. Sidney Chartrand (1G, 1A) finished off Bourget’s win with a memorable moment, scoring his first career CSSHL goal in his debut. The power play was a big reason for Bourget’s success, going three-for-six.
Notre Dame Hounds (1) vs Indigenous Sports Academy (9) U18 Prep Division II Western Championships
Caelen Cross’s five-point performance helped Indigenous Sports Academy cruise to a 9-1 win over the Notre Dame Hounds. Emery Medicine Shield (1G, 2A), Mason Sauvie (1G, 1A), and Phoenix Evans scored in the first period to give ISA a 3-0 lead. The middle frame was the most even with ISA’s Jaden Prairie Chicken (1G, 1A) and Notre Dame’s Thomas Beaton trading goals. Cross (3G, 2A) took over in third, lighting the lamp three times and adding an assist. Ethan Agawa and Lawson Gardipy tacked on the other third period markers for ISA. Tayvian Delorme (4A) continued his big tournament with four assists in ISA’s big win. Kael Ratt (30/31) stopped 30 of the 31 shots sent his way in the ISA net.
Pacific Coast Hockey Academy (3) vs RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg (4) U17 Western Championships
Atticus Cruz’s late goal lifted RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg to a 4-3 victory over Pacific Coast Hockey Academy. Owen Hyde (1G, 2A) gave PCHA the lead 4:46 into the contest with his third goal of the tournament. Atley Feniuk replied for RHA Winnipeg, scoring a power play goal with 55 seconds left in the period to even the game up. RHA Winnipeg struck late again in the second with Murphy Johnston burying his fifth goal of the tournament to give them their first lead. The back-and-forth battle continued in the third when PCHA’s Kaelen Rusjan (1G, 1A) tied the game up just under six minutes into the third. RHA Winnipeg’s captain, Nicholas Edbom, helped them retake the lead with a point shot that found its way through traffic. Shortly after that goal, Wenatchee Wild prospect Atticus Cruz (1G, 1A) doubled RHA Winnipeg’s lead, finishing off a nice three-way passing play with Riley Bullion and Casey Mitschke. PCHA got within one when Collin Lee lit the lamp with 14 seconds left but it was too little, too late. Grayson McDonald (31/34) stood firm in the third for RHA Winnipeg, making 14 saves to get the win.
Delta Hockey Academy (4) vs Northern Alberta Xtreme (3) U18 Prep Western Championships
Big games from Cruz Waltze and Greyson Moroz powered Delta Hockey Academy to a 4-3 upset win over the top-seed Northern Alberta Xtreme. Aaron Zulinick (1G, 1A) got Delta on the board taking a feed from Waltze (2G, 1A) and netting the only goal of the first period. Delta’s power play went to work in the middle frame with Nate Barclay (1G, 1A) and Waltze scoring on the man advantage to take a 3-0 lead. Waltze continued to stretch out Delta’s lead 58 seconds into the third, scoring the team’s third goal of the game on the power play. Despite being down four, the Xtreme showed no quit. They turned it up several notches, outshooting Delta 26-8 in the third period. The special teams success kept up but this time it was the Xtreme taking advantage with Mason Koponyas (2G) blasting home a goal on the man advantage. With just over five minutes left, Brady Whitehead cut the Xtreme’s deficit to 4-2 with his first goal of the Western Championships. The Xtreme kept pushing, and with 37 seconds left, Koponyas buried his second of the game to make it a 4-3 game. In the final 20 seconds, the Xtreme created a scramble but they were unable to direct the puck on goal. Netminder Greyson Moroz (45/48) preserved Delta’s win, making 23 saves in the final frame.
Okanagan Hockey Academy (3) vs RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna (4/SO) U17 Western Championships
RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna pulled off a dramatic win, erasing a two-goal deficit to beat Okanagan Hockey Academy 4-3 in a shootout. RHA Kelowna got the scoring started early with a goal from Max Nichols 1:16 into the game. OHA fought back later in the period getting quick strike goals from Jace Parsons (1G, 1A) and Rylan Bengert to give them a 2-1 lead heading into the dressing room. U15 Prep call-up Gage Mark (1G, 1A) made an impact in the second period, getting his first goal in the U17 division to make it a 3-1 game. OHA held a large territorial edge through the first two periods, outshooting their opponent 24-9. RHA Kelowna flipped that on its head in the third, getting a large majority of the shots. That pressure led to RHA Kelowna’s Griffin Hoy finding the back of the net just past the midway point of the frame, making it a one-goal game. In the final minute, Bennett Macek was captain clutch for RHA Kelowna. His point shot took a deflection and went through the five-hole of OHA’s netminder to send the game to an extra frame. Overtime solved nothing so the game headed to a shootout. The two squads each scored twice in the first three rounds. After that, William Stewart (27/30) stepped up for RHA Kelowna, making a stretching save in the fourth round and getting a little help from his post in the fifth round. Aiden Andrews buried the game-winning goal for RHA Kelowna in the bottom of the fifth round, making a backhand to forward move and sliding it by the pad of the OHA goaltender.
Edge School (5) vs OHA Edmonton (3) U17 Western Championships
A three-goal third period helped Edge School knock off OHA Edmonton 5-3. Darius Odermatt gave Edge the early lead, getting an unassisted marker 1:10 into the contest. OHA Edmonton responded with a pair of goals from Osten Strickland and Noah Stone (1G, 1A) to take a 2-1 lead after the first period. Edge’s Trent Caines (1G, 1A) levelled the game up with his second goal of the Western Championships midway through the second frame. Edge struck early in the third with Winston Chicilo giving them the lead. Seven minutes later, Evan Lynch doubled Edge’s advantage with a power play marker. OHA Edmonton cut their deficit in half with a goal from Hudson Blair with under eight minutes to play. OHA Edmonton got two power plays in the final seven minutes but it was Edge’s special that made the difference with Noah Brade getting a shorthanded marker to seal Edge’s win. Emerson Popil (30/33) stood tall for Edge in the third, stopping 12 of the 13 shots he faced.
North Shore Warriors (4) vs Edge School (7) U18 Prep Western Championships
Adam M’hamed, Nick Wytrychowski, and Brock England’s big days lifted Edge School to a 7-4 win over the North Shore Warriors. Edge had a strong start with Luke Jamieson, Reed Reschny, and England (1G, 2A) scoring in the first period to take a 3-0 lead. North Shore fought back in the middle frame getting goals from Gabriel Kaminski, Mark Lee (1G, 1A), and Jonathan Lee in the first 7:15 of the period. M’hamed (2G, 2A) restored Edge’s lead with just over four minutes left in the period but it wouldn’t last long as North Shore’s Dominic Seminoff scored with 16 seconds to go, knotting the game up at four. M’hamed put Edge back on top in the third with a power play marker and this time they wouldn’t relinquish the lead. Less than two minutes later, Wytrychowski (2G, 1A) scored his first goal of the Western Championships, adding some insurance for Edge. Wytrychowski put the game out of reach in the final minute, sending the puck into an empty net. Ryley Budd (10/11) was solid in relief for Edge, making 10 saves.
OHA Edmonton (3) vs Okanagan Hockey Academy (7) U18 Prep Western Championships
Three power play goals propelled Okanagan Hockey Academy to a 7-3 victory over OHA Edmonton. Each team had early success on the man advantage. Tucker Robertson (1G, 2A) and Eli Tverdovsky (2G) both picked up power play markers in the first for OHA with blueliner Cohen Williams (3A) drawing the primary assist on both goals. Austin Fell scored on the man advantage and Parker Fitzgerald found the back of the net at even-strength for OHA Edmonton to send the teams into the dressing room tied 2-2. In the second, OHA pulled ahead with three consecutive goals from Tverdovsky, Maxx Parfitt (1G, 2A), and Charlie Grant (2G). Carter Keca had a quick response for OHA Edmonton, scoring 48 seconds after Grant’s goal to cut their deficit to 5-3. OHA Edmonton had pressure in the third, sending 17 shots toward OHA netminder Ben Hakes (37/40) but he turned away all of their chances. OHA put the game away in the final ten minutes with goals from Grant and Cohen Handby (1G, 1A).
Bourget College (4/SO) vs CIH Academy (3) East U17
Felix Lazure scored the shootout winner and Tristan Boyer stood tall in net for Bourget College in their 4-3 shootout win over CIH Academy. Lazure (1G, 1A) gave Bourget the early advantage with his first goal of the season. CIH Academy claimed their first lead of the game on back-to-back goals from Leonardo Stretti (2G). Justin Lavoie replied for Bourget, finding the back of the net with just over seven minutes left in the first period. The offence in the second came quickly with Luca Chiarizia (1G, 1A) scoring to restore CIH Academy’s lead but 17 seconds later Louis-Guillaume Couture lit the lamp for Bourget to tie the game. Tristan Boyer (50/53) had to be sharp in Bourget’s net in the opening two periods as CIH Academy sent 41 shots his way. Bourget picked up their game in the third, outshooting CIH Academy 16-12. Bourget had their chances, including a pair of two-man advantages but CIH Academy’s Sebastien Bourgeau (36/39) shut them down. CIH Academy had a two-man advantage of their own but were unable to capitalize. After all those opportunities the game made it all the way to a shootout. Boyer was the difference maker for Bourget, stopping all five CIH Academy shooters. Lazure came up with the shootout winner for Bourget in the fifth round.
Prairie Hockey Academy (4/SO) vs Calgary International Hockey Academy (3) U18 Prep Western Championships
In a battle of undefeated teams, Prairie Hockey Academy skated away with a 4-3 shootout win over Calgary International Hockey Academy thanks to the filthy mitts of Henry Thunderblanket and strong goaltending from Micah Davidson. Zee Jamal opened the scoring in the first period for CIHA with their first of two power play goals in the contest. Noah Kelly responded for Prairie with a goal on the man advantage early in the second. Prairie took a two-goal lead later in the period on goals from Griffin Horne and Henry Thunderblanket that came 37 seconds apart. Oliver Kramp took advantage on another CIHA power play, cutting their deficit in half with his first goal of the Western Championships. CIHA’s Aden Bouchard (1G, 1A) evened the game up 8:48 into the third, scoring on an end-to-end rush. CIHA controlled the play in the third, outshooting Prairie 15-8. Micah Davidson (40/43) stood tall in Prairie’s net, turning aside every shot after Bouchard’s goal to send the game to an extra frame. In overtime, CIHA had the better of the chances but stellar goaltending from Davidson and a huge block by Prairie captain Ryland Molde sent the game to a shootout. Henry Thunderblanket put Prairie ahead in the second round, deking out the CIHA netminder Cole Prelusky (33/36) and sliding the puck into a wide-open net. Davidson did the rest for Prairie, making his third straight save in the shootout to seal the victory.
North Shore Warriors (0) vs Prairie Hockey Academy (4) U17 Western Championships
Shots remained tight in the opening twenty but Prairie would pounce on the scoresheet first with a quick pair of goals from Kashton Smith and Eric Helland. Prairie would control most of the second and would have it highlighted by an end-to-end effort from Braden Thompson. Prairie’s momentum would carry into the third, leading to a fourth goal off the blade of Zander Watson (1G, 1A). In goal, Colton Lutz (26/26) steered all 26-shots aside for the shutout, ending Prairie’s U17 season on a high note.
Shawnigan Lake School (3) vs BWC Academy (5) U18 Prep Western Championships
Max Malinousky (2A) spotted Jonathan Bitonti (2G) from the boards for a shorthanded marker to open the scoring in the first. Nigel Alberts would score his third of the playoffs soon after to tie things up at one for Shawnigan. However, BWC Academy would storm back on to the scene, scoring twice to close the period with credit to Richard Wonyeneh and Hunter Ashton. To open the second, Koen Gauthier would go end-to-end for Shawnigan to bring them back to within one. Once again, BWC Academy would strike late in the frame, this time off the stick of Bitonti for his second of the evening. Another solo rush for Shawnigan courtesy of Cole Mekelburg would once again bring them back to within striking distance, but that was all the offence Shawnigan was able to cook up. Lukas Hoff would wire one bar down to restore BWC Academy’s lead and take the victory. Noah Sinagowitz (27/30) picked up the W in the crease.
BWC Academy (1) vs Delta Hockey Academy (5) U17 Division II Western Championships
Delta came flying out the gates with three unanswered goals to ignite this game. Christian Sum got it all started with a solo rush down the right wing while Ewan Torrance and Emil Najm (3G) potted the next two. Michalis Kefalas got BWC Academy on the board late in the frame with a wicked wrister off the zone entry. However, Delta would keep their opposition in a vice grip heading forward as Najm buried another two to establish a four goal lead and the hat-trick. Coming into the playoffs, Najm had seven goals on the regular season. In three playoff games, the West Vancouver, BC native has six markers to his name. Delta would shut the door in the third, riding their 5-1 lead into the sunset. Lynden Mercier (25/26) picked up the win between the pipes.
South Alberta Hockey Academy (5/SO) vs Yale Hockey Academy (4) U18 Prep Western Championships
A mere 33-seconds into play, Alexandre Jacques (2G) was able to give Yale the early lead with a snipe coming down the left wing. SAHA would end up getting the better of Yale by the end of the first frame as Luke Ruptash (2G) and Cash Olson registered two goals for their side. Yale would come back in the second with firepower. Jayden Oleskiw and Jacques would put Yale back in front just over six minutes into the middle frame. However, Ruptash would add his second of the evening from a sharp angle, making things even once again. Saskatoon Blades prospect Matthew Dowdall would restore Yale’s lead shortly after but Avery Watson (1G, 1A) would slam home a rebound to make things 4-4 through forty. The next twenty minutes wouldn’t see any scoring despite a couple of chances going each way. In overtime, Yale would find themselves on a 2-on-1 in the dying seconds but would fail to convert, leading this game to a shootout to decide who moves on to the Semi-Finals on Saturday. Through the opening five shooters, no one was able to figure out either Nathan Kam (42/46) or Mattias Radke (7/7). Calgary Hitmen prospect Shaun Hildebrandt would break the ice in the sixth round but would be evenly matched by Ty Hynes, extending the shootout. It wouldn’t be until the 10th round where we would see both teams go tic-for-tac once again as Matthew Dowdall and Cole Fisher would beat their respective goaltenders. Gus Schill would miss his opportunity to apply the pressure on SAHA. Lethbridge Hurricanes prospect William Scott would step up to the plate in the 11th round and wire a snapshot past the glove of Kam to end the marathon. In superstitious fashion, number 11 ends it in round 11 to send SAHA to the U18 Prep Semi-Finals!
