Prince George will be represented at this year's RBC Cup junior A hockey national championship.
The West Kelowna Warriors guaranteed that connection when they defeated the Brooks Bandits of Alberta 6-0 Saturday night at the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup tournament final in Estevan, Sask.
The Warriors scored three goals in the first period, one in the second and two in the third to claim the Western Canada Cup title and lock up the first available berth in the RBC Cup tournament, which starts Saturday in Lloydminster, Sask.
Keelan Williams made 32 saves in the Warriors nets to earn the shutout.
Former Prince George Spruce Kings forward Bryan Basilico, who was traded to West Kelowna in January, scored the Cup-winning goal for the Warriors. The 20-year-old forward opened the scoring 3:27 into Saturday's game.
Six different Warriors scored goals in the final, including Basilico, Nicholas Rutigliano, Garrett Forster, Kyle Marino, Kylar Hope and Jared Marino, who capped the scoring into an empty net.
Jake LeBrun, a 20-year-old Prince George minor hockey graduate, assisted on the Warriors' sixth goal. The Warriors' roster also includes centre Liam Blackburn, 19, who was held off the scoresheet. Brooks penalties played a factor in determining the outcome; West Kelowna went 2-for-14 on the power play.
In Saturday's other playoff game, the Portage Terriers of Manitoba edged the Saskatchewan-champion Melfort Mustangs 3-2. Brooks went on to defeat Portage 2-1 on Sunday to claim the other RBC Cup berth.
The Trenton (Ont.) Golden Hawks also qualified for the RBC Cup to represent the Central region after they defeated the Soo Thunderbirds 4-0 to win the Dudley-Hewitt Cup Saturday in Kirkland Lake, Ont.
