Clash of the Calverts: Brothers to face off in WHL playoffs

Atley Calvert will don the colours of his hometown Warriors while his younger brother Rowan will represent Saskatoon as the best-of-seven series gets underway. Game 1 goes Friday at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon.

Moose Jaw knocked off the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-0 in the first round before dispatching the Swift Current Broncos in five games in the second round.

Meanwhile, Saskatoon beat the Prince Albert Raiders 4-1 to begin its playoffs before sweeping the Red Deer Rebels 4-0 in a conference semifinal.

“It’s awesome. I’ve said it before: Playing for your hometown team is basically a dream come true. I know my grandpa would be real proud of me and my brother playing here and playing against each other for a chance to go to the final,” Atley said.

“I was talking to my dad and he just said they wouldn’t be cheering too loud for either team. If one of us scores, they will be pretty excited but I think they are pretty excited as well that we are both at this stage and it’s really cool,” Rowan said.

“We haven’t really got to play against each other or with each other at all. It’s really cool to have more games against him before his career is over. It’s going to be special.”

Atley, 20, is in his final season of WHL eligibility and looking to end his career with a title with the Warriors.

He had 95 points (47 goals, 48 assists) in the regular season as the Warriors finished with 91 points – second-most in the Eastern Conference. He has added nine points (three goals, six assists) in nine playoff games this year.

“It will be fun. At the end of the day, it’s probably a little extra added motivation for me, but there’s a lot of motivation in that locker room and a lot of drive so it should be a real good series,” Atley said.

Meanwhile, the 17-year-old Rowan has been a key contributor as a bottom-six forward for a deep Blades team that finished the regular season with 105 points – the most in the WHL.

Rowan had 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 68 regular-season games and has added two goals and an assist in the nine playoff games he has played.

“We were thinking it might go down that way and then the more the playoffs went on, it showed its true colours,” Rowan said. “It’s exciting and cool to get a couple more games in Moose Jaw as well.”

While the brothers want to see their own respective club move forward, there hasn’t been much trash talk between the two.

“The only time we are really bickering at each other is either between shifts or on the golf course,” Rowan said. “We keep it light. I don’t want to say too much because usually when you say stuff, it can come back to get you. It’s exciting, but not too much bickering. But I’m sure it will ramp up as the series goes on.”

But the younger Calvert did point out Atley was the better golfer of the two.

“I hope he gets a little more practice before I hit the course for sure,” Rowan said.

Atley just responded with a laugh.

“I’m definitely the better golfer but we will see about that; we will leave that one on the ice,” he said.