The Cyclone Taylor Cup, named in honour of a Stanley Cup champion from sa国际传媒, will not be hoisted for a second consecutive year. The 2021 sa国际传媒 Junior B championship has been cancelled due to the pandemic.
The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League champion would normally advance to the Cyclone Taylor Cup. But that hasn鈥檛 happened since the Revelstoke Grizzlies defeated the Victoria Cougars 5-1 in the 2019 Cyclone Taylor Cup final held in Campbell River.
The Cyclone Taylor Cup brings together the champions of the VIJHL, Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and Pacific Junior Hockey League along with the host team.
鈥淵ou hang on to the dream as long as you can before reality hits home,鈥� said sa国际传媒 Hockey CEO Cam Hope of Victoria,鈥� about the cancellation.
鈥淭he decision was made with heavy hearts. There is no national championship for Junior B, so the Cyclone Taylor Cup is the biggest prize for sa国际传媒 teams.鈥�
Also cancelled is the 2021 Coy Cup for the sa国际传媒 senior men鈥檚 championship.
鈥渟a国际传媒 Hockey鈥檚 priority remains the health and safety of all participants and our communities,鈥� said Hope.
鈥淭he decision to cancel these events is the safest and best decision in light of the continued uncertainty of this pandemic and the competition and travel implications associated with these events.鈥�
VIJHL teams have played in eight of the last 10 Cyclone Taylor Cup championship games. Revelstoke beat the Peninsula Panthers in 2010 before the Panthers bested the Fernie Ghost Riders the following year. The Abbotsford Pilots and Richmond Sockeyes beat the Cougars in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The Campbell River Storm defeated the Kimberley Dynamiters in 2015. The 100 Mile House Wranglers bested the Cougars in 2016 and the Beaver Valley Nighthawks defeated the Storm in 2017.
The VIJHL has produced NHLers Jamie and Jordie Benn, Matt Irwin, Adam Cracknell and Ryan O鈥橞yrne. But none of them lifted the Cyclone Taylor Cup. Although Island teams have been highly active in reaching the championship game, only six have won it 鈥� the Comox Totems in 1967, Victoria Cubs in 1971, Saanich Braves in 1976, Cougars in 2007, Panthers in 2011 and Storm in 2015.
The objective now in the VIJHL is to at least have the semblance of a regular season followed by league playoffs. The VIJHL season began last fall but was halted indefinitely Nov. 21 in accordance with provincial health restrictions put in at that time.
鈥淐ancelling the Cyclone Taylor Cup is not a surprise and it鈥檚 a good call,鈥� said Peninsula Panthers GM Pete Zubersky.
鈥淎t this point, it鈥檚 about salvaging the VIJHL regular season and playoffs.鈥�