PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MB (May 19, 2023) – The Brooks Bandits will face the Ottawa Jr Senators in the 2023 Centennial Cup Semifinal, with a chance to book their spot in the National Championship.
Puck drop is scheduled for 3:30 pm (CST) Stride Place on Saturday, May 20th. Listen to the game on Real Country 105.7 FM and realcountrybrooks.ca with Nathan Crosby and Ken Fleury, or watch on video.hockeycanada.ca
Brooks defeated Ottawa 5-1 in the Preliminary Round on May 13th, which included a four-goal 2nd period. The Bandits went undefeated in the round, going 4-0 and outscoring their opponents from Yarmouth, Ottawa, Timmins and Terrebonne 27-4.
This is the fourth all-time meeting between the Bandits and Jr Senators, they met twice in the 2019 National Junior A Championship, including the National Semifinal which the Bandits won, 4-3.
The Jr Senators doubled the Collingwood Blues 4-2 in Friday’s first all-Ontario quarterfinal. The other quarterfinal saw the Portage Terriers edge the Yarmouth Mariners 2-1, meaning Portage will face the Battlefords North Stars in the other National Semifinal at 7:30 pm on Saturday.
The winners of the two Semifinals will meet on Sunday, May 21st to play for the National Championship at 3:00 pm (CST).