Buffaloes clinch playoff spot, win again at Telus Cup
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The Calgary Under-18 AAA Buffaloes lined up Thursday already knowing they’d booked a place in the playoffs at the 2024 Telus Cup.
But that didn’t stop them from another win — and another fine defensive showing — at the Hockey Canada’s Men’s U18 National Club Championship in Membertou, N.S.
And it was the captain coming through in the clutch, as Tyson Murray scored short-handed late in the second period to help send the Buffaloes to a 3-1 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings.
“Happy to have cliched a spot on the weekend,” said Buffaloes head coach Brent Harrison. “Now just need to get some food and rest.”
Murray’s goal for the Pacific Region champs came 16:39 into the middle frame, breaking a 1-1 tie with the Western winners.
The Wheat Kings owned a one-goal lead through the first 20 minutes, but goals by Jackson Schneider and then Murray turned the score in favour of the Buffaloes, who eventually iced the game with a third-period empty-netter by Cooper Williams.
Buffs star goaltender Kael Svenson made 23 saves for another gem of a game to spur his squad onto another triumph for a 3-0-0-1 record.
“Good win,” Harrison said. “The boys played well after the first period.”
The Wheat Kings, meanwhile, drop to 2-0-2-0.
Next up for Svenson & Co. is a test to round out the round robin — that against the Quebec-champ Cantonniers de Magog, who went into Thursday’s action undefeated at 3-0-0-0.
The Buffs square off against the Cantonniers early Friday at Membertou Sport & Wellness Centre (8 a.m. MT).
Then it’s the playoffs, beginning with Saturday’s semifinals being live-streamed by Hockey Canada (11 a.m. MT and 3 p.m. MT), followed by Sunday’s gold-medal final, which is set to be broadcast live nationally (TSN, 2 p.m. MT).
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