While the four semifinalists continued to battle in the playoffs, the Northeastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League presented five more individual awards last weekend, and all those regular-season honours went to the Vermilion Tigers.
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Tigers’ kingpin Cade Meiklejohn picked up two awards, as the top goal-scorer and the most valuable player. The 20-year-old forward scored 40 goals and 66 points in 36 regular-season games. He finished just three points behind league scoring champion Quinn Szpak of the St. Paul Canadiens.
The league’s top-scoring defenceman, Ean Cooke of Vermilion, was recognized as the best D-man. The second-year Tiger from Marwayne collected 16 goals and 52 points in 35 games.
Vermilion goaltender Aiden Fox, also of Marwayne, earned the top-goalie award for his league-best numbers — a 1.66 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.
Coach-of-the-year honours went to the Tigers’ Danny Haygarth, who is from Lloydminster. He guided Vermilion to a 28-5-3 record that was second only to the pennant-winning Lloydminster Bandits (30-6).
A week earlier, the league announced two other regular-season awards.
St. Paul’s Szpak was honoured as the scoring champion and the Killam Wheat Kings’ Ethan Allen received rookie-of-the-year recognition.
On the ice, all four teams involved in best-of-seven semifinals were scheduled to return to action Wednesday night. The Bandits were up 2-0 in their series with the Wheat Kings as those clubs faced off in Killam, where they’ll also meet for Game 4 at 8 p.m. Friday.
With the other semifinal tied 1-1, the Tigers and Wainwright Bisons resumed action Wednesday night in Provost. Game 4 goes 8 p.m. Friday at Wainwright, and the fifth game is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Vermilion.
After losing the opening game 4-0, the Tigers came back with a 4-2 victory on Sunday.
At the Hub in Lloydminster, the Bandits posted 7-2 and 9-5 wins Friday and Sunday, respectively, to gain the upper hand on fourth-seeded Killam.
BISONS 4, TIGERS 0: Lochlan Jenner stopped all 29 shots he faced to post the shutout.
Ryker Singer, with two goals, and Cole Kubinchak each connected on the power play. Lucas McClennon also scored as Wainwright took a 3-0 lead in the opening period.
Vermilion’s Fox made 19 stops.
TIGERS 4, BISONS 2: Vermilion returned the favour and built up a 3-0 lead halfway through the game.
Meiklejohn, with a pair, Dannon Pavka and Gage Haygarth netted the Tigers’ goals. It was a three-point game for Pavka.
Kael Scott, the top scorer this season with the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers, picked up an assist on Haygarth’s goal. Scott and defenceman Rhett Romanchuk joined the Tigers after the Lancers’ playoff series ended Saturday.
Singer and Jesse Tkach scored for Wainwright.
Fox, with 20 saves, earned the win. Jenner blocked 29 shots for the Bisons.
BANDITS 7, WHEAT KINGS 2: The Bandits broke open a 1-1 game with three unanswered goals in the second period. Bronson Parker, with a goal and two assists, and Aidan Martens each had three-point nights.
Adryan Bugiera potted two goals, while Colton Parker and Tyson Ziegler each added a goal and an assist. Corvan Stewart and Cash Parkin also scored for Lloydminster. Cayden Wildeman set up two goals.
Dylan Kruchten, with two points, and Jordan Gagnon replied for Killam.
Wheat Kings goaltender Ethan Edwards stopped 35 shots. Shae Stewart made 17 saves for the Bandits.
BANDITS 9, WHEAT KINGS 5: Trailing 5-4 after two periods, Lloyd rallied with all five third-period goals to gain a two-game edge in the series.
Bandits’ veteran Jayden Plamondon led the way with a goal and three assists. Martens and Ziegler each added a goal and two helpers. Bugiera, Wildeman and captain Joel Webb had one of each.
Bronson Parker, Kade Dennett and Jake Redden rounded out the Lloyd scoring. Parkin assisted on two goals.
Gagnon collected a hat trick for Killam. Tanner Sheets, with two points, and Cade Schatschneider also scored. Allen, the league’s rookie winner, picked up a couple of assists.
The Wheat Kings’ Edwards and the Bandits’ Stewart faced 41 and 31 shots, respectively.
If Game 5 is needed, it would be played in Lloyd at 5 p.m. Sunday.
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