With a combined 18 NHL draft picks - with 10, including Flames prospect Lucas Ciona, belonging to the Seattle Thunderbirds - this best-of-seven, winner-take-all feud promises to be one for the ages.
"Two big dogs going at it," Ciona said over the phone following Friday's morning skate in Winnipeg. "I know a couple guys from playing with them back in the day: (Zack) Ostapchuk, (Matthew) Savoie... We know how fast they are and good on the rush. They're a talented group.
"But so are we.
"We're excited go up against them."
For Ciona, there's an air of unfinished business at play. His Thunderbirds found themselves in a similar spot one year ago, battling the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL Championship Series, but falling to his hometown team in a six-game slugfest.
This represents a chance to make amends - and to officially close the chapter on his 20-year-old season before turning pro in the fall.
"We felt like we had a little more in us last year," Ciona explained. "That might have been the hardest part of all.
"But then, to come back with another unreal team a year later? That doesn't happen very often, going to back-to-back finals in such a good league. It's pretty exciting going into today. Waking up for breakfast and going down to see the guys. The mood feels really good in here and we're ready to go."
The Thunderbirds ended the regular season with a 54-11-1-2 record, with their championship opponent - the Winnipeg Ice - claiming first place in the overall standings by finishing a scant four points better.
But with a group of NHL prospects including Ciona, Jared Davidson (Montreal), Kevin Korchinski (Chicago), Jordan Gustafson (Vegas), Nolan Allan (Chicago), Colton Dach (Chicago), Brad Lambert (Winnipeg), Dylan Guenther (Arizona), Reid Schaefer (Nashville), and former Calgary Hitmen Luke Prokop (Nashville), this U.S. Division powerhouse is anything but an underdog.
Ciona figures to play an important role, beginning in Game 1 on Friday at Canada Life Centre.
The 6-foot-3, 222-lb. winger had a breakout season, setting new career highs with 28 goals and 75 points to finish second in team scoring. He has since added another five tallies and two helpers in 14 playoff tilts, while providing a fast, physical presence at both ends of the ice.
"Coming into the season, I knew I wanted to be a little more impactful on the scoresheet," he said. "I've always been that physical, net-front-type of guy, but I knew I had more of an offensive side to my game."
It didn't take long to see the fruits of his off-season labour.
The Edmonton native - who signed his three-year entry level contract with the Flames on Oct. 30 - got off to a sizzling start, scoring 17 points (7G, 10A) in his first nine games to lead the T-Birds to a 9-1-0 start.
That scorching stretch included a season-high six-point night (3G, 3A) as part of an 11-2 win over the Everett Silvertips.
"It was one of those nights," Ciona laughed. "Just seemed like anytime everybody touched the puck, it was hitting the back of the net. You'd get the puck, make a pass and somebody would score. Then, again. And again. It was a lot of fun. We played so well that game and everybody put up a big effort."
Ciona was named captain of the Thunderbirds back on Jan. 31, so it should come as no surprise that as a leader, he would drive home the team concept above all else.
But it's not lip service.
The group effort that's led to his team's magical run is what's led to a lifetime of memories.
There's just one more he needs to grab onto now at this level.
"We came up short last year. You don't forget something like that," Ciona said. "Getting here again, I'm super fortunate and having that excitement to get the job done now, I can barely put it into words.
"We're pretty jacked up and can't wait to drop the puck."
