It has been disparagingly referred to as 鈥淛ungle B鈥� at certain points.
Yet it鈥檚 not a bad group of alumni that has made a pit-stop in Junior B hockey in British Columbia on the way to the NHL 鈥� with Jamie Benn, Ryan O鈥橞yrne, Matt Irwin, Clayton Stoner, Shea Weber, Andrew Ladd, Karl Alzner, Colton Gillies, Milan Lucic, Kyle Turris, Jason Garrison, Barret Jackman and Brent Seabrook on that list.
Another season comes to a close today with the 2013 Fred 鈥楥yclone鈥� Taylor Cup 鈥� named after the Stanley Cup-winning sa国际传媒 hockey legend 鈥� championship game today at 2:30 p.m. at the Comox Valley Sports Centre.
The Richmond Sockeyes 鈥� the Pacific Junior League champions looking for a fifth Cyclone Taylor Cup to go with past titles from 2009, 2004, 2003, 1992 鈥� advanced to the championship game with a 3-2 victory Saturday over the Kootenay International Junior League representative Castlegar Rebels (1-2).
The Sockeyes (3-0), who finished the round-robin undefeated, were awaiting the result of a late-finishing game between the Island-champion Victoria Cougars (1-1) and Island runner-up and host Comox Valley Glacier Kings (0-2).
Today鈥檚 bronze-medal game is at 10: 30 a.m.
The sa国际传媒 champion advances to the Keystone Cup Western Canadian championships April 17-21 in St. Malo, Manitoba.
The Cougars were looking to avenge last year鈥檚 3-2 double overtime loss in the Cyclone Taylor Cup championship game to the Abbotsford Pilots, who went on to win the Keystone Cup Western title.
The last Island team to win the Cyclone Taylor Cup was the Peninsula Panthers in 2011. The Cougars have won it previously in 2007.
The other Cyclone Taylor Cup champions from the Island have been the Campbell River Storm in 1999, Saanich Braves in 1976, Victoria Cubs in 1971 and Comox Totems in 1967.
The Cranbrook Colts hold the record for the most Cyclone Taylor Cup championships with seven, although the last was in 1987.
Next year鈥檚 Cyclone Taylor Cup is to be hosted by the Maple Leafs in Nelson.
