There are two teams left in the westernmost region of U18 hockey – either the Calgary Buffaloes or Vancouver NE Chiefs will represent the Pacific at the 2024 TELUS Cup in Membertou, Nova Scotia.

Both teams have made very recent trips to the Men’s U18 National Club Championship – the Chiefs were the Pacific representatives two years ago, finishing in sixth place, while the Buffaloes reached the bronze medal game in 2019.

Calgary and Vancouver NE skate into the best-of-three regional series with plenty of momentum, coming off series sweeps in their respective league finals and outscoring their opponents by a combined total of 21-7.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (TELUS CUP FINISH)

2023 – Calgary Flames (6th place)
2022 – Vancouver NE Chiefs (6th place)
2019 – Calgary Buffaloes (4th place)
2018 – Lethbridge Hurricanes (bronze medal)
2017 – Leduc Oil Kings (5th place)

CALGARY BUFFALOES
AEHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 27-9-0-2 (1st in AEHL)
Goals for: 199
Goals against: 106
Leading scorer: Caleb Matthews (18G 50A 68P)

Playoff record: 8-2
Goals for: 42
Goals against: 23
Leading scorer: Caleb Matthews (11G 12A 23P)

ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Red Deer Chiefs 2-1 (3-5, 5-1, 6-2)
Semifinal: defeated Calgary Flames 3-1 (6-1, 2-5, 3-1, 5-2)
Final: defeated Sherwood Park Kings 3-0 (4-3 2OT, 2-1 3OT, 6-2)

Last national championship appearance: 2019 (4th place)
Total national championship appearances: 8 (1985, 1987, 1989, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2019)

VANCOUVER NE CHIEFS
BCEHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 28-4-2-2 (2nd in BCEHL)
Goals for: 197
Goals against: 86
Leading scorer: Lucas McDonald (32G 26A 58P)

Playoff record: 6-1
Goals for: 33
Goals against: 17
Leading scorer: Jack Schierau (5G 7A 12P)

ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Greater Vancouver Canadians 2-0 (6-2, 7-2)
Semifinal: defeated Cariboo Cougars 2-1 (6-5 OT, 1-4, 4-3 OT)
Final: defeated Okanagan Rockets 2-0 (5-0, 4-1)

Last national championship appearance: 2022 (6th place)
Total national championship appearances: 1 (2022)