THE Royal Bank Cup is underway in Camrose, Alta., with a trio of local products competing for one of the competing clubs.
Representing the western region at the five-team event are the Portage Terriers who see Cody Kostecki and Andrew Wiebe of Thunder Bay and Kyle Turgeon from Fort Frances on their roster.
Portage took to the ice in their first game at the RBC Sunday evening against the Pembroke Lumber Kings, who are representing the East.
The other organizations taking part are the host Camrose Kodiaks, the Wellington Dukes and the two-time defending national champion Vernon Vipers.
NAHL UPDATE: The North American Hockey League Robertson Cup tournament gets underway this week in Kansas with the Topeka Road Runners serving as the host team.
Topeka features Devlin’s Jordan Davis on their squad as they look to come out on top during the four-team event.
Meanwhile Ryan Faragher of Fort Frances saw his dream of returning to help his Bismarck Bobcats defend the NAHL title they captured last season fall just short.
Bismarck fell in double overtime to the Michigan Warriors Saturday evening in Topeka in a best-of-three play-in series that determined the final team that would compete in the tournament.
The news wasn’t all disappointing for Faragher however as earlier in the week he was named to the NAHL All-Central Division all-star team in the goaltender position.
His junior career now finished the former Superior International Jr. Hockey League’s top goaltender award recipient will now set his sights on playing in the NCAA as he attends St. Cloud State University on scholarship to play for the Huskies in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
AROUND THE CHL: They are down to the final four teams in the Central Hockey League playoffs, which features plenty of local connections.
The defending champion Rapid City Rush has Thunder Bay’s Colt King in their line-up in their semifinal match-up vs. the Colorado Eagles.
Heading into game 3 of the best-of-seven set, that is tied at a game apiece, King has 10 points in as many postseason contests including six goals.
The other series sees the Allen Americans taking on the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.
Allen dropped the opener 5-4 while game 2 was contested Sunday night in the suburban Dallas, Texas community.
The local connections on the Americans is plentiful starting with Bill McDonald, who is an associate coach with the club.
Thunder Bay’s Erik Adams is also on the squad as are former Lakehead Thunderwolves’ Chris Whitley and Tobias Whelan.
They also have former Thunder Bay Flyers’ forward Dave Bonk and signed Kenora’s Carson Dubchak after his season in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds wrapped up.
Coming from behind shouldn’t bother Allen too much as they did just that in quarterfinal action when they stormed back from 2-0 series deficit winning the last three games to defeat the Odessa Jackalopes and move on.
NOT MANY LEFT: The first round of the National Hockey League playoffs certainly dampened the spirits of many local fans with the majority of the area players seeing their seasons with their respective clubs come to a disappointing end.
The only remaining skaters from the region remaining are Chris Pronger and Mike Richards with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Thunder Bay’s Carter Hutton is also up with the San Jose Sharks as the third goaltender in the event of injury after being recalled once his rookie season in the American Hockey League had come to an end.