2019 National Junior A Championship

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2019 National Junior A Championship
Game #13
Championship
Final
May 19, 2019 3:00 pm MDT
Centennial Regional Arena
Brooks, AB

Scoring

Teams
1st
2nd
3rd
Final
Teams
1
2
3
F
3
1
0
4

Shots on Goal

1st
2nd
3rd
Final
1
2
3
F
5
10
14
29
16
8
5
29

Statistics

PP
PIM
1 / 2
19
0 / 3
4

Game Story

BANDITS EDGE SPRUCE KINGS, WIN SECOND NATIONAL TITLE

JASON LA ROSE

BROOKS, Alta. – Simon Boyko opened and closed the scoring for the Brooks Bandits, and the hosts rode a three-goal first period to a 4-3 win over the Prince George Spruce Kings on Sunday and a second title at Canada’s National Junior A Championship.

The victory comes six years to the day the Bandits first hoisted the trophy; they dashed the dreams of the hosts that day, beating the Summerside Western Capitals 3-1 in the 2013 final.

Boyko, who went without a point in the preliminary round, came up big for the second day in a row; he had a goal and an assist in a semifinal win over the Ottawa Jr. Senators on Saturday afternoon.

Just as he did against the Jr. Senators, Boyko opened the scoring early. Stepping out from behind the net, Boyko battled a backhand past Logan Neaton to get the standing-room-only crowd at the Centennial Regional Arena going just 93 seconds in.

William Lemay doubled the advantage six minutes later, hammering a one-timer past a screened Neaton, and captain Nathan Plessis – one of three Bandits who played in the national final in 2017, when Brooks gave up a late lead and lost to the host Cobourg Cougars in overtime – knocked in a rebound at 13:20 to make it 3-0.

The Bandits dominated the first period, outshooting the Spruce Kings 16-5.

Prince George got on the board on the power play early in the second period when Patrick Cozzi swept a loose puck in front past a diving Pierce Charleson, but Boyko restored the three-goal advantage before the end of the middle frame, stopping up at the face-off dot and wiring a wrist shot over the glove of Neaton.

The fans at the CRA were ready to begin the coronation as the third period began, but the Spruce Kings had other ideas.

The Pacific Region champions – who beat the Bandits in six games in the Doyle Cup to win the regional title – outshot Brooks 14-5 in the final 20 minutes, and got within one when Nick Poisson banged a rebound off the post and behind Charleson to make it 4-2 with 9:34 left.

Neaton went to the bench with three minutes to go, and a swarming Spruce Kings offence produced a third goal off the stick of Nolan Welsh, who tipped in a shot from Dylan Anhorn with 44.8 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one.

But there would be no equalizer, and the party was on as the clock struck zeroes.

Brooks is the fourth host team in the last five years to win the national title, joining the Portage Terriers (2015), Cobourg Cougars (2017) and Chilliwack Chiefs (2018).

The 2020 National Junior A Championship will be played May 9-17 at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie, Man., with the Terriers, who were West Region representatives in Brooks, set to host.

Play-by-Play

Team
Description
Time
1st Period
GOAL
Goal: Simon Boyko

Assists: Jakob Lee, Luke Bast
01:33
GOAL
Goal: William Lemay

Assists: Randy Hernández
07:36
GOAL
Goal: Nathan Plessis

Assists: Nick Hale, Mack Hancock
13:20
PENALTY
Penalty: Dylan Anhorn
Hooking (2:00)
18:20
2nd Period
PENALTY
Penalty: Ryan Mahshie
Tripping (2:00)
01:22
GOAL (POWER PLAY)
Goal: Patrick Cozzi

Assists: Nick Bochen, Max Coyle
02:22
PENALTY
Penalty: Patrick Cozzi
Holding (2:00)
08:50
PENALTY
Penalty: Ray Christy
Hooking (2:00)
09:13
GOAL
Goal: Simon Boyko

Assists: Nick Hale, Corson Ceulemans
16:13
PENALTY
Penalty: Ben Brar (Served by Finlay Williams)
Checking from Behind - Major (5:00)
16:46
PENALTY
Penalty: Ben Brar
Game Misconduct - Misconduct (10:00)
16:46
3rd Period
GOAL
Goal: Nick Poisson

Assists: Ben Poisson, Chong Min Lee
10:26
GOAL
Goal: Nolan Welsh

Assists: Dylan Anhorn
19:15
GOALTENDER CHANGE
Goaltender Change: Logan Neaton

19:15

Goaltenders

Name Team Mins SA SVS GA SV%
Logan Neaton PG 57 29 25 4 0.862
Pierce Charleson BRO 60 29 26 3 0.897

Game Leaders

Goals 1 - Assists 0 - Points 1
G 1 - A 0 - P 1
Goals 2 - Assists 0 - Points 2
G 2 - A 0 - P 2
Goals 1 - Assists 0 - Points 1
G 1 - A 0 - P 1
Goals 0 - Assists 2 - Points 2
G 0 - A 2 - P 2
Goals 1 - Assists 0 - Points 1
G 1 - A 0 - P 1
Goals 1 - Assists 0 - Points 1
G 1 - A 0 - P 1

Previous Games

3 - 4 L @ Brooks BanditsBRO
May 19, 2019
4 - 3 W vs. Prince George Spruce KingsPG
May 19, 2019
2 - 1 W vs. Oakville BladesOAK
May 18, 2019
4 - 3 W vs. Ottawa Jr. SenatorsOTT
May 18, 2019
1 - 3 L vs. Brooks BanditsBRO
May 16, 2019
3 - 1 W @ Prince George Spruce KingsPG
May 16, 2019
Videos
Photos
2024 Centennial Cup: Sunday, May 19 (Championship)
The Blues won their first national title at the 2024 Centennial Cup in Oakville.
2024 Centennial Cup: Saturday, May 18 (Semifinal)
The Blues and Mustangs earned semifinal wins on Day 10 in Oakville.
2024 Centennial Cup: Friday, May 17 (Quarterfinal)
The Timberwolves and Canucks will play in the semifinals after winning on Day 9.
2024 Centennial Cup: Wednesday, May 15 (Preliminary)
The Cubs, Blues and Mustangs earned the final wins of the preliminary round on Day 7 at the Centennial Cup.