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It is now less than a month away before the Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, begins at the Max Bell Centre in Calgary.
Heading into action Thursday, there are 26 Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) clubs still in contention to see who will be crowned the national Jr. A champion when the 10-team event concludes on Sunday, May 18.
Four of the nine CJHL-member leagues are down to their respective finals, while two other squads await to see who they will meet in theirs.
The rest remain active in semifinal play to see which teams advance.
Of note, with the Calgary Canucks hosting the Centennial Cup, fellow Alberta Junior Hockey League finalist, the Grande Prairie Storm, become the second team to qualify for the nationals, regardless of the outcome in their AJHL’s Inter Pipeline Cup championship series.
Also, there will be at least three different league title holders, coming out the MHL; OJHL and SIJHL as well as a new Centennial Cup champion, with last season’s winner, the Collingwood Blues (OJHL) being dethroned.
Here is where each CJHL league currently stands in their respective playoffs:
MHL (MetalFab Cup)
Edmundston Blizzard vs. Pictou County Weeks Crushers
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: T.B.A.
LHJAAAQ (NAPA Cup)
Braves de Valleyfield vs. Collège Français de Longueuil
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Friday, April 11 @ Valleyfield 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Sunday, April 13 @ Valleyfield 3 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, April 15 @ Longueuil 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: Friday, April 18 @ Longueuil 7:30 p.m.
Game 5*: Sunday, April 20 @ Valleyfield 3 p.m.
Game 6*: Tuesday, April 22 @ Longueuil 7:30 p.m.
Game 7*: Thursday, April 24 @ Valleyfield 7:30 p.m.
*-if necessary
CCHL (Bogart Cup)
Semifinals
Rockland Nationals vs. Smiths Falls Bears
Best-of-seven series tied 2-2
Game 5: Friday, April 11 @ Rockland 7:30 p.m.
Carleton Place Canadians vs. Navan Grads
Grads lead best-of-seven series 3-1
Game 5: Friday, April 11 @ Carleton Place 7 p.m.
OJHL (Buckland Cup)
Semifinals
Leamington Flyers vs. Milton Menace
Menace lead best-of-seven series 2-1
Game 4: Friday, April 11 @ Milton 7:30 p.m.
Trenton Golden Hawks vs. Haliburton County Huskies
Golden Hawks lead best-of-seven series 2-0
Game 4: Thursday, April 10 @ Trenton 7:30 p.m.
NOJHL (Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy)
Greater Sudbury Cubs vs. T.B.A.
Best-of-seven series
Semifinals
Hearst Lumberjacks vs. Timmins Rock
Lumberjacks lead best-of-seven series 3-1
Game 5: Friday, April 11 @ Hearst 7 p.m.
SIJHL (Bill Salonen Cup)
Best-of-seven series
Dryden GM Ice Dogs vs. Kam River Fighting Walleye
Game 1: T.B.A.
MJHL (Turnbull Cup)
Semifinals
Dauphin Kings vs. Portage Terriers
Kings lead best-of-seven series 2-1
Game 4: Friday, April 11 @ Dauphin 7:30 p.m.
Northern Manitoba Blizzard vs. Winkler Flyers
Blizzard lead best-of-seven series 3-0
Game 4: Thursday, April 11 @ Northern Manitoba 7 p.m.
SJHL (Canterra Seeds Cup)
Melfort Mustangs vs. T.B.A.
Best-of-seven series
Semifinals
Flin Flon Bombers vs. Weyburn Red Wings
Red Wings lead best-of-seven series 3-1
Game 5: Saturday, April 12 @ Flin Flon 7:30 p.m.
Source: CJHL
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