Mount Pearl last hosted the Atlantic Junior B hockey championships in 2003 and last won the cup in 1986. The 35th iteration of the Don Johnson Memorial Cup will be held at the Mount Pearl Glacier from April 23rd to the 28th. From left are Blades’ members Sean Rodgers, Lucas White, Andrew Stamp, Evan Kennedy, and Jacob Payne.
By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
After finishing the regular season in the St. John’s Junior Hockey League as the most winning team, the Mount Pearl Junior Blades are vying now for the top spot in the 2024 Don Johnson Memorial Cup as they fight for Atlantic-wide bragging rights on their home turf.
The Blades are hosting the Atlantic Junior B hockey championships this year which will bring the top teams from the four eastern provinces to the Glacier for some top caliber competition.
The Blades kick off the tournament on Tuesday night against familiar faces St. John’s Junior Caps, who bested Mount Pearl during the St. John’s Junior Hockey League Championships just this month.
Director of Media with the Don Johnson Host Committee Nicholas Hillier is hoping for a full house when the two hometown heroes square off on opening night.
“Mount Pearl and St. John’s were neck and neck in the regular season and seeing them two as the representatives (of this province) just goes to show the quality of hockey that the Don Johnson is going to put out,” said Hillier.
The tournament is named for a hockey organizer widely regarded as one of the key builders of amateur hockey in Newfoundland. The late Don Johnson was first elected president of the Newfoundland Amateur Hockey Association, the predecessor of Hockey NL, in 1966, and was president of the Canadian Hockey Association from 1975-1977.
Hillier said everybody from the Blades’ players to management and coaching staff are hoping to make good after getting knocked out in the semi-finals of the league playoffs this year.
“They’re hungry for a bit of redemption,” he said. “They put a good game of hockey on the ice all season… They had a bit of heartbreak, faced a bit of adversity. We’ll be looking to go home with a bit of hardware in terms of the Atlantic Junior Championships. The opportunity to host Don Johnson doesn’t come every year. Newfoundland and Labrador only gets it once every four years.”
Hillier has observed a spike in attendance at local junior games leading up to the cup, and hopes it continues for the Atlantics.
“A sold out rink on Tuesday night is going to be our number one goal,” he said.
Community awareness of the tournament is also top of mind for the host committee.
For those unable to attend the games, the action will be well documented with a strong presence by broadcasters, videographers and photographers capturing all of the excitement.
The games will be viewable online, and social media will be keeping up with all of the big plays.
“Our social media content is going to be really high quality, every goal is going to be on our social media, we’re going to be updating live the whole week,” said Hillier.
Two years ago, The Blades lost 2-1 in the semi-finals to the Kent Koyotes who would go on to win the cup that year. The Blades will get another chance for redemption when they face-off against the Koyotes on Thursday Night.
“That’s going to be a really fun game to watch,” Hillier said.
A member of Johnson’s family will be present to open the tournament on Tuesday night with a ceremonial puck drop.
“You're putting five of the best teams from Atlantic Canada on the same ice surface over a week,” said Hillier. “This is going to be the best hockey on the island right now. For ten dollars it’s going to be a great night out.”
The 2024 Don Johnson Cup will take place at the Glacier from April 23rd to the 28th.
