Calgary Canucks sweep Whitecourt Wolverines in AJHL championship series

Calgary Canucks are the 2024 AJHL champions after defeating Whitecourt 3-2 Wednesday night. Goaltiender Julian Molinaro celebrates after the game.

The Calgary Canucks are Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) champions after completing a 4-0 sweep of the Whitecourt Wolverines on Wednesday night.

The Canucks beat the Whitecourt Wolverines 3-2 at the Ken Bracko Arena at Max Bell, taking the best-of-seven AJHL championship series four games to none.

Gavin Garland scored the winning goal in the third, breaking a 2-2 tie to give the Canucks the win to send thousands of Canucks fans jammed into Max Bell's Ken Bracko arena into delirium.

The Canucks got a second-period goal from Cody Pisarczyk, who also set up Rile Bracko in the first period to account for the other Canucks scoring.

After the game, an ecstatic Garland tried to put the feeling of being AJHL champs into words.

"I’m just super pumped," Garland said. "Obviously what the guys did is unreal. I know we have the Centennial Cup coming up and that’s going through everyone’s heads but right now, we’re pretty excited."

Garland said winning the Inter Pipeline Cup was a pretty huge deal for the Canucks, after over two decades since the last one.

"For the organization, it’s massive," he said.  "Especially for the arena to be this packed and this loud, for everyone from the staff on down, it’s amazing."

Canucks coach Brad Moran said the playoff run really brought the players together and it showed.

"I'm so happy for these guys," Moran said. "They came together and they’re a true team. They’re there for each other and I’m just proud of them, what they did."

As far as the lengthy wait between championships, he said that made Wednesday night's win even sweeter.

"It’s got a deep history,"  he said. "Hopefully we can keep it where it is now. It’s pretty special."

The Canucks move on to compete for the Centennial Cup, which starts May 9 in Oakville, Ontario.