Calgary, Alberta – Sunday, May 18, 2025: The host Calgary Canucks are the 2025 Centennial Cup Champions after defeating the Melfort Mustangs 7-2, Sunday night at the Max Bell Centre.
This one was special for Captain Bowden Singleton, who had to watch last year’s Centennial Cup team from the stands after missing the tournament in Oakville due to injury.
“Losing last year and looking at the guys that lost was probably one of the saddest I’ve had to go through, because those 20-year-olds last season gave everything they had, and I had to watch from the stands,” said Singleton, “I knew I could have made an impact, and you know what? This year, I did it for them, and I did it for our team this year. It’s everything I’ve dreamed of.”
For the first time in the tournament, the Canucks scored the first goal of the game when Rhett Melnyk shoveled home a loose puck on the power play to kick off the night.
The Melfort Mustangs responded later in the period, tying the game 1-1 game heading into the first intermission.
In the second period, the Canucks pulled ahead, scoring three times thanks to Hayden Fechner, Landon Pappas, and Nolan DuPont, making it 4-1.
Calgary continued to roll into the third when Jayden Joly made it a 5-1 game just one minute and 18 seconds into the period.
The Canucks would add two more goals in the period, first from Jack Plandowski, his seventh of the tournament putting his team up 6-1.
The Mustangs would score one more time, but Fechner would seal the game with an empty-netter in the 7-2 victory, his second of the night.
“Early on, you wonder if guys are getting a free pass, but their motto was to earn it. They want to earn their way and win the AJHL, and then come in the front door and make it happen at the Centennial Cup. And that’s what they did, and I give them kudos,” said Head Coach Brad Moran
Goaltender Lukas Renaud had another solid game, making 27 saves in the title game.
“As soon as I stepped foot here, I knew something was different about this group,” said Renaud, “We always found a way to win, no matter what situation we were put in, we always battled through. I just knew this group was special from day one.”
Nathan Maloney was named Top Defenceman at the Centennial Cup, leading all blueliners with three goals and eight points and added a pair of assists in the win.
Even as the host, the team aimed to earn their spot back in the tournament from the beginning of the season.
The Canuck were successful earning their way back as back-to-back AJHL champions and winning their second Centennial Cup, 30 years after their first victory in 1995.
About Us
Calgary Canuck Junior A Hockey Club –– Founded in 1971, the community-owned Calgary Canucks are the oldest operating hockey franchise in Calgary and the AJHL. The organization has experienced a rich and successful history, including 12 regular season titles, 11 AJHL championships, two Doyle Cup titles, and two National Junior A Championships. (www.calgarycanucks.ca)
Media Inquiries
Morgan Melnyk
Vice-President, Marketing & Media
Calgary Canucks Junior A Hockey Club
mmelnyk@calgarycanucks.ca
www.calgarycanucks.ca
Mackenzie Grafton
Lead, Marketing Content
Calgary Canucks Junior A Hockey Club
mgrafton@calgarycanucks.ca
www.calgarycanucks.ca
