SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – Mark Reners’ second goal of the game 8:30 into overtime was the difference as the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) rallied from a two-tally deficit to edge the Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL) 5-4 in semifinal No. 1 Saturday at the Royal Bank Cup Canadian national junior A championship in Summerside, P.E.I.

With the victory the Bandits will now meet the winner of tonight’s other semifinal between the Surrey Eagles (BCHL) and the host Summerside Western Capitals (MHL) in Sunday’s Royal Bank Cup championship game at 7 p.m. AT. That contest will be broadcast on TSN on a tape-delay basis starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Taking advantage of the first of four power play opportunities they were awarded in the opening period, Brooks got on the board first as Reners beat Gordy Defiel in the Minnesota net 4:08 in for the only goal of the stanza.

The Wilderness pulled even early in the middle frame as Jordan Shockley connected at 3:53.

Conrad Sampair then put the SIJHL and Dudley-Hewitt Cup champions on top 44 seconds later as his effort eluded Michael Fredrick making it 2-1 Minnesota.

Using the man advantage once again the Bandits evened the score as a R.J. Reed right point blast hit the post and in to level the proceedings at 13:13.

Answering right back the Wilderness retook the lead two minutes later as SIJHL player of the year and playoff MVP Mike Dietrich’s harmless looking attempt from deep in the right side corner towards the net somehow squeezed its way between Fredrick’s pad and the post and in.

They then made it a 4-2 game with just 12 seconds left in the stanza as during a two-man advantage Dietrich teed up Nick McCormack in the high slot who unleashed a hard shot past Fredrick.

Power play tally No. 3 on the afternoon allowed Brooks to pull within one as Reed notched his second of the game early in final session.

Then with just 18.7 seconds left in regulation, and with Fredrick pulled in favour of an extra attacker, the Bandits notched a fortunate equalizer to force extra time as Dakota Mason chipped the puck in front directly from behind the net that deflected off the skate of a Wilderness defender and into an open net as a sprawled Defiel was caught outside of his crease.

In the extra session Reners completed the comeback as he found himself wide open in front for an extended time and once fed the puck, quickly snapped the game-winner high to the right over Defiel’s shoulder to send the AJHL champs to the title game.

Final shots on goal favoured with Brooks by a 29-36 margin with Reed and Sampair earning their respective player of the game nods.

RBC Cup award winners announced

05/17/2013, 8:00pm CDT

By Hockey Canada

HOCKEY CANADA MEDIA UPDATE

Release date: Friday, May 17, 2013

RBC Cup award winners announced

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. -- The 2013 RBC Cup, Canada's 43rd National Junior A Championship, held its awards banquet on Friday night at the Harbourfront Theatre. The recipients of all six individual awards were announced at the banquet.

The awards were based on the tournament's preliminary round, which ran from Saturday to Thursday.

The 2013 RBC Cup award winners are:

Most Valuable Player (Roland Mercier Trophy) – Cam Maclise (Brooks Bandits)

Top Goaltender – Kevin Bailie (Summerside Western Capitals)

Top Forward – Adam Tambellini (Surrey Eagles)

Top Defenceman – Devon Toews (Surrey Eagles)

Most Sportsmanlike Player (Tubby Schmalz Trophy) – Mike Dietrich (Minnesota Wilderness)

Top Scorer – Anthony Paskaruk (Brooks Bandits)

In addition, Brooks Bandits (Alberta Junior Hockey League) forward Cam Maclise was presented with the 2013 RBC Canadian Junior Hockey League Player of the Year award. A third-year Bandit and Brooks’ captain this season, Cam Maclise finished in the top three in Alberta Junior Hockey League scoring for the second consecutive year, scoring 27 goals and adding a league-leading 56 assists, sparking an offence that scored almost 100 goals more than any other AJHL team. Maclise was rewarded for his offensive exploits with the AJHL MVP award, and was named Brooks’ most valuable player and top forward for the second year in a row.

Thomas Martin of the Vaudreuil-Dorion Mustangs (Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec) was on hand in Summerside to receive the RBC National Junior A Scholarship. Martin was chosen from 10 finalists – one from each of the Canadian Junior Hockey League's member leagues – to receive the $5,000 scholarship.

The RBC Cup Legacy Scholarships were also handed out at the awards banquet. Established following the 2004 RBC Royal Bank Cup in Grande Prairie, Alta., and contributed to following successful National Junior A Championships in Weyburn, Sask., Prince George, B.C., and Cornwall, Ont., these $500 scholarships are awarded to one graduating 20-year-old player from each of the five participating teams.

The RBC Cup Legacy Scholarship winners are:

Brooks Bandits – Chris Muscoby

Minnesota Wilderness – Mike Dietrich

Summerside Western Capitals – Matthew Kelly

Surrey Eagles – Trevor Cameron

Truro Bearcats – Shayne Campbell

After six days of preliminary round action, the semifinals are set for Saturday. In the early game at 2 p.m. AT, the Brooks Bandits (3-1) will take on the Minnesota Wilderness (1-3), while the Surrey Eagles (3-1) will face the host Summerside Western Capitals (2-2) in the late semifinal at 6 p.m. AT.

The semifinal winners will meet in Sunday’s championship game, which can be seen on tape delay at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on TSN/RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcasters (check your local listings). Both semifinals can be seen live via webcast through FASTHockey at hockeycanada.fasthockey.com.