It’s crunch time at the Western Canada Cup in Dauphin.
The host Kings play the Yorkton Terriers in Saturday’s championship final with the winner securing one of two spots to the RBC Cup National Junior ‘A’ Hockey Championship.
“You need to make the first one count,” Brandon product and Kings’ captain Mitch Van Teeling told CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston. “Obviously to win on Saturday night in Dauphin would be pretty special. Winning a trophy on home ice to punch your ticket.”
Dauphin finished the round-robin with a first-place record of 3-1 with their only loss coming against Yorkton.
The Kings dropped an 8-6 decision against the Terriers, who are coached by Medora product Trent Cassan and have Russell’s Derek Falloon on the roster.
“We had a tough game against them early on. We scored some goals, but we definitely need to tighten up defensively. It’s 60 minutes for a cup and a championship to go the RBC Cup. It’s going to be a good game for sure,” said Van Teeling.
The loser of the one-versus-two game will get another shot at clinching a berth for nationals as they’ll face the winner of the Spruce Grove Saints and Coquitlam Express on Sunday afternoon at Credit Union Place.
“I don’t think you want to wait around for Sunday and try and do it then because there are two good teams playing in the three-versus-four-game,” said Van Teeling.
Meanwhile, the Western Canada Cup handed out hardware to the tournament’s top performers.
Brent Wold of the Dauphin Kings was named MVP after sharing the overall scoring lead with five goals and seven points.
Teammate Jordan Piccolino was chosen as the top goaltender, Coquitlam Express captain Ryan Rosenthal was recognized as the top forward while top defenceman honours went to Channing Bresciani of the Winnipeg Blues.
Wold, Piccolino, Bresciani, Rosenthal, Spruce Grove Saints’ captain Corey Chorneyko and Brett Boehm of the Yorkton Terriers were honoured as all-stars.
PLAYOFFS
Saturday, May 3
Spruce Grove (3rd-place) vs. Coquitlam (4th-place), 2 p.m.
Dauphin (1st-place) vs. Yorkton (2nd-place), 7 p.m. (Winner qualifies for RBC Cup)
Sunday, May 4
Spruce Grove/Coquitlam winner vs. Dauphin/Yorkton loser, 4 p.m. (Winner qualifies for RBC Cup)
FINAL ROUND-ROBIN STANDINGS
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS | |
| Dauphin (Host) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 16 | 6 |
| Yorkton (SJHL) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 13 | 4 |
| Spruce Grove (AJHL) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 4 |
| Coquitlam (BCHL) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 4 |
| Wpg Blues (MJHL) | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 2 |
