DAUPHIN, Man. – For the 40th time, Canada’s top Junior A teams have gathered, this year in Dauphin, to battle for the National Junior A Championship, beginning Saturday, May 1. This year marks the fourth time Manitoba has hosted the tournament, joining Flin Flon in 2001, Winnipeg in 1992 and Brandon in 1973.

The host team, the Dauphin Kings, are joined by regional representatives Vernon Vipers (Pacific), La Ronge Ice Wolves (West), Oakville Blades (Central) and Brockville Braves (East). The five teams will take to the ice at the Parkland Recreation Complex, hoping to earn one of the two berths in Sunday’s nationally-televised championship game.

The Vipers are looking to become the first team since Vernon in 19 to repeat as national Junior A champions, while also looking for their sixth national title, more than any other team. Vernon is the only team in the field to previously win the National Junior A Championship (1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2009), while Dauphin and La Ronge are making their debut at the national championship. The Kings are looking to become the first host team since Weyburn in 2005 to win the national title; they are 38-2-1 on home ice this season.

The gold medal game on Sunday, May 9 will be broadcast live on TSN at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT. It will be shown on tape delay on RDS at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Check your local listings for the broadcast time in your area.

In addition, all 10 round-robin games, along with both semifinals on Saturday, May 8, will be available via webcast through FASTHockey at hockeycanada.fasthockey.com. All games are available on a pay-per-view basis for $6.99 each.

Ticket information for the 2010 RBC Cup are available by clicking HERE.

On Friday, April 30, the opening ceremonies will take place at the Dauphin’s Countryfest Cabaret at the Parkland Recreation Complex. There will be a barbecue at 5:30 p.m. (the first 1,000 people get a free pop and hot dog), followed by the introduction of the five competing teams at 7 p.m. A concert by country music star Charlie Major will follow. Tickets for the Charlie Major concert cost $20 and are available by calling the Dauphin’s Countryfest office at 204-622-3700 or 1-888-459-2010.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Jason LaRose, Hockey Canada’s coordinator of communications/content development, will be on site at the 2010 RBC Cup and will be the media contact for interviews, information or photos. He can be reached at 403-703-8791 or [email protected].