The Herd are the Spring 2025 Stanley Cup Champions!

 

If last season's final was a classic, this was an epic! Two teams with speed & skill, strong defence, and brick walls between the pipes. The Herd were coming off of their 2nd straight Presidents Trophy, but first appearance in the Final since they last won it in Spring of 2023.

 

Game 1 started as a back and forth chess match, each team feeling each other out, not taking too many risks while also looking for one little crack in the defence. Finally, the deadlock was broken as former Jet, Ryley Vadacchino flying into the slot, redirected a heavy pass far post past Lucas Cochrane for the opening goal. It wasn't long after that that Vadacchino would add a 2nd accepting a pass in the slot and burying a deceptive backhand to take a 2-0 lead into the break. Vadacchino completed the hat trick to help the Herd take game one 3-1.

 

Vadacchino was at it again in game 2, opening the scoring to make it 1-0. The Jets however, were not going to let this get out of hand. Noah Desrochers capitalized on the power-play to even it up and keep the Jets dream of back to back Cups alive. The Herd would take the lead back as Winter season Rookie of the Year, Liam Mercer sniped from his office. Jets leading scorer, Aiden Howell tied it in the 2nd and the teams would trade chances for the rest of the game, and if not for goaltenders Cochrane & Jay Longbottom, this would have been a barn burner. But instead we went to overtime... but before then, with 47 second left Mercer took a 2 minute minor. Moments into OT, Kyle Hines would send the series to game 3 with a power-play goal!

 

Like most epics, you don't know what's going to happen until it happens, and that was certainly the feeling in game 3. It was either team's game. Who would be the hero? Would it be finesse or a scramble to end it all? In the end, it came down to a split second & a matter of inches...

 

Game tied 0-0 in overtime, Herd leading scorer, Adam Frick picks up the ball in the corner and carries it behind the net. Dylan Hines is standing in front of the net in anticipation of a pass or rebound. As Frick rounds the net, Hines just barely steps into the crease. Now, if a goal is scored with a player in the crease and the ball was not in the crease first, then that goal would be disallowed. Referee Morgan Hobbs tells Hines to get out of the crease. As Hines lifts his foot out of the crease, Frick turns and fires a shot & finds a hole between Cochrane's arm & body securing the Herd's second Stanley Cup in franchise history, and second straight Cup to be won in overtime!

 

Playoff MVP: Rico Dizon

2024-2025 SEASON UPDATE

 

The 2024 Winter Pre-Season will begin on Monday, September 16 (grades 8-12) 7pm-9pm*. We are accepting registrations (form & fee) for the regular season which will begin in November.

 

We will once again be offering two seasons, two playoffs, two opportunities at a championship. Registration is $50**/player, but if you invite a friend and sign up with someone who hasn’t played in the league before, then it’s $40**/each. Also, both seasons are included in one registration.

 

The two seasons will break down as follows:

 

2024 Winter Season

Mondays, 7pm-9:30pm

November 4 - January 20  (two week break for Christmas, Dec. 23 & 30)

Semi-Finals: January 27

Finals: February 3

All Star Game: February 17 (Louis Riel Day) 4pm start

 

2024 Spring Season

Mondays, 7pm-9:30pm

March 3 - May 5

Semi-Finals: May 12

Finals: May 19 (Victoria Day) 5pm Start

All Star Game: May 26

Awards Banquet: May 19 after Final

 

*Time may be expanded to 7pm-9:30pm depending on numbers during Pre-Season.

**Dates subject to change

**Subsidies available. If the fee is keeping you from participating, please email league director

jamie.wilson@yfcwinnipeg.ca