Here are your 2012 RBC Cup Challengers

So from over 80 Junior A teams that started out in September, we are down to just five. The RBC cup is Junior A's version of the Stanley cup and starts tonight in Humboldt.

The five teams who will compete for the 2012 RBC cup in Humboldt are:

Humboldt Broncos(Host Team) - Credit to the host team, for going into the tournament through the front door. After winning the SJHL and defeating the Portage Terriers(who qualify for the RBC due to making the Anavent Cup although losing to the host Broncos)  in the Anavent Cup and will draw on the hometown crowd to win the tourney in there own back yard. The Broncos led by the scoring talents of Andrew Johnson who scored 81 points on the season and slick attacker Robbie Ciolfi and led by a supporting cast that won 42 games and the SJHL title, they could be a good bet to win it all.

Penticton Vees(Pacific Representatives) - After a record breaking BCHL season, where they amassed 110 points and won 54 games during the campaign,would put a number of Major Junior squads to shame with the talent they have on their team. With Wade Murphy, Mario Lucia, the Reilly brothers x 3, Fogerty, Gervias, Johnson, StDenis and Loik should be the hot favorites to come out of the Praries with a championship.
Fred Harbinson's teams mission since the summer of 2011 was.........win the RBC cup.

Portage Terriers (Western Representatives) - The MJHL champions out of Manitoba are usually there or there abouts when it comes to qualifcation for the RBC cup on a yearly basis. With a veteren team and an experianced coaching staff, the Terriers could be the dark horse coming into this tourney. The Terriers won the MJHL with 49 wins and 89 points.
Led by snipers Brent Wold and Mike Gemmill, Portage should not be taken lightly.

Woodstock Slammers(Eastern Representatives) - The Champions of the MJAHL(Maritime League), will be looking to buck the trend of Maritime teams struggling to make an impact at RBC tournaments in recent years. The MJAHL has started to attract more U.S talent to its ranks in the last few seasons and is making more of a name for itself at the Junior A level.
The Slammers who had an impressive 45 wins and 91 points on the season are well worth there place here and will be lookin to star strikes Tim Campbell and Bradley Green as well as former QMJHL forward Nick Huard will be looking to make there mark in Humboldt.
The 2013 RBC will be at the MJAHL's Summerside Capitals(Grizzlies fans and Bear mtn Resort staff, should remember the Summerside team well).

The Soo Thunderbirds(Central Representatives) -  will be looking to superstar forward Micky Sorteretto to make an impact as the T'birds carry the Ontario banner into the RBC this year.
After navigating the Ontario Junior A championship, the Dudley Hewitt Cup(which is more complicated and long winded than a Pierre McGuire analysis) they should be battle ready for Humboldt.
The NOJHL champ T'birds, who defeated former Grizzlie Brad Gehl's team the North Bay Trappers; go into the tourney as underdogs, but, a team nobody should look past.


You can catch the RBC games live and free on canada.fasthockey.com