There will be a new Mowat Cup champion crowned this spring as BC Hockey’s Junior A champions.
First presented during the 1927-28 season after being donated to the BC Amateur Hockey Association (now BC Hockey) by Victoria’s John Mowat, Fernie captured the inaugural championship in 1928, defeating the Ex-King George in Vancouver.
Last spring, the Teck Cup champion Revelstoke Grizzlies defeated the Ridge Meadows Flames in overtime to win the Mowat Cup. Beginning on Tuesday, the Flames will try again to win. This time their opponent is the Teck Cup champion Grand Forks Border Bruins in a best-of-five series.
Ridge Meadows Flames (42-4-1-1, .896 PCT) versus the Grand Forks Border Bruins (33-6-4-1, .801 PCT)
Series storyline: The Flames captured their second straight Stonehouse Cup championship by going 12-3 in the PJHL playoffs. They outscored opponents 66-34 and had a plus 32 goal differential. They allowed 34 goals in 15 games. The Flames are led by 14 returning players – giving them a strong veteran presence. Zack Lagrange led the Flames with 12 goals in 15 games, matching his goal total from last season’s playoffs. He has 65 career playoff points in 54 games over four playoff seasons.
Their power-play is extremely lethal going 25-for-67/ 37.3 per cent. Their penalty-kill was 85.7 per cent in the playoffs and allowed one short-handed goal.
The Border Bruins enter the Mowat Cup having completed one of the best playoff runs in KIJHL history – they went 16-1 for a .941 win percentage. During that run they outscored their opposition 82-42 for a plus-40 goal differential. They won the Teck Cup by sweeping the Grizzlies 4-0. Their roster features nine returning players and the duo of Tyler Burke (Teck Cup MVP) and Levi Astill were excellent in the league finals. Burke led with 10 points in the four games, while Astill had seven points. Their power-play executed at 26.4 per cent (24-for-91) and scored six short-handed goals.
Players to watch: Twenty-year-old Nolan Bowsher found another level for the Flames when it came to producing in the postseason. Last season he had nine points in 15 games – this postseason his goal output matched that total. He added 16 assists in 15 games. Eric Kahl has been excellent between the pipes for the Border Bruins. He earned the Top Goalie nod in the KIJHL 3 Stars going 4-0 and saved 113 of 121 shots for a 2.00 goals against average and a .934 save percentage. Kahl played in 13 of the Border Bruins’ 17 playoff games and went 12-1-0 with a 2.18 GAA and a .929 SP.
For fans who are unable to attend games, the Mowat Cup will be web streamed on FloHockey. Games 4 & 5 (April 27/29 are if necessary.)
