The Calgary Canucks are the 2025 Centennial Cup winners.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) team won the Canadian national Junior A championship title with a 7-2 win in the final over the Melfort Mustangs on Sunday, May 18th at Calgary’s Max Bell Centre.
The victory avenged a semi-final loss to the Mustangs at the 2024 Centennial Cup tournament.
It is the first national championship for the Canucks since 1995 and it marks the 12th time the host city has won the title since the event moved to a tournament format in 1985.
“We went from coming to the rink and hoping to win to ‘we’re going to win.’ We’ve built a culture over the last three years and I feel like that’s gone a long way,” said Calgarian Bowden Singleton, the captain of the Canucks, in an article on the AJHL website.
“It starts with our coaching staff, and I couldn’t be prouder of the boys for holding the standard all year long. You never think you’re going to lose, we just said we’re going to take it shift by shift, which is different than earlier games where we start down. I thought our start was really good, I’m proud of the boys and there’s no better feeling doing this in front of friends and family. It’s everything I dreamed of.”
The AJHL champs and the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) representatives traded goals in the first period, but the Canucks pulled away in the middle frame with three goals from Hayden Fechner, Airdrie’s Landon Pappas and Calgarian Nolan Dupont.
Calgary made it 5-1 early in the third period thanks to a goal from Jayden Joly and cruised to a 7-2 triumph.
Fechner finished with two goals and an assist, Joly had one goal and two assists and Gavin Schmidt, of Okotoks, had three assists in the game.
“The guys, to a man, bought in. Everyone gave us what they needed, whether that was in practice, minimal ice time or whatever it was, and they all play for each other and that’s the main reason we’re here – we don’t have individuals,” said Calgary head coach Brad Moran.
“For the organization to get back after being close last year, we weren’t satisfied and the guys that were there helped push us over the top. It’s a pretty special moment, especially the guys that have been through it.”
Nathan Maloney of the Canucks was named the top defenceman of the tournament, while Anthony Hall of the Rockland Nationals earned top forward and MVP honours. Kam River Fighting Walleye netminder Ashton Sadauskas was the tourney’s top goaltender and Lincoln Moore of the Greater Sudbury Cubs was the most sportsmanlike player.
Related Link: https://www.ajhl.ca/calgary-canucks-win-2025-centennial-cup.