The Yarmouth Mariners are set to represent the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) at the 2023 Centennial Cup. The national Junior A championship will be held May 11th-21st in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The tournament includes the host Portage Terriers and representatives from the nine league champions from the CJHL. The teams have been divided into two five-team pools for the round-robin.
The Mariners begin their journey with a matchup against the defending Centennial Cup champion Brooks Bandits from the Alberta Junior Hockey League on Thursday, May 11th at 5:30 p.m. Atlantic Time. Yarmouth’s second game is Friday, May 12th at 5:30 p.m. AT against the NOJHL champion Timmins Rock. The Mariners then get a two-day break before hitting the ice at 1:30 p.m. AT on Monday, May 15th against the CCHL champion Ottawa Junior Senators. Finally, Yarmouth completes their round-robin schedule on Wednesday, May 17th at 5:30 p.m. AT against the LHJQ champion Terrebonne Cobras.
The other group involves the following teams:
- Portage Terriers (Host, MJHL)
- Collingwood Blues (OJHL)
- Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)
- Battlefords North Stars (SJHL)
- Kam River Fighting Walleye (SIJHL)
After the round-robin, the top team in each group advances to the semifinals on Saturday, May 20th. In the quarterfinals on Friday, May 19th, the second-place team in Pool A will face the third-place team in Pool B, while the second-place team in Pool B will face the third-place team in Pool A.
The Centennial Cup final is scheduled for 5 p.m. AT on Sunday, May 21st.