Centennial Cup 2026: Niverville Nighthawks National Champs!
Updated Monday, May 18
With USA Hockey Youth and Girls National Championships more than a month behind us in the rearview mirror and the Hockey Canada U18 Club National Championships having wrapped up April 26, we have come around the far turn of the 2025-26 North American amateur hockey season and are in full gallop heading toward the finish line.
For the past several weeks, the continent’s top junior leagues have taken center stage.
The Tier I United States Hockey League Clark Cup Playoffs have been going on for some time now, and a champion will be crowned in the days ahead. Also in the U.S., the Tier II North American Hockey League’s Robertson Cup Playoffs are ongoing, with four teams having advanced to the Robertson Cup Championship in Blaine, Minn.
Meanwhile, north of the border the Canadian Hockey League, which is comprised of the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Maritimes Hockey League (QMJHL), continues marching toward the Memorial Cup May 21-31 in Kelowna, B.C. The field for the Memorial Cup, which features each CHL league champion and a host team competing in a much-anticipated nationally televised event that is the annual culmination of the CHL season, is now set.
With the USHL and CHL receiving the bulk of the North American junior hockey media attention, our focus turned to the NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs and the Jr. A Canadian Junior Hockey League Playoffs. Each year, the nine CJHL league champions advance to compete along with a host team for the Canadian Jr. A national championship at the Centennial Cup.
The 2026 Centennial Cup was hosted in Summerside, PEI, by the Summerside Western Capitals May 7-17. With the completion of the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) Salonen Cup Playoffs and the Maritime Junior Hockey League MHL Cup Playoffs April 27 and 28, the Centennial Cup field was finalized.
The CJHL, which advances players to the CHL; NCAA Divisions I, II and III; and Canadian U SPORTS college programs, includes 116 teams competing in nine leagues across Canada. Many CJHL players eventually go on to play professional hockey after progressing through the junior and college ranks. The British Columbia Hockey League parted ways with the CJHL in 2023.
The leagues included in the CJHL are:
- Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL)
- Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL)
- Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL)
- Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL)
- Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL)
- Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL)
- Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL)
- Quebec Junior Hockey League (LHJAAAQ)
- Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL)
The host Calgary Canucks of the AJHL captured the 2025 Centennial Cup with a 7-2 victory against the Melfort Mustangs of the SJHL. This year’s host team, the Summerside Western Capitals, lost to the Truro Bearcats, 3-2, in Game 7 of the MHL South Division Finals after capturing the regular-season division title with a 32-12-5-3 record and 72 standings points. Truro went on to win the MHL Cup championship with a 4-1 series victory over the Edmundston Blizzard to advance to the Centennial Cup.
This year's Centennial Cup got underway Thursday, May 7, when the Greater Sudbury Cubs of the NOJHL took on the OJHL’s Toronto Patriots at 11 a.m. EDT. The AJHL’s Canmore Eagles faced the CCHL’s Rockland Nationals at 3 p.m. EDT that day, and opening day concluded at 6:30 p.m. with the host Capitals facing the Niverville Nighthawks of the MJHL.
The tournament concluded Sunday, May 18, with the Niverville Nighthawks capturing the Candian Jr. A national championship.
2026 Centennial Cup Awards
MVP - Adam Vigfusson F (Niverville)
Best Forward - Cole Cooksey (Toronto)
Best Defender - Lucas Vacca (Toronto)
Best Goaltender - Mathis Lacroix-Goulet (CF Longueuil)
Most Sportsmanlike - Justin Ouellette (Summerside Western)
All Centennial Cup games were played at Credit Union Place and can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.
Centennial Cup Format
The 10 competing teams were divided into two pools of five for round-robin play, with the top three finishers in each pool advancing to the playoff round. Each pool’s top seed received a bye into the semifinals, with the other four teams facing off in the quarterfinals Friday, May 15. Teams were re-seeded for the semifinals, which were contested May 16 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 pm. EDT. The championship game was played May 17 at 6 p.m. EDT.
A three-point system was used to determine the standings during the preliminary round, with three points going to a regulation winner, two points awarded to an overtime or shootout winner and one point going to an overtime or shootout loser. Preliminary-round games that ended in a tie after regulation featured a five-minute 3-on-3 sudden-victory overtime followed by a shootout if necessary. Playoff overtimes were 20 minutes of 5-on-5 play until a winner was determined.
Group A Standings
- Niverville Nighthawks (MJHL) 4-0-0; 11pts
- Canmore Eagles (AJHL) 3-1-0; 8pts
- Summerside Western Capitals (Host) 2-2-0, 7pts
- Rockland Nationals (CCHL) 1-3-0, 4pts
- Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL) 0-4-0; 0pts
Group B Standings
- College Francais de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) 3-1-0; 9pts
- Truro Bearcats (MHL) 2-2-0; 6pts
- Toronto Patriots (OJHL) 2-2-0; 6pts
- Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL) 2-2-0; 6pts
- Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) 1-3-0; 3pts
CLICK HERE to see each team’s Road to the Centennial Cup
2026 Centennial Cup Schedule
all times Eastern
Thursday, May 7
Toronto Patriots 8, Greater Sudbury Cubs 3
Toronto sprinted out of the gates by scoring twice in the opening 3:36, extended the lead to 4-1 halfway through the game and put away the Cubs with three third-period goals. Cole Cooksey led the onslaught with 3 goals and 2 assists, with Luke Howard adding a goal and 2 helpers. Luciano Bruno, Anthony Giacalone and Liam Longo contributed two points apiece, and winning goalie Nico Armellin stopped 34 shots. Lincoln Moore, Noah Kohan and Briir Long scored for Greater Sudbury.
Canmore Eagles 3, Rockland Nationals 2 (OT)
The CJHL's top regular-season team became its first Centennial Cup upset victim when Canmore's John Szabo scored 1:03 into overtime. Rockland appeared to have the Eagles on the ropes after Gabriel Le Houillier scored a pair of third-period goals to force the extra session. Will Lutic and Owen Mastroianni scored to give Canmore a 2-0 lead 9:52 into the second period. Lutic and Szabo each dished out an assist, while Ryder Dembo handed out a pair of helpers and goalie Alexander Scheiwiller earned the win with 27 saves. Mavrick Brunet had 2 assists for Rockland.
Niverville Nighthawks 5, Summerside Western Capitals 4 (OT)
It was another quick overtime ending in the Day 1 nightcap as Marlen Edwards scored for Niverville just 14 seconds into the extra period after Adam Vigfusson had tied the game for the Nighthawks with 6:29 left in regulation. Edwards recorded 2 goals and an assist, with Vigfusson contributing 1-1-2 and Luke Wagner dishing out a pair of helpers. Dawson Zeller and Hayden Wheddon scored the other goals for Niverville, and winning netminder Austin Dubinsky stopped 17 shots. Lane Sim paced the Summerside offense with a goal and an assist, while Alexandre Guy, Jordan Shaw and Simon Mullen also scored.
CLICK HERE for the May 7 Three Stars of the Day
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Friday, May 8
College Francais de Longueuil 1, Flin Flon Bombers 0
Samuel Beaulieu scored the game's only goal in the second period, and the CF Longueuil defense combined with neminder Mathis Lacroix-Goulet to shut down the Bombers over the next 26:21. Lacroix-Goulet stopped all 26 shots he faced to record the shutout win. Jayden Rousseau assisted on Beaulieu's goal.
Canmore Eagles 3, Thunder Bay North Stars 2
John Szabo scored with 3:43 left in the game as the Eagles rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring three straight times in the final 28:32. Hudson Landmark opened the scoring for Canmore with a short-handed goal at 11:28 of the middle frame, turning the game's momentum after the Eagles fell behind by a pair of goals 6:26 into the second period. Evan Simeoni and Acoyen Fehr scored to give Thunder Bay the 2-0 lead. Coheen Daoust had the other Canmore goal, with Szabo picking up his second assist on that tally.
Greater Sudbury Cubs 4, Truro Bearcats 1
Lincoln Moore and Noah Kohan scored less than 3 minutes apart in the third period to break open a 2-1 game. Moore also opened the scoring, with Spencer Horgan extending the margin to 2-0 at 10:16 of the second period. Jake Todd managed to slip one past winning goaltender Iain Wintle late in the middle frame, but that would be the only blemish for Wintle as he stopped each of the other 23 shots he faced.
CLICK HERE for the May 8 Three Stars of the Day
CLICK HERE for the Top Plays of the Day for May 8
Saturday, May 9
Niverville Nighthawks 7, Thunder Bay North Stars 2
The Nighthawks scored three times in a span of 6:21 of the first period to take control of a 1-1 game and extended the margin to 6-1 in the second period and cruised to the win. Kole Mears and Adam Vigfusson scored two goals apiece for Niverville, with Parker Rolston and Hayden Wheddon each contributing 1-1-2. Dawason Zeller scored the other Nighthawk goal, and winning netminder Austin Dubinsky stopped 15 shots.
Toronto Patriots 7, Flin Flon Bombers 2
Toronto scored five times before the Bombers got on the board in the second period and then scored twice more before the opening 40 minutes were complete. Luciano Bruno, Hudson Cummins and Owen McGuckin each scored twice, with Bruno adding an assist, while Cole Cooksey, Bodhi Ryan and Tommy Karmiris contriburted three points apiece. Trey Caracciolo made 30 saves to earn the win in goal. Ryder Mucha and Landon Alexander scored for Flin Flon.
Summerside Western Capitals 4, Rockland Nationals 2
The Nationals fell to the hosts, suffering their second upset loss of the tournament as four different playes scored for Summerside. Elliott Mullen, Aleandre Guy, Owen MacPherson and Brennan Murphy scored the goals, while Justin Robinson made 29 saves for the winners. Mavrick Brunet and John Micallef scored for Rockland, which fell to 0-2-0 after entering the tournament with the CJHL's best regular-seasion record. The Capitals improved to 1-1-0.
CLICK HERE for the May 9 Three Stars of the Day
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Sunday, May 10
Truro Bearcats 2, College Francais de Longueuil 1
Truro got all the goals it would need in the first period, with Tristan St-Gelais and Antoine Fiontaine scoring in the opening 7:07 of the contest. The Bearcat defense and goalie Louca Connolly took it from there, allowing only a shorthanded goal by Gabriel L'Etoile midway through the second period. Connolly finished with 34 saves as CF Longueuil outshot Truro, 35-25. Fontaine also picked up an assist on the St-Gelais goal.
Canmore Eagles 5, Summerside Western Capitals 1
Canmore led, 2-0, through the game's first 37 minutes, but it seemed like the hosts stole the monentum when Elliott Mullen scored to cut the margin to 1 with 2:52 left in the second period. The Eagles would have none of that, however, as Cole Wadsworth scored 1:25 later, igniting a three-goal run by Canmore overlapping the final two periods that sealed the outcome. Cohen Daoust scored just 13 seconds in to the final frame, and Reid Larson capped the night off by scoring with 5:35 left. John Szabo got the ball rolling for the Eagles with his marker just 18 seconds into the contest. Doust's first of two goals at 3:23 of the second period made it 2-0. Larson and Will Lutic also each contributed two points for the winners, and goalie Alexander Scheiwiller made 33 saves as Summerise compiled a 34-27 shots-on-goal advantage.
CLICK HERE for the May 10 Three Stars of the Day
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Monday, May 11
Flin Flon Bombers 6, Greater Sudbury Cubs 4
After falling behind 4:52 into the contest, Flin Flon responded with avengance, scoring four times in the final 14 minutes of the opening period to seemingly take control of the game. But closing out the Cubs would not be easy. Owen King, Daks Klinkhammer and Briir long scored three straight goals for Greater Sudbury in an 8-minute span of the middle frame to even the score and make things interesting. Reid Arberry halted that momentum for Flin Flon, however, connecting with 1 second remaining in the second period, and Landon Alexander finished off the Cubs in the final minute with an empty-net goal. Rhett Ewen netted a pair of goals for the Bombers, with Arberry, Alexander and Brandon Bruce each contributing two points. Charlie Tritt made 20 saves to earn the win in goal.
Rockland Nationals 8, Thunder Bay North Stars 2
Everyone was asking the real Rockland Nationals to stand up, and finally they arrived in Summerside. Buoyed by four goals in the opening 11:02 of the second period, Rockland turned a 2-1 game through 20 minutes into a rout. Mathys Laurent led the onslaught with 5 assists, while Mavrick Brunet contributed 1-3-4 and Gabriel Le Houillier notched a hat trick. Taylor Laframboise scored twice, with John Micallef and Jeremy Belleau each adding 2 points and winning goaltender Kayden Newton stopping 19 shots. Acoyn Fehr ad Evan Simeoni scored for Thunder Bay.
Truro Bearcats 6, Toronto Patriots 1
Truro dominated a team that was dominant in its first two Centennial Cup outings, scoring four times in the second period to take the life out of the Patriots. Jake Todd, Nathan Curson and Antoine Fontaine each dished out a pair of assists for the Bearcats, while six different players scored goals. Drew Keiver, Ben Lindsay, Matthew Merryweather, Austin Hoyt, Eli Baillargeon and Samuel Vachon recorded makers, and goalie Louca Connolly stopped 40 shots to backstop the victory.
CLICK HERE for the May 11 Three Stars of the Day
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Tuesday, May 12
College Francais de Longueuil 3, Greater Sudbury Cubs 1
Gabriel Provencher and Adam Lemay scored about 6 minutes apart in the third period as CF Longueuil moved into a tie atop Group B with 6 standings points. Mathis Lacroix-Goulet was outstanding in goal, earning the decision with 35 saves, while Isaiah Parent dished out a pair of assists. Mason Walker scored the lone goal for Greater Sudbury, which dropped to 1-3-0 and remained stuck at 3 points. CF Longueuil is tied with Truro and the Toronto Patriots, and all three teams have one round-robin game left.
Niverville Nighthawks 6, Canmore Eagles 4
Niverville moved in front of Canmore in Group A based on tiebreakers with a game in hand as the Eagles concluded round-robin play at 3-1-0 and with 8 points. Adam Vigfusson recorded a hat trick to propel Niverville to the key victory. The Nighthawks (3-1-0) take on the CJHL's top regular-sason team, Rockland, on the final day of pool play. Niverville scored six goals on 29 shots, including two in the third period as Canmore pulled within a goal twice on tallies by Aidan Tkachuk and John Szabo. Kole Mears and Dawson Zeller scored the key goals for Niverville in the final 20 minutes, and CJHL Goalie of the Year Austin Dubinsky made 24 saves. Hayden Wheddon contributed a pair of assists for the winners, and Loik Leduc scored their other goal. Tkachuk scored twice for the Eagles. Niverville has secured the group's top seed heading into the final day of round-robin play, and Canmore will finish second.
Summerside Western Capitals 5, Thunder Bay North Stars 3
Summerside secured a spot in the semifinals with its second win of the tournament by scoring the game's first four goals in the opening 29 minutes. Three of those tallies, by Elliott Mullen, Lane Sim, and Eliott Robert came in the first period, and Alexandre Guy capped the scoring run at 8:38 of the middle frame. Thunder Bay did get a pair of markers from Easton Glousher and a goal from Acoyen Fehr to cut the margin to 4-2 with 14:55 left in the contest, but Robert buried his second of the game into an open net in the final 10 seconds to secure the victory for the hosts. Summerside outshot the North Stars, 34-17, with winning netminder Kolton Bourret making 13 saves.
CLICK HERE for the May 12 Three Stars of the Day
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Wednesday, May 13
College Francais de Longueuil 7, Toronto Patriots 4
It was the second consecutive rough outing for the Patriots after an impressive start to the tourhament as CF Longueuil scored five times in the opening two periods to storm past Toronto and claim the top seed in Group B. After skating to a 1-1 deadlock through 20 mionutes, CF Longueuil scored four times in the first 13:05 of the second period to take a 5-1 lead, which proved to be too much to overcome. Mathieu Derome scored his second of the game at 4:13 of the final frame to put the game away after goals by Cole Cooksey and Kyle Morey in the opeing 1:51 had cut the margin to 5-3. Cooksey finished with a pair of goals. Isaiah Parent tallied 2 goals and an assist for the winners, with Pierre-Olivier Denis dishing out three assists in addition to Derome's two markers. Adam Lemay and Gabriel Provencher each handed out a pair of helpers, while Yoan Noiseux added a goal and an assist and winning goaltender Mathis Lacroix-Goulet made 29 saves.
Niverville Nighthawks 7, Rockland Nationals 6
Niverville concluded Rockland's surprisingly rough showing and remained undefeated atop Group A by outscoring the Nationals, 5-3, over the game's final 29:23 after Rockland took a 3-2 lead on Guillaume Labre's goal 1:22 into the second period. Labre's tally capped a three-goal outburst by Rockland after Max Dowse and Hayden Wheddon staked the Nighthaws to an early 2-0 lead. Wheddon continued is red-hot play, finishing the game with 2 goals and 2 assists. Adam Vigusson also kept up his torrid pace, contributing a goal and 2 assists along with Merik Boles. Dawson Zeller added a pair of markers, and Kole Mears dished out 2 assists while winning goalie Ben Chornomydz stopped 27 shots. Mavrick Brunet and Vital Dinis each recorded 3 points for the Nationals.
Flin Flon Bombers 3, Truro Bearcats 1
The Bombers concluded the Centennial Cup on a positive note, but it wasn't enough to get them into the quarterfinals as they finished 2-2-0 and just out of the hunt. Truro also went 2-2-0 along with Toronto, but those two teams advanced by virtue of tiebreakers. Reid Arberry and Ryder Knutson scored 28 seconds apart late in the first period to give Flin Flon a 2-0 lead, and Daniel Morozov extneded the margin to 3-0 11:25 into the third period. The Bombers needed to score more goals to advanced and pulled their goalie late in the contest, allowing Jake Todd to seal their fate by scoring into and empty net to cut the final margin to 3-1. Winning goalie Charlie Tritt stopped all 18 shots he faced.
CLICK HERE for the May 13 Three Stars of the Day
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Friday, May 15 – Quarterfinals
Toronto Patriots 7, Canmore Eagles 3
Trailing 3-2 entering the third period, the Toronto team that was so dominant early in the tournament magically returned at the most opportune time. The Patriots exploded for five unasnwerd third-period goals and stormed into the Centennial Cup semifinals. Goals by Cole Cooksey, Tommy Karmiris, Luciano Bruno, Hudson Cummins and Kyle Morey - the first four of those coming in 7-minute span - left no doubt as Toronto ran away from Canmore. Cooksey also scored in the second period, and Tate Collins followed that tally 1:06 later to give Toronto a 2-1 lead and set up a wild final 29 minutes. Aidan Tkachuk and Will Lutic scored 2:40 apart to propel the Eagles back in front, but it was all Patriots after that. Lucas Vacca and Luke Howard eached dished out three assists for the winners, while Bruno and Karmiris finished with three points apiece. Nico Armellin earned the win in goal by stopping 29 shots.
Summerside Western Capitals 3, Truro Bearcats 1
The hosts broke open a 1-1 game and gave the home fans a reason to come back another day with a pair of third-period goals. Ryder Howatt scored 50 seconds into the final stanza, and Aleandre Guy provided empty-net insurance with 58 seconds remaining. Howatt also scored in the first period, and netminder Kolton Bourret made 16 saves to record the win. Eric Halliday had the lone Truro goal. Justin Oullette dished out a pair of assists for Summerside.
CLICK HERE for the May 15 Three Stars of the Day
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Saturday, May 16 – Semifinals
Niverville Nighthawks 4, Toronto Patriots 3
Just a day after a huge Toronto rally propelled the Patriots into the semifinals, Niverville scored all four of its goals after falling behind, 3-0, in the first minute of the second period. Calyb Moore and Merik Boles scored the deciding goals in the final 3:37 of the game for the Nighthawks after Evan Panzer and Marlen Edwards pulled them to within in a goal in the second period. Moore tied the game at 16:23 of the third, and Boles buried the game-winner less than a minute later. Aaron Kretanowich was the only Niverville player to record multiple points, finishing with a pair of assists, and Austin Dubinsky made 24 saves. Luciano Bruno scored twice for Toronto, while Cole Cooksey potted the other Patriot marker.
Summerside Western Capitals 5, College Francais de Longueuil 2
The hosts did it again, scoring three times in the final 20 minutes to break a 2-all tie and roll into the gold medal game. Elliott Mullen and Brennan Murphy scored 35 seconds apart early in the final frame, and Jordan Shaw sealed the deal into an empty net with 3:23 remaining. Henry Ouellet, Murphy, Matthew MacLean and Maverick Hayes each recorded two points for the Capitals, while netminder Kolton Bourret stopped 21 shots. Mathieu Tessier and Yoan Noiseux scored for CF Longueuil.
CLICK HERE for the May 16 Three Stars of the Day
CLICK HERE for the Top Plays of the Day for May 16
Sunday, May 17 – Championship
Niverville Nighthawks 4, Summerside Western Capitals 1
Hayden Wheddon scored twice as the Nighthawks gradually pulled away from the host team to earn the Canadian Jr. A national championship in just their fourth year of existence. Wheddon buried the first goal of the game 8:07 into the opening period and then scored the eventual game-winning goal at 8:48 of the middle frame. That was the first of three straight Niverville goals, with Marlen Edwards and Tyler Bernier finding the back of the net in the thierd period. Austin Dubinksy was the story of the game, however. The CJHL's Goaltender of the Year stopped 34 shots as the Capitals pressed to get back in the game in front of a supportive home crowd. Merik Boles contributed a pair of assists for the champs, while Jordan Shaw potted the lone goal for the Capitals.
CLICK HERE for gold medal game highlights
CLICK HERE for the May 17 Three Stars of the Day
CLICK HERE for the complete Centennial Cup schedule with results
CLICK HERE for Centennial Cup participating team rosters
CLICK HERE for Centennial Cup complete updated Standings
CLICK HERE for Centennial Cup individual player statistics
The Road to the Centennial Cup
Here is a look at each team's Road to the Centennial Cup:
Niverville rolled to the MJHL Turnbull Cup championship in just the team’s fourth year of existence by posting a 12-1 record to capture all three best-of-seven playoff series. That came after the Nighthawks won 51 of their 58 regular-season contests (51-6-1). They were the league’s highest-scoring and top defensive team statistically. Their .879 winning percentage was the second highest among the 116 CJHL teams, and they allowed just 2.02 goals per game while scoring at a 4.83 goals-per-game clip.
Forward Hayden Wheddon led the MJHL in scoring with 90 points on 36 goals and 54 assists in 57 contests. Merik Boles added 25-48-73, with Adam Vigfusson contributing 26-35-61. Goaltender Ben Chornomydz posted a 1.50 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage while sharing the net with Austin Dubinsky. (2.18, .931). Dubinsky compiled a 1.31 GAA and a .956 save percentage with three shutouts in 13 playoff starts. He was named a finalist for the CJHL’s Top Goaltender Award.
The Bombers opened the Canterra Seeds Cup Playoffs with a four-game sweep of the Estevan Bruins and closed out the championship series against the Yorkton Terriers in four straight games. In between, they were pushed to the brink by the Weyburn Red Wings, advancing to the finals with a 1-0 Game 7 victory thanks to a first-period goal by Wyatt Stinton.
Flin Flon’s playoff run came on the heels of a 41-11-3-1 regular season that concluded with the Bombers winning the UPL Division by 14 points and finishing 10 points better than any other team in the league.
The Bombers, who captured their first league title since 1993, surrendered 135 goals, the league’s lowest total. Goalie Charlie Tritt led the SJHL with a 2.12 goals-against average and .934 save percentage, improving on those totals in 14 playoff games (1.67, .938). Joey Lies led the team and ranked 12th in SIHL with 54 points on 27 goals and 27 assists. That put him just ahead of teammate Reid Arberry, who was 13th with 23-28-51.
The Cubs return to the Centennial Cup after sweeping all three best-best-of-seven NOJHL Playoff series and outscoring their opponents, 70-27 in the process. Sudbury dominated the postseason in the same manner it did the regular season, posting a 39-8-3-2 record to finish first by eight points while rolling up a 298-124 scoring advantage.
Contributing to those staggering offensive numbers was Spencer Horgan, the NOJHL’s all-time top-scoring defenseman with 228 career points. He led all league defenders with 19-53-72, finishing 10th in overall in scoring and being named a CJHL Top Defenseman finalist. Forward Nolan Newton finished second in the league scoring race with 37 goals and 54 assists, three points in front of teammate Mason Walker (33-55-88).
In goal, Matthew Vahramian posted a 19-6-1-0 record and tied for the top mark in the league with a 2.14 GAA while posting a .915 save percentage during the regular season. Netminder Iain Wintle won all 10 of his postseason starts with a 2.05 GAA and a .934 save percentage.
Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL)
Thunder Bay’s Road to the Centennial Cup got progressively harder with each step forward toward the Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy. The North Stars opened the postseason with a four-game sweep of the Ironwood Lumberjacks and knocked out the Dryden Ice Dogs, 4-1, in the semifinals before needing all seven games to beat the Fort Frances Lakers in the championship series.
Thunder Bay captured the coveted trophy and earned the Centennial Cup berth with a 5-4 Game 7 overtime victory as James Cullison scored his first goal of the playoffs 9:14 into the extra session. That goal propelled the North Stars to their first Centennial Cup appearance in 20 years.
Thunder Bay placed third in the regular-season standings with a 30-14-3-1 record and 64 points, but the North Stars led the league with 229 goals, 38 more than the second-ranked team. Thunder Bay ranked in the middle of the pack in goals allowed at 142. Their 4.77 goals per game were 12th out of the 116 CJHL teams.
Lucas Bertolin led the team in goals and was second in points with 57, six behind Matthew Bertolin. Three players eclipsed the 20-goal mark as part of a balanced offense that saw 11 skaters record double-digit goals. Mitch Vanderwey stepped up to lead the team in scoring during the postseason with 30 points in 16 contests.
Canmore entered the postseason as the top seed from the AJHL South Division in beginning its quest for the franchise’s first-ever Inter Pipeline Cup championship. The Eagles knocked off the defending AJHL-champion Calgary Canucks, who also won the 2025 Centennial Cup, in six games to advance from the opening round before sweeping the Drumheller Dragons to capture the South Division title. They needed just five games against the Whitecourt Wolverines in the finals to capture their first league title in the franchise’s 31-year history and advance to play for the Centennial Cup. It also was the first time that Canmore had won more than one round in the postseason.
The Eagles’ playoff run almost ended before it got started, though, as they trailed the Canucks by two goals early in Game 5 of the opening round with the series tied at 2. They rallied to win that game, 3-2, and advanced by scoring four third-period goals in a 4-0 Game 6 victory.
Canmore captured the South Division regular-season title with a 32-19-3-1 record and 68 points. The Eagles led the division and ranked third in the league with 209 goals scored, while their 170 goals allowed also were tops in the South and fourth overall in the AJHL.
Cohen Daoust led the team and was fourth in the AJHL with 75 points on 31 goals and 44 assists. Aidan Tkachuk contributed 29-41-70 to rank seventh in the league. Goaltender Alex Schelwiller posted a 2.38 goals-against average and .934 save percentage with two playoff shutouts in backstopping his team to the AJHL title.
Rockland was the most dominant team in the CJHL during the 2025-26 season, topping the CCHL with an astounding 52-3-0-0 record before winning 12 out of 13 playoff games to capture the Bogart Cup and advance to play for the national championship. Rockland’s 284 goals were 62 better than the league’s next highest-scoring team, and the Nationals allowed just 125 goals, one behind the CCHL’s lowest mark.
Defenseman and team captain Mathys Laurent was named a finalist for the CJHL Top Defenseman Award after leading all league defenders in scoring with 54 points in 51 games while logging more than 22 minutes of ice time per game. He quarterbacked the team’s league-leading power play, piling up 21 assists with the extra man to rank first among all defensemen and third overall in the CCHL.
Rockland’s Gabriel Le Houillier, the CCHL’s MVP and leading scorer, recorded 59 goals and 61 assists in just 52 games to earn a spot as a finalist for the CJHL Top Forward Award. He tied or led the league in power-play goals (13), game-winning goals (15) and insurance goals (8), while averaging 19-plus minutes per outing. The Nationals boasted the league’s top three scorers, with Mavrick Brunet producing 26-77-103 and Vital Dinis contributing 29-51-80.
In goal, Kayden Newton went 12-1-0 with a .928 save percentage and a league-best 2.00 goals-against average in the playoffs after going 15-1-0 in the regular season with a 2.06 GAA and .927 save percentage.
Truro finished second in the MHL South Division with a record of 34-14-3-1, equaling the Summerside Western Capitals’ point total with 72 but losing the division title because of tiebreakers. The Bearcats got their revenge in the South Division Finals, however, eliminating the team that will host the Centennial Cup in seven games to advance to the MHL Cup Finals.
Truro and Summerside alternated wins throughout their series until the Bearcats sprinted to a 3-0 Game 7 lead before holding on for the 3-2 victory. The Bearcats then defeated the Edmundston Blizzard in five games to claim the MHL Cup and earn the right to play for the Jr. A national championship.
Callum Aucoin paced Truro with 15 points in 17 playoff games after notching 27 goals and 19 assists in 49 regular-season contests. Forwards Jake Todd and Eli Baillargeon led the Bearcats in regular-season scoring with 58 and 54 points, respectively, while Tristan St. Gelais ranked 11th in scoring among MHL defensemen.
Bearcat goalie Sam Berthiaume was stellar during the title run, compiling a 1.71 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. He was 12-4-0 during the regular season with a 2.20 GAA and .927 save percentage.
Despite a dominant regular season that saw the Patriots finish atop the OJHL West Conference standings at 47-8-0-1, Toronto only finished eight points in front of the Collingwood Blues (41-10-2-3). Those two teams finished first and third in the overall league standings, respectively, which made it no surprise when they faced off in an epic Western Conference Finals series that needed all seven games to determine a winner.
The two teams traded wins in the opening four games of the series before Toronto took a 3-2 lead with a 4-0 victory April 11. Collinwood rebounded for a 5-2 Game 6 win April 13 to set up a deciding Game 7 April 15. The Patriots scored the final two goals in the decisive contest to earn a 4-2 victory and advance to play against a surprising New Market Hurricanes team for the Buckland Trophy.
New Market finished fourth in the East Conference with 22 fewer points than the Patriots but upset the East’s first- and third-place teams to advance to the championship series. The Cinderella run ended there, however, as the Patriots won the OJHL title in five games by a combined 27-11 scoring margin.
Toronto boasted the top four playoff scorers in Luciano Bruno (37 points in 20 games), Tommy Karmiris (27 points), Cole Cooksey (27 points) and Lucas Vacca (24 points). They weren’t the Patriots’ top regular-season offensive performers, however, as Hudson Cummins ranked third in the league with 32-52-84, while Tate Collins was eighth with 24-52-76. Bruno ranked 10th with 27-44-71.
Goaltender Trey Caracciolo went 9-1-1-0 in the playoffs with a league-leading 1.76 goals-against average and .951 save percentage. He was 25-3-0-0 with a 2.42 GAA and .932 save percentage in 30 regular-season appearances.
College Francais de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ)
CF de Longueuil captured the NAPA Cup to conclude the 37th season of LHJAAAQ play April 23. The team swept the championship series in four games, including a deciding 4-0 victory against CEGEP Beauce-Appalaches for its 11tt overall league championship and third in the last five years.
Leading 1-0, CF de Longueuil put the game away and secured the title by scoring three times in the third period. Pierre-Olivier Denis led the team with 14 points in 13 playoff games, while goalie Mathis Lacroix-Goulet recorded a 34-save shutout and Mathieu Derome contributed a goal and an assist in the final victory.
Lacroix-Goulet was named the team’s Napa Cup MVP after going 12-1-0 with 2 shutouts, a goals-against average of 1.42 and a .947 save percentage in the playoffs. He posted a 2.06 GAA and .918 save percentage in 34 regular-season appearances.
Denis recorded 17 goals and 33 assists in 40 regular-season contests, while Derome contributed 10-16-26 in 33 games. Denis was second on the team in regular-season scoring behind Gabriel Provencher (24-44-68 in 48 games).
CF de Longueuil last participated in the Centennial Cup during the 2021-22 season, advancing to the semifinals and finishing fourth. The team has won more NAPA Cup titles than any other club in the LHJAAAQ and concluded the regular season with a record of 41-6-0-1.
“CF de Longueuil was dominant from start to finish, from the regular season through the playoffs,” said Commissioner Kevin Figsby. “The Condors put up a strong fight, and we had a great final. We’ll meet again in Prince Edward Island for the Centennial Cup in three weeks, hoping CF will prevail.”
Summerside Western Capitals (Hosts)
After a strong regular season that saw the Capitals earn the top seed in the MHL South with a 32-12-5-3 record, Summerside needed seven games to escape the first round of the playoffs against the fourth-place Amherst Ramblers before falling in a seven-game South Division Final to eventual-champion Truro.
The Capitals needed to win the last two games against Amherst to advance, and they routed their foes, 9-3, in Game 6 before earning a 1-0 Game 7 victory thanks to Eliott Robert’s second-period goal. Kolton Bourret earned the victory with a 23-save shutout.
Charles-Eric Tremblay ranked fifth in playoff scoring with 5 goals and 9 assists in 15 games, while Bourret’s 1.85 postseason goals-against average was second and his .929 save percentage ranked fourth.
Summerside defenseman Simon Mullen was eighth in MHL regular-season scoring with 14 goals and 54 assists to lead all league defensemen. Robert posted 22-26-48 in 51 games, while Cade Moser added 15-29-44 in 50 contests. Bourret went 15-5-1 in 22 regular-season contests with a 2.70 GAA and a .908 save percentage.
