2009 RBC Cup

DAY 7 – FRIDAY, MAY 8
Mathieu LaRochelle (G) – Humboldt Broncos

One year ago, LaRochelle watched from the bench as the Humboldt Broncos claimed the National Junior A Championship by defeating his Camrose Kodiaks 1-0 in the championship game. On Friday night it was LaRochelle who helped them get back to the RBC Cup final, making 38 saves, 11 of the in overtime, as the Broncos shocked the host Victoria Grizzlies 3-2. The Amos, Que. native was at his best in the extra frame, making a number of all-world saves to keep his team alive until Shawn Hunter potted the winner in the dying seconds.

DAY 6 – THURSDAY, MAY 7
Mike MacIsaac (F/A) & Brad Smith (F/A) – Summerside Western Capitals

Leaders on the Capitals all year long – the 20-year-olds finished in the top four of team scoring in both the regular season and playoffs – MacIsaac and Smith led the way again on Thursday in their Junior A swan song, with MacIsaac notching two goals and an assist and Smith scoring once and adding two helpers to make sure Summerside earned at least one win at this year’s National Junior A Championship. Fittingly, the two once again finished in the top four of team scoring – MacIsaac was second while Smith placed fourth.

DAY 5 – WEDNESDAY, MAY 6
Brady Wacker (D) – Humboldt Broncos

One day after he was named as a runner-up for the RBC Canadian Junior Hockey League Player of the Year, Wacker showcased some of the reasons he was a finalist for the national award. Although his name did not appear on the scoresheet the Broncos’ captain showed off his defensive prowess, keeping Kingston’s big guns under wraps just two days after the Voyageurs went off for seven goals against Summerside, helping the defending champions sew up a Friday semifinal berth and take another step towards back-to-back titles.

DAY 4 – TUESDAY, MAY 5
Cole Ikkala (F/A) – Vernon Vipers

He only scored 11 times in 55 games in the regular season and playoffs, but Cole Ikkala picked a great time to get to an even dozen goals, picking up the overtime winner as Vernon remained undefeated with a 5-4 extra-time win over their BCHL rivals from Victoria. Ikkala had not scored since March 24 in Game 3 against Salmon Arm, a span of 16 games, but picked up the goal that ensured the Vipers will play in a semifinal game on Friday, keeping alive their quest for a record fifth National Junior A Championship.

DAY 3 – MONDAY, MAY 4
Shawn Sirman (G) – Kingston Voyageurs

Quite simply, Sirman was the reason his team won on Monday afternoon, keeping the Voyageurs in the game in the first period when they were outshot 19-6 and faced five Summerside power plays, and making 17 more stops in period number two as the Voyageurs finally took the lead. Overall the netminder turned aside 45 of the 50 shots he faced, and although he was beaten four times in the third period Sirman made the saves he needed to make in the final 20 minutes as the Capitals never got to within two goals.

DAY 2 – SUNDAY, MAY 3
Jeff Forsythe (D) – Victoria Grizzlies

With his team reeling after Saturday night’s tournament-opening heartbreaker against Humboldt the veteran blueliner took over the offensive duties for the Grizzlies, scoring the first two goals and helping set up the third as the 2009 RBC Cup hosts hit the win column for the first time. The only Victoria skater with previous National Junior A Championship experience – he played for Prince George in 2007 – his three points on Sunday gave him one more than he had in five games with the Spruce Kings two years ago.

DAY 1 – SATURDAY, MAY 2
Scott Schroeder (F/A) – Humboldt Broncos

Sent out to kill a penalty late in the third period of a tie game, with the goal to force overtime, Schroeder did one better, stripping a Victoria defenceman of the puck in the neutral zone and beating netminder Anthony Grieco with just 1.1 seconds remaining, shocking the pro-Grizzlies crowd at Bear Mountain Arena and earning the eighth win in 10 games for the Broncos at the National Junior A Championship. The shorthanded goal was Schroeder’s first in 76 games this season, including regular season and playoffs.