The Northwest Giants grew one more season in stature in the B.C. major midget hockey league.
The Burnaby-based club won its fourth consecutive B.C. Amateur playoff title and third in a row against the Cariboo Cougars with a 2-1 victory over its chief rival from Prince George at the Burnaby Winter Club on Saturday.
With a 4-1 win in the opening game of the best-of-three final series against the Cats on Friday, the Giants rode a key second-period goal from Burnaby blueliner Joseph Carvalho to victory, sweeping the Cougars in straight games in the final series for the third consecutive season.
"I was just trying to get (the puck) on net and get a rebound or something," said Carvalho after the win.
What he got was a whole lot more, including a second chance to redeem a lingering memory of the team's collapse at the Telus Cup national midget championships last season.
"We're on a mission," said Carvalho, who along with captain Taylor Tantie are the only two Giants players left from last year's squad. "We're still a little bitter about losing the Telus Cup (last season). We're going back there to get that cup."
Before that happens however, the Giants will have to get past either the Red Deer Optimist Rebels or the St. Albert Sports Raiders, which are currently locked in the Alberta Midget Hockey League final.
The Giants outchanced the visitors in the opening period, despite a pair of golden opportunites by both Eric Margo and affiliate call-up Sam Curleigh.
Carvalho scored early in the middle frame with a shot on goal from the left side following a rush from his own blue line.
Josh Trower made the score 2-0 on the team's four power-play opportunity, taking a puck from Carvalho at the other point and slapping the rubber past Cariboo goalie David Readman on the short side.
Liam Smith of Burnaby had his shutout bid denied late in the final frame on a scramble in front on a Cariboo power play with less than six minutes left to play. Smith stopped 23 shots to record the victory.
In the opening 4-1 win, playoff scoring leader Adam Helewka of Burnaby tallied a pair of markers less than a minute apart to spark a three-goal third period to help defeat the Cougars.
Linemate Anthony Conti was in on all three late-period tallies, finishing with one goal and two assists.
Justin White tied the game 1-1 with the only goal of the second period after Prince George had take the lead on Nathan Craft's first-period marker.
For Carvalho, this year's provincial banner tastes just a little sweeter after the team lost B.C. Hockey League rookie of the year Alex Kerfoot and Western Hockey League rookie of the year Sam Reinhart to the junior leagues last season.
"Last year was obviously awesome, but this team feels more special because we needed all 20 guys. I thought we really deserved it," Carvalho said.
Coach Harkins echoed the sentiment after the team got to the business of shoring up the B.C. title following a winless account at the AAA Mac's midget hockey tournament in Calgary over the Christmas break.
"We make every day a teaching day and a teaching moment and they bring with it accountability, and that to me is the foundation of a winning team," said second-year Giants head coach Todd Harkins. "I can't say enough about these guys.
"I think we have a great team and good kids with no holes. If we go in with the right jump. We have a chance."
The Pacific regional championship series will take place at the venue of the winning Alberta team from April 6 to 8.
