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The Tale of the Tape
Monday, March 6, 2023 - Submitted by the NCHL
 


 
The 28th edition of the NCHL's Vanberg Cup finals starts this weekend as the Lacombe Generals will host the Red Deer Rustlers in game 1 on Saturday night at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex.  The finals series is a best of seven games. 

This is the first time these teams have met in the playoffs and they’ve played 6 times over the last 3 years during the regular season.  Lacombe holds the advantage with a 4-2 series record. 

Red Deer comes into the finals having gone through 2 rounds of playoffs - they swept the 4th place Westlock Warriors in the quarterfinals, and then took out the defending Vanberg Cup champions Camrose Crush in 6 games in the semi finals.  

Lacombe has had an easier time as they had a first round bye thanks to their President's Cup winning regular season, then they swept the persistent Devon Barons in the semi finals.

This series looks to promise some outstanding hockey over the next few weeks.  Here is some statistical information pertaining to both teams:

 


There is no lack of star power on each of these teams.  For the Rustlers, Tyler Berkholtz (NCHL MVP, 2 time Scoring Champ and 3 time 1st Team Allstar), defenseman Cory Pritz (2 time 1st team Allstar and last years Top Defenseman) and forward Dylan Houston (1st team Allstar). The Generals boast last season's Top Goaltender, NCHL MVP and 2 time 1st team allstar Mack Engel, 1st team allstar forward Cam Maclise, and last season's 2nd team allstar defenseman Craig Gans. The Rustlers Tim Vanstone leads all playoff scorers with 7-15-22 in 7 games.   Mack Engel leads all goaltenders in the playoffs with a 2.24 average and a .913 save percentage, while the Rustlers Devon Carroll is 2nd (minimum 5 games played) with a 3.46 average and a .902 save percentage. 

Both teams will be missing players due to suspension - the Generals will be missing defenseman Blair Mulder for game one, while the Rustlers Dustin Claffey will miss game one and the ageless Peter Vandermeer will miss the first 2 games. 













 
 
 

 
PLAYER GP G A PTS
Jamie Johnson (LAC) 15 12 26 38
Tyler Berkholtz (RDR) 16 16 18 34
Coltan Buchta (BNP) 15 17 13 30
C. Van Os-Shaw (DVB) 13 13 17 30
Thomas Beretta (LAC) 12 15 14 29
PLAYER GP W GAA SV%
Kolter Pawlick (DVB) 2 1 0.75 .979
Lars Kaliel (WSW) 5 3 2.21 .941
Travis Yonkman (LAC) 5 3 2.24 .934
Brodan Salmond (RDR) 11 8 2.46 .935
Mike Gudmandson (DVB) 7 5 3.00 .926

Another Season in the Books

New Head Coach Announced in Camrose

Van Os-Shaw named Vanberg Cup MVP

Lacombe Generals Win Back to Back Vanberg Cup..

Vanberg Cup Finals Knotted at One Win Apiece

Vanberg Cup Finals Open this Weekend

Devon Barons are North Division Champs

Lacombe Generals are South Division Champs!

Win or Go Home Time for the Rustlers, Pontiac..

Barons Grab 2-0 lead, Generals/Rustlers Tied

TEAM GP W L T D OW OL TP
Devon 16 9 6 0 0 0 1 19
Westlock 16 9 7 0 0 1 0 18
Bonnyville 16 8 7 0 0 0 1 17
Morinville 16 1 13 0 1 0 1 3
TEAM GP W L T D OW OL TP
Red Deer 16 11 5 0 0 0 0 22
Lacombe 16 11 5 0 0 0 0 22
Wetaskiwin 16 10 6 0 0 0 0 20
Camrose 16 5 11 0 0 0 0 10