Whitehorse’s Adam Henderson, top scorer for the Spruce Grove Saints, played a major role in securing the Alberta Junior Hockey League championship title, but it may be the end of the road for the Saints in coming days.
Playing in the Doyle Cup against the British Columbia Hockey League junior A champs, the Vernon Vipers, the Saints are facing elimination, down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, as the series moves back to Vernon to wrap up.
To reach the Doyle Cup, the Saints defeated the Ft. McMurray Oil Barons in seven games in the finals of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Henderson, who led his team in points in the season, had a big night in Game 7 against the Oil Barons, amassing three assists and a goal in his team’s 6-0 victory. The 20-year-old forward has committed to playing for the University of Alaska, Fairbanks campus next season.
“He’s been good in the playoffs,” said Saints head coach Steve Hamilton in a recent interview with the News. “He’s been leading our team in the playoffs, he’s a big strong guy and he’s been pretty good for us.”
The Vipers arrived in the Doyle Cup by defeating the Powell River Kings in Game 7 of the BC league junior A finals. Playing for the Kings were three Yukoners, Andrew Pettit, Alex McDougall and Reid Campbell, who was awarded both Most Popular and Inspirational Player of the Year at the team’s awards over the weekend.
Pettitt, who has signed a deal to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves in the 2011/2012 season, finished the season third for points on the Kings, with 36 goals and 25 assists in 58 games.
Whitehorse’s Ted Stephens, playing on the Muncton Wildcats, is on the verge of reaching the finals of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, up 3-1 in a seven-game series over the Drummondville Voltigeurs with a 4-0 shutout win on Wednesday. So far in 14 playoff games, Stephens, who plays centre, has six assists and a goal going into Friday’s Game 5 in Drummondville.
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com