The Founders Cup final is underway between the St. Albert Merchants and Fort Saskatchewan Hawks in the Capital Junior B Hockey League.
The score from Friday’s series opener in St. Albert was unavailable at press time.
Game two in the best-of-five playoff is Sunday at 8 p.m. in Fort Saskatchewan and game three goes Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
Dates and times for game’s four and five, if needed, were unavailable at press time.
The last Founders Cup for the Merchants was 2005.
In league play the Merchants finished first in the west division at 34-3-1 as the Challenge Cup pennant winners and the Hawks placed second overall at 27-10-1 as the east division leaders.
In the season series the Hawks handed the Merchants their second loss in regulation time, 6-2 Nov. 8 in Fort Saskatchewan, and the Money Men won 2-1 Jan. 31 in St. Albert.
The Merchants and Hawks will also represent the CJHL at the April 3 to 6 provincials in Grande Prairie.
The Alberta champion advances to the Western Canadian Keystone Cup, April 17 to 20 in Abbotsford, B.C.
The Merchants and Hawks qualified for provincials by winning their respective best-of-seven semifinal series.
The Merchants defeated the Beaumont Chiefs 4-2 on the strength of three shutouts by Justin Pawlenchuk (7-2, 1.28 GAA). He leads all playoff goalies with five shutouts.
The Hawks eliminated the North Edmonton Red Wings in game seven in overtime Wednesday in the Fort.
In the playoffs the Merchants are 7-2 and the Hawks are 7-5.
Blair Macuch leads the Merchants in playoff points with 13 and Josh Jewell is the team’s top goal scorer with six.
The St. Albert Heavenly Rollers Derby League wheels into its fourth season tonight at the Tri Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove.
The Arch Angels, the Heavenly Rollers’ travel team, battle the Lakeland Ladykillers of Cold Lake. The first jam whistle is 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 in advance through www.stahrderby.com or $15 at the door.
The remainder of the Heavenly Rollers’ home bouts will be staged at Servus Credit Union Place.
The May 10 home opener features the Beelzebubs, the intermediate travel team, and Redcliff Roller Derby.
This is the first season for the Heavenly Rollers in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s Apprentice League. The association is the governing body for women’s flat-track roller derby.
