2025 Herder Memorial Final


The 2025 Herder Memorial Final was the championship series of Newfoundland senior hockey's 2024–25 season and the culmination of the 2025 Herder Memorial playoffs. The Central West Senior Hockey League champion Deer Lake Red Wings defeated the Avalon East Senior Hockey League champion Clarenville Caribous four games to zero in the best-of-seven series, earning their third title in team history.
The series began in Deer Lake with games one and two at the Hodder Memorial Complex on March 28 and 29 and concluded in Clarenville with games four and five at the Eastlink Events Centre on April 4 and 5.
On April 5, after the Championship-winning game, Hockey NL Chair of Senior Hockey Gary Gale presented the Herder Memorial Trophy to Red Wings' captain Stephen Simms. Deer Lake goaltender Bryan Gillis was presented with the Cliff Gorman Memorial Award as the series MVP.

Paths to the Final

Clarenville Caribous

The Caribous finished the season in fourth place in the Avalon East Senior Hockey League with a record of 8–9–3.
In the first round of the AESHL playoffs, Clarenville defeated the fifth place HGOE CeeBee Stars 2-games-to-0 in a best-of-three series. In the second round, the Caribous eliminated the first-place Baker's Flooring Conception Bay Blues 4-games-to-2 in a best-of-seven league semi-final.
In the league final, Clarenville defeated the second-place Puglisevich Southern Shore Breakers 4-games-to-1 and were awarded the Joe Maynard Trophy as the AESHL champion. The leading scorer in the 2025 AESHL playoffs was Clarenville's Adam Dawe with 18 points in 13 games.

Deer Lake Red Wings

The Red Wings finished in first place in the Central West Senior Hockey League 14-game regular season with a near-perfect record of 13-0-1.
After eliminating the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts 4-games-to-1 in the CWSHL semi-final, Deer Lake went on to win their third Cliff Gorman Memorial Trophy by defeating the Stephenville Lightning in four straight games in the best-of-seven league finals.

Game summaries

Game one

''Note: SA = saves against. GA = goals against, SV = saves, SV% = save percentage, TOI = time on ice, PIM = penalty minutes''

Player statistics

Skaters

These are the top ten skaters based on points.
PlayerTeam
Brandon HynesDeer Lake Red Wings4235
Drew LangdonDeer lake Red Wings4224
Reilly MayneDeer lake Red Wings4134
Adam DaweClarenville Caribous4213
Lucas McKayDeer Lake Red Wings4123
Stephen SimmsDeer Lake Red Wings4
Cody DroverDeer Lake Red Wings4
Chad EarleClarenville Caribous4
Thomas HedgesClarenville Caribous4
Matthew GrouchyDeer Lake Red Wings4

Goaltenders

PlayerTeam
Bryan GillisDeer Lake Red Wings44014340.972
A.J. WhiffenClarenville Caribous404138110.920

Team rosters

Deer Lake Red Wings

#NatPlayerPositionHandAgeAcquiredPlace of birthFinal appearance
72

Clarenville Caribous

#NatPlayerPositionHandAgeAcquiredPlace of birthFinal appearance
29