The 100 Mile House Wranglers captured the 2016 Keystone Cup with a 3-2 overtime win over the AGI Insurance Quakers in the Gold Medal Game. This is the seventh win for BC in the past eight (8) Western Canadian Junior B Championships. The championship was held in Regina, Saskatchewan from April 14 – 17, 2016 at the Co-operators Centre.
The Wranglers found themselves with an early deficit after the Quakers scored two (2) quick goals to open the game. The Wranglers came out flying to start the second period and only 16 seconds in Ryan Friesen scored to cut the Quakers lead to one (1). Late in the second and on the power play, Cole Zimmerman scored to tie the game at two (2). After a scoreless third period, overtime was needed to determine the Western Canadian Junior B Champion. Three (3) minutes into overtime it was Zimmerman again with his second of the game to give the Wranglers the win.
Earlier in the day the North Peace Navigators captured the Bronze Medal with a 5-4 overtime win over the Extreme Hockey Reginal Capitals.
The Keystone Cup featured six (6) teams from across Western Canada. The teams this year were:
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Extreme Hockey Regina Capitals
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Host
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100 Mile House Wranglers
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Cyclone Taylor Champions (BC Junior B)
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AGI Insurance Quakers
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Saskatchewan Junior B Champions
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North Peace Navigators
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Alberta Junior B Champions
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Thunder Bay Northern Hawks
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Northern Ontario Junior B Champions
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Penguis Juniors
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Manitoba Junior B Champions
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The Wranglers defeated the Victoria Cougars last week to capture the 2016 Cyclone Taylor Cup and advance to the Keystone Cup.
The past BC champions include the Richmond Sockeyes in 2009 and 2013, Revelstoke Grizzlies in 2010, the Abbotsford Pilots in 2012, the Beaver Valley Nitehawks in 2014 and the Campbell River Storm in 2015.
The Keystone Cup is a six (6) team tournament to crown the Western Canadian Junior B Champion. League champions from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Ontario and the host team make up the teams.
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