2024-25 KIJHL Teck Cup preview

Series storyline: The President’s Cup winners face a team making strides under a new coach. The Border Bruins aim for the Teck Cup after past playoff disappointments. Rebels interim head coach Alex Evin is 2-7 since taking over in February and acknowledges his team is the underdog.

Players to watch: Levi Astill, the KIJHL’s leading scorer, had 18 points against the Rebels. Goalie Jasper Tait won 14 of 18 starts, including three against the Rebels, and has two playoff games under his belt. Rebels forward Joshua Gamble, who led the team with five points in four playoff games last season, will be key again after posting four points against the Border Bruins.

Series storylines: The Nitehawks want another shot at the Kootenay Conference Final after falling to the Fernie Ghostriders last season. That journey begins against the Leafs. Rookie Brady Magarrell had five goals and six points against the Leafs. Under head coach Gianni Mangone, the Leafs have been working hard at improving their play. The coach is very confident in the roster’s ability. Carsyn Crawford had three goals against the Nitehawks and Quinn Ramsay had four points.

Players to Watch: Partington led the Leafs in playoff scoring last year with four in five games. Nitehawks’ Ollie Clement has 34 points in 44 career Teck Cup games and should be a key contributor.

Storylines: The Dynamiters seek redemption after last year’s first-round exit. With an experienced lineup and strong goaltending, they aim for a deep run. The Thunder Cats clinched their spot late and will rely on goalie Brendan Smith, the Eddie Mountain Division’s Top Goalie, to continue his excellent play.

Players to Watch: Former KIJHL MVP Tristan Weill, a proven playoff performer (30 points in 37 career games), returned to win another Teck Cup. He had nine points against the Thunder Cats this season. Liam Munro, the Thunder Cats’ top point producer, looks to make an impact after going pointless last season. He had eight points against the Dynamiters.

Storylines: A rematch of last year’s second round, which Fernie won in six games. This time the Ghostriders will Eric Martin, the Eddie Mountain division’s Top Defenceman, who missed their entire playoff run due to injury. Martin established a new season high for points by a Ghostriders defenceman with 59. The Rockies head into the playoffs having won six of their last 10 and on a three-game winning streak. Head coach-general manager Tayler Sincennes told E-Know he is pleased with the team’s performance.

“We have to be really sharp, minimize large mistakes and execute at a really high level throughout our playoffs,” he said. “Our guys are aware of that and our game had reflected it for the most part in the last couple of weeks.”

Noah Asmundson had seven points against the Ghostriders.

Players to watch: Ghostriders captain Taylor Haggerty. He had 15 points in 21 games, look for him to be a factor again. He had six points against the Rockies. Honourary mention to Martin. Third-year Rockie Teo Fath had five goals and seven points in 10 playoff games last season.

Storylines: From day one it’s been about winning the Teck Cup championship after losing the Okanagan Conference Final in seven games to the Grizzlies. First-year head coach-general manager Torrin White has led a motivated squad. Matthew Langdon racked up 13 points against the Eagles. The Eagles head into the playoffs having won two of their last 10 and three after Shawn Webb took over for Liam McOnie, who joined the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets as an assistant coach on Jan. 10. They will rely on Kael Svenson, the division’s Top Goalie, for timely saves and Hayden Evans, their offensive leader.

Players to Watch: Posse forward Matthew Langdon, the KIJHL’s leading goal-scorer (35) had 15 points in 18 playoff games last year. For the Eagles, it comes back to Svenson, who had the best save percentage of .941.

Storylines: The Grizzlies know how to win. They’re the defending Teck and Mowat Cup champions. Jake Neufeld had six points against the Centennials. With the exception of two games, all games were decided by a goal. The Centennials are the new kid on the block, but twice defeated the Grizzlies in a shootout. Rookie Sam Giangualano had five points. They also allowed the fifth fewest goals during the season at 122.

Players to Watch: Grizzlies’ Daniel Wittenberg had 16 points in 19 playoff games last year. The Centennials will rely on their goalie tandem of Andrew Krakora and Mathis Perron, who have shared duties all season.

Storylines:  The Wranglers are on a seven-game unbeaten streak and have been focused on tightening things in their play for the postseason. In their final meeting, the Wranglers allowed four goals, including two on the power-play. The Wranglers outscored the Mustangs 29-16 as all but two games were high scoring. Will that trend continue in the playoffs? Captain Ethan Davey led the team with 12 points against the Mustangs. The Mustangs head into the playoffs with excitement and confidence, and goalie Alex Jessey wrestled the starters job from Evan Leggett. He had a .922 save percentage this month. JP Desabrais and Logan Hauk each had five points against the Wranglers.

Players to Watch: Davey aims to push the Wranglers past the first round. Mustangs MVP and top scorer JP Desabrais, put up six points in last year’s playoffs with Grand Forks.

Storylines: Three of their five meetings came this month, with Kamloops winning two of them. Braycen Dube led the Storm with nine points, while captain Ryan Larsen had seven. Cash Anderson led the River Rush with six points. Along with Anderson, the River Rush have Gage Parrell, Ian George and Richard Burden, who will bring valuable playoff experience from last year with the North Okanagan Knights.

Players to Watch: River Rush’s Warren Roberts-Lee had five points against Kamloops and 12 in 18 career playoff games. Honourable mention to Anderson, who had seven points in 11 playoff games. Dube had 10 points this month and seven in last year’s playoffs.