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Calgary Canucks are ready for a Storm in AJHL final

By Glenn Campbell

Published: 

The Calgary Canucks are set to open up the AJHL final on Friday night against the Grand Prairie Storm.

The Calgary Canucks couldn’t practice at the Ken Bracko Arena at Max Bell Wednesday because crews were putting the finishing touches for the 2025 Centennial Cup, which gets underway in early May.

Instead, the walked across the hallway to the adjacent Perry Cavanaugh arena and practiced there. Forward Rhett Melnyk, 20, was his usual smiling self at practice.

Prior to joining the Canucks, Melnyk spent four seasons in the WHL, where he was a captain with the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Melnyk says he’s tried to bring that leadership to the Canucks this season.

“You know coming to the rink everyday and leading by example,” he said.

“I like to talk to the boys and joke around a lot, keep it light and have some fun. Work hard out there everyday and hopefully others follow.”

Bracing for the storm

Melnyk has had a great playoffs so far. In 9 games he has put up four goals and six assists.

But he expects things to get a lot tougher against the Storm. He knows they’re a very good hockey team and both teams will be putting in a lot of kilometres in the final.

“We’ve got some travel but that’s okay,” he said.

“They’ve got good atmosphere up there and so do we down here so it’ll be a lot of fun. I think everybody on both sides are looking forward to it.”

Motivated

The Canucks got the better of the Storm in the first round of last years’ playoffs but know Grand Prairie is a much improved team.

Even though both of these teams are guaranteed a spot in the Centennial Cup because the Canucks are hosting, there’s still plenty of motivation for the Canucks says defenceman Kenny Sutton.

“I am certainly motivated to win. You always want to win a championship,” said the 20-year-old.

“It’s always something special to have on your resume. Especially this year with being the regular season champions. We want to create something of a three-peat by being the regular season champion, the playoff champion and then maybe even a Centennial Cup champions. That would be a dream come true for sure.”

Revenge

The Canucks know the Storm will be motivated as well. Head coach Brad Moran is expecting they’ll have a chip on their shoulders after losing to the Canucks in the playoffs last season.

“They’ll have that motivation and we’ll have our own,” said Moran.

“I think we want to win our way to the Centennial Cup but also win another AJHL Championship so there’s a lot on the line.”

Brad Moran Canucks head coach Brad Moran says he expects the Grande Prairie Storm to have a chip on their shoulder after losing to Calgary in the 2024 playoffs. (Mark Villani, CTV News)

The finals get underway Friday at Ken Bracko Arena at 7 p.m., with Game 2 scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday.

Games 3 and 4 are back in Grande Prairie Tuesday and Wednesday, with Game 5 (if necessary) back in Calgary Saturday, April 26, at 5 p.m.

For more information about the Canucks, go here.

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