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The Calgary Under-18 AAA Buffaloes have smashed their way to the 2024 Telus Cup.
That after a sweep of the host Vancouver North East Chiefs in the Pacific Region Championship over the weekend.
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“The boys are extremely excited,” said Buffaloes head coach Brent Harrison. “Can’t wait to represent the Pacific Region at Telus.”
That happens April 22-28 in Sydney, N.S., where five regional champions — including the Buffs — join the host the host Sydney Rush for the Hockey Canada Men’s Under-18 National Club Championship, a.k.a. the Telus Cup.
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As of Saturday night, the only other champ to punch a ticket to the six-team week-long finale was the Atlantic Region’s Kensington Wild, of Prince Edward Island.
Saturday night is when the Buffaloes themselves earned their berth after a Game 2 gem — a 1-0 shutout over the host Chiefs at Scotia Barn in Burnaby, B.C.
“It wasn’t pretty at times, but we found a way,” said Harrison of the weekend series. “Great goaltending, and some timely goals when we needed it.”
Indeed, over the two-game Pacific Region set — which began Friday night with a 3-2 victory by the Buffaloes, also at Scotia Barn — the Alberta champions allowed two goals, while scoring just four.
Three of their own tallies came in Game 1 — Brayden Gourley’s midway through the first period to open scoring, followed by second-frame markers by Christian Stephanson and then Cooper Williams to rally the visitors from a 2-1 deficit to the B.C.-champion Chiefs.
Talen Lewis netted the Buffs’ only goal in Saturday’s second game, but the marker just 1:54 into the third period was enough offence in front of goaltender Kael Svenson’s ‘robbery spree’ to complete the sweep.
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Svenson’s sublime effort between the Buffaloes pipes was aided by a terrific defensive team performance, especially while playing short-handed.
“We killed 10 penalties in Game 2,” added Harrison. “Our penalty kill was awesome all weekend.”
The Buffaloes reached the Pacific Region Championship after winning their third Alberta Elite Hockey League title in four years. In the AEHL playoffs, they opened with a 2-1 South Division semifinal win over the Red Deer Chiefs and a 3-1 douse of the Calgary NW Flames — last year’s league and Pacific Region champs. They then claimed the Alberta crown — their 10th in team history — over the Sherwood Park Kings in sweeping 4-3 (2OT), 2-1 (3OT) and 6-2 fashion to score the provincial honour.
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