26 CHL Alumni win 2018 U SPORTS University Cup with Alberta
Twenty-six CHL graduates are 2018 U SPORTS University Cup Champions with the University of Alberta Golden Bears following a 4-2 comeback win over the StFX X-Men on Sunday in Fredericton, NB.
The Golden Bears claim their 16th National Championship in program history and their third in five years after winning back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015.
Fourth-year Golden Bear Stephane Legault (Edmonton Oil Kings) recorded a tournament-leading seven points, including the Bears first goal in the championship final on Sunday, earning tournament MVP honours. Luke Philp (Red Deer Rebels), Wil Tomchuk (Prince George Cougars) and Jamie Crooks (Victoria Royals) also scored for the Bears. Rookie goalie Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors) stopped 24 of the 26 shot he faced.
A total of 23 CHL grads return home with silver medals as members of the StFX X-Men as Daniel Robertson (Windsor Spitfires) and Michael Clarke (Peterborough Petes) had goals in the loss.
An additional 23 CHL grads earned bronze with the UNB Varsity Reds following a 5-4 overtime win over the Saskatchewan Huskies on Alexandre Goulet’s (Victoriaville Tigres) game winner.
Matt Murphy (Saint John Sea Dogs), Tyler Boland (Rimouski Oceanic) and Olivier Leblanc (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) also scored for the Varsity Reds while Goulet found the back of the net twice.
Saskatchewan markers came from Levi Cable (Kootenay Ice), Jaimen Yakubowski (Moose Jaw Warriors), Mackenzie Johnston and Carson Stadnyk (Everett Silvertips) as the Huskies settled for fourth.
A total of 72 CHL graduates return home with medals while an additional six were named to the Championship All-Star Team.
Here’s a closer look at those names and honours:
U SPORTS University Cup Champion Alberta Golden Bears (26 CHL Grads):
Goaltenders:
Brendan Burke (London Knights 2016)
Kenny Cameron (Medicine Hat Tigers 2012)
Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors 2017)
Defencemen:
Dylan Bredo (Medicine Hat Tigers 2014)
Ben Carroll (Edmonton Oil Kings 2016)
Nick Charif (Spokane Chiefs 2015)
Graeme Craig (Prince Albert Raiders 2014)
Jason Fram (Spokane Chiefs 2016)
Clayton Kirichenko (Medicine Hat Tigers 2017)
Sawyer Lange (Prince Albert Raiders 2015)
Ryan Rehill (Kamloops Blazers 2016)
Joel Topping (Lethbridge Hurricanes 2014)
Will Tomchuk (Prince George Cougars 2015)
Forwards:
Tyson Baillie (Kelowna Rockets 2016)
Taylor Cooper (Chicoutimi Sagueneens 2016)
Trevor Cox (Vancouver Giants 2016)
Jamie Crooks (Victoria Royals 2013)
Jayden Hart (Prince Albert Raiders 2015)
Riley Kieser (Edmonton Oil Kings 2014)
Stephane Legault (Edmonton Oil Kings 2013)
Cole Linaker (Kelowna Rockets 2016)
Brandon Magee (Victoria Royals 2015)
Lucas Nickles (Tri-City Americans 2015)
Steven Owre (Medicine Hat Tigers 2017)
Luke Philp (Red Deer Rebels 2016)
Cole Sanford (Regina Pats 2016)
U SPORTS University Cup Silver Medalist StFX X-Men (23 CHL Grads):
Goaltenders:
Brandon Hope (Niagara IceDogs 2015)
Chase Marchand (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2016)
Defencemen:
Santino Centorame (Owen Sound Attack 2017)
Jagger Dirk (Kootenay Ice 2014)
Craig Duininck (Sudbury Wolves 2014)
Aaron Hoyles (Sherbrooke Phoenix (2015)
Cole MacDonald (Everett Silvertips 2015)
Daniel Robertson (Windsor Spitfires 2017)
Mitch Wheaton (Brandon Wheat Kings 2016)
Forwards:
Bryson Cianfrone (Owen Sound Attack 2016)
Michael Clarke (Peterborough Petes 2015)
Holden Cook (Owen Sound Attack 2015)
Lane Cormier (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2017)
Marcus Cuomo (Quebec Remparts 2015)
Anthony DiFruscia (Niagara IceDogs 2016)
Kristoff Kontos (Saginaw Spirit 2014)
Adam Laishram (Windsor Spitfires 2017)
Matt Needham (Kamloops Blazers 2016)
Nathan Pancel (Peterborough Petes 2015)
Adam Stevens (Gatineau Olympiques 2014)
Sam Studnicka (Sarnia Sting 2016)
Mark Tremaine (Saint John Sea Dogs 2015)
Brent Turnbull (Rimouski Oceanic 2014)
U SPORTS University Cup Bronze Medalist UNB Varsity Reds (23 CHL Grads):
Goaltenders:
Alex Dubeau (Moncton Wildcats 2015)
Luke Lee-Knight (Tri-City Americans 2013)
Rylan Parenteau (Tri-City Americans 2017)
Defencemen:
Randy Gazzola (Val-d’Or Foreurs 2014)
Olivier Leblanc (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 2017)
Trey Lewis (Halifax Mooseheads 2014)
Marcus McIvor (North Bay Battalion 2015)
Matt Murphy (Saint John Sea Dogs 2015)
Tristan Pomerlau (Victoriaville Tigres 2017)
Colin Suellentrop (Oshawa Generals 2014)
Forwards:
Stephen Anderson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 2015)
Kris Bennett (Saginaw Spirit 2017)
Tyler Boland (Rimouski Oceanic 2017)
Matt Boudens (Drummondville Voltigeurs 2014)
Cameron Brace (Belleville Bulls 2014)
Christopher Caissy (Moncton Wildcats 2014)
Christopher Clapperton (Rimouski Oceanic 2015)
Oliver Cooper (Charlottetown Islanders 2016)
Alexandre Goulet (Victoriaville Tigres 2017)
Mark Simpson (Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2016)
Mike Thomas (Saint John Sea Dogs 2011)
Peter Trainor (Rimouski Oceanic 2014)
Dylan Willick (Kamloops Blazers 2013)
U SPORTS UNIVERSITY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS:
University Cup MVP (Major W.J. “Danny” McLeod Award):
Stephane Legault (Alberta / Edmonton Oil Kings 2013)
Championship All-Star Team:
G Zach Sawchenko (Alberta / Moose Jaw Warriors 2017)
D Kendall McFaull (Saskatchewan / Moose Jaw Warriors 2013)
D Jagger Dirk (StFX / Jagger Dirk (Kootenay Ice 2014)
F Mark Simpson (UNB / Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2016)
F Stephane Legault (Alberta / Edmonton Oil Kings 2013)
F Michael Clarke (StFX / Peterborough Petes 2015)
A total of 176 CHL graduates competed across eight teams at the 2018 U SPORTS University Cup Championship, representing over 80% of all players in the tournament.
CHL graduates are able to compete in U SPORTS hockey programs and receive their education paid for by taking advantage of the Scholarship Programs throughout the CHL which are funded by the member clubs of the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
During the 2016-17 season more than 945 CHL alumni utilized their Scholarship Packages including over 550 graduates on U SPORTS rosters and representing a financial contribution of over $6.8 million by CHL teams.
For more details visit canadawest.org and usports.ca.