OKOTOKS, Alta. – The Moncton Flyers has won the TELUS Cup, claiming its first National Men’s U18 Club Championship in dramatic fashion with a 5-4 overtime victory over the Cantonniers de Magog on Sunday night at Pason Centennial Arena.

Jack Martin (Upper Coverdale, N.B.) was the overtime hero, scoring his fifth goal of the tournament just 40 seconds into 3-on-3 overtime after the Cantonniers erased a two-goal deficit in the final 90 seconds.

“This is the best feeling of my life, and I am so proud of the boys,” said Martin. “If you would have told me that we would have won the championship like this I would not have believed you, but this is an amazing group. We are a family and we will remember this forever.”

Moncton is just the second Atlantic Region team to win the national title, joining the Cape Breton West Islanders, who were victorious at the 2017 TELUS Cup. Appearing in their ninth national championship, the Flyers become the first team from New Brunswick to be crowned the best in Canada, finishing an unbeaten week at 7-0. They’re just the eighth team since 2000 to go through the tournament without a loss, and the first of those eight from outside Saskatchewan.

“This is such a special group,” said Moncton head coach John DeCourcey. “All week long they have battled back and done what they needed to do, and I am really proud of them. Their goal this season was to get to this game, and once we got here, we wanted to win.”

Magog took an early 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Alix Durocher (Drummondville, Que.) and Jules Boilard (Sherbrooke, Que.), and outshot Moncton 18-5 in the opening frame.

Philippe Collette (Saint-Antoine, N.B.) got Moncton on the board early in the second period, before Marco Martin (Moncton, N.B.) tied the game with his second goal of the tournament.

TELUS Cup MVP Luke Patterson (Moncton, N.B.) broke the deadlock with his ninth goal of the tournament, and Zachary Wheeler (Moncton, N.B.) extended Moncton’s lead to two midway through the third period.

With the Magog net empty, Cantonniers captain Eli Baillargeon (Shefford, Que.) scored twice in 16 seconds to even the game and send it to overtime.

Moncton goaltender Samuel LeBlanc (Memramcook, N.B.) stopped 38 shots to record his fourth win of the tournament.

Full game stats are available at HockeyCanada.ca/TELUSCup.

TELUS Cup Tournament Awards:

Most Valuable Player – Luke Patterson (Moncton Flyers)
Top Forward – Jules Boilard (Cantonniers de Magog)
Top Defence – Jack Martin (Moncton Flyers)
Top Goaltender – Joey Rocha (Notre Dame Hounds)
Most Sportsmanlike Player – Lucas Fraser (Sydney Rush)
Esso Kids Scholarship Program: Most Dedicated Athlete Award – Andrew Altwasser (Notre Dame Hounds)

Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., and the Gaulois de Saint-Hyacinthe will play host to the 2023 TELUS Cup, beginning April 24, 2023.  

For more information on the 2022 TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Cantonniers de Magog 8, Notre Dame Hounds 2 (Semifinal)

• Game stats available here

Moncton Flyers 6, Mississauga Reps 5 OT (Semifinal)

• Game stats available here

Next game - Sunday, May 22: 

• Championship: Moncton Flyers (1) vs. Cantonniers de Magog (2) (9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT)

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the championship game on May 22. Canada’s National Men’s U18 Club Championship will feature an all-female broadcast crew, including two-time Olympic gold medallist Cheryl Pounder, Kenzie Lalonde and Brit Dort.

Quotes: 

“Tomorrow will be the biggest game of our season and I have chills thinking about playing in it. If we stick to our gameplan, get the puck to the net and play hard, we should have a good chance to win tomorrow.”

- Alix Durocher (Cantonniers de Magog) on advancing to the championship game

“Our hard work all season has led us to this point, and our goal is to become the Canadian champion tomorrow night. It will be our last game of the year, and we feel ready to come out on top. The players have done such a great job preparing themselves each day, and that is paying off for them right now.

- Cantonniers de Magog head coach Stéphane Robidas on what makes his team successful

“That was the biggest moment of my life. I saw the puck lying in the crease and jumped on it and it felt great to see it go in the net. We can celebrate briefly, but then it is important to turn our attention to the game tomorrow.”

- Zachary Wheeler (Moncton Flyers) on scoring the game-winning goal in overtime

“We showed a lot of character tonight. When we gave up the late goal to tie the game, we said ‘Let’s control what we can control,’ and were fortunate to come out with the win. Our team gets to play on Sunday at the national championship, and that is such a special opportunity to experience together.”

- Moncton Flyers head coach John DeCourcey on his team’s sixth straight victory

For more information on the 2022 TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Mississauga Reps 3, Vancouver NE Chiefs 2 (SO)

• Game stats available here

Cantonniers de Magog 5, Notre Dame Hounds 4

• Game stats available here

Moncton Flyers 9, Sydney Rush 4

• Game stats available here

Next games - Saturday, May 21: 

• Semifinal 1: Cantonniers de Magog (2) vs. Notre Dame Hounds (3) (6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT)
• Semifinal 2: Moncton Flyers (1) vs. Mississauga Reps (4) (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the championship game on May 22; please check local listings for details. Both semifinals will be livestreamed at HockeyCanada.ca/TELUSCup.

Quotes: 

“Advancing to the semifinals means everything to us. We knew that we would face a lot of great teams in the tournament and we have lost a few tough games, but to play on the weekend is an accomplishment in itself for our players and hopefully we can carry over our strong play from today into our next game.”

- Mississauga Reps head coach Shawn Snider on clinching a semifinal berth

“To be one of the top four teams in Canada is a point of pride for our group, and it’s an honour to represent Quebec on the national stage. Our goal is to win our semifinal game and advance to the gold medal game, but I’m really proud to be part of this team regardless.”

- Shawn Pearson (Cantonniers de Magog) on his team improving to 4-1

“We’ve proven that we can compete with any team here, but at the end of the day that means nothing when the puck drops tomorrow and it becomes a new tournament. Our main goal is to win a championship and that’s all we’re focused on as we head into the biggest game of our season.”

- Luke Patterson (Moncton Flyers) on his team’s confidence after being undefeated in the preliminary round

For more information on the 2022 TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Moncton Flyers 7, Vancouver NE Chiefs 4

• Game stats available here

Cantonniers de Magog 5, Mississauga Reps 2

• Game stats available here

Notre Dame Hounds 4, Sydney Rush 1

• Game stats available here

Next games - Friday, May 20: 

• Mississauga Reps vs. Vancouver NE Chiefs (1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT)
• Notre Dame Hounds vs. Cantonniers de Magog (5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT)
• Sydney Rush vs. Moncton Flyers (8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT)

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the championship game on May 22; please check local listings for details. All preliminary-round games and the semifinals will be livestreamed at HockeyCanada.ca/TELUSCup.

Quotes: 

“Today was a character win for our group. We were behind 3-0 early but I am proud of how our team responded after we called a timeout to reset. In September, we asked our players to write down their goals for the season, and it was easy for them to say play in the TELUS Cup back then, but to be here and advancing to the semifinals is a great accomplishment for them.”

- Moncton Flyers head coach John DeCourcey on his team clinching a semifinal berth

“It was a big goal for our team, especially being on the penalty kill for four minutes. The most important thing is that we got off to a great start and played the Cantonniers’ style of hockey to win the game. If we continue to play like we have all season, we believe that we can go very deep into the tournament.”

- Maxime Côté (Cantonniers de Magog) on scoring his first goal of the TELUS Cup

“Last night’s win was a big turning point for our team and helped us get back on track. It has been a dream come true to play for this team on this stage, and to win again tonight is huge for our confidence, but we have to stay focused for tomorrow’s game.”

- Joey Rocha (Notre Dame Hounds) on winning his second straight start in net

For more information on the 2022 TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Moncton Flyers 4, Cantonniers de Magog 3

• Game stats available here

Sydney Rush 3, Vancouver NE Chiefs 2

• Game stats available here

Notre Dame Hounds 4, Mississauga Reps 1

• Game stats available here

Next games - Thursday, May 19: 

• Moncton Flyers vs. Vancouver NE Chiefs (12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT)
• Mississauga Reps vs. Cantonniers de Magog (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT)
• Notre Dame Hounds vs. Sydney Rush (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the championship game on May 22; please check local listings for details. All preliminary-round games and the semifinals will be livestreamed at HockeyCanada.ca/TELUSCup.

Quotes: 

“Our goal today was to score first and establish momentum early, and when we did that, it set the tone and helped us play with confidence during the rest of the game. We are a family that is clicking right now and if we keep this going, good things will come for us as a team.”

- Luke Patterson (Moncton Flyers) on his two-goal performance that helped his team remain undefeated 

“Our compete level had to go up after we lost our first two games, and the players put in a gutsy performance to accomplish that today. We have success as a team when we play hard and stick to our structure and we will have to keep that up to advance to the semifinals. It was an emotional win for us, and it was nice for our players and Cape Breton, but we will turn our attention to tomorrow’s game.”

- Sydney head coach Troy Chiasson on his team’s first win 

“It was important to remind our team that no trophies were handed out during our first two games and that our focus should be on finishing the tournament strong. We played with much better habits tonight and I think that will pay off for us during the rest of the week.”

- Notre Dame head coach Del Pedrick on how his team rebounded from losing its first two games

For more information on the 2022 TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

It was during tryouts ahead of this season when Moncton Flyers head coach John DeCourcey first noticed Zach Wheeler off the ice.

It’s not often that a 14-year-old tries out for an under-18 team, and Wheeler needed special permission to enter the New Brunswick/Prince EdwardIsland Major U18 Hockey League (NBPEIMU18HL) at such a young age.

Wheeler’s on-ice ability was certainly something the coach noticed. Off the ice, though, he could see the young forward wasn’t chatting much with the other players and was having a tough time finding his place in a room full of 16- and 17-year-olds.

“He wasn't in the middle of the group, you know?” DeCourcey says. “He was sitting near the door. So we had talked to Noah Matulu and asked him to make sure that Wheeler feels included and look after him. He made it a point in our dressing room to sit next to him and asked other players to move over so he could stay there. And just take care of him."

 That was the start of a friendship between two players that has grown and evolved over the course of the season and a relationship that is as tight as any on a hockey team.

A friendship between a player in Wheeler, who was fresh out of middle school, and another in Matulu, who was about to start his last year of high school and begin thinking about careers and long-term goals.

“I just went and talked to him in the summer at hockey camps, we got to know each other, he told me a little bit about himself, I told him a bit about myself and we knew each other better after that,” says Matulu. “Once the team [was selected], we started playing on the same line and I picked him up from school on the early-day practices and we’re also roomies when we go on road trips. We’re pretty close now.”

Matulu chuckles when asked if Wheeler has changed over the course of the season. Has he broken out of his shell?

“Now he can’t keep his mouth shut,” Matulu says with a laugh.

It’s never easy being the kid that people are talking about, that player with skill and maturity beyond his years that make hockey parents, coaches and players notice. Often, it’s that player who has a target on his back. Wheeler has been that kid, the one playing with older players in top leagues.

Wheeler says there was a sense of comfort early on this season that had a lot to do with Matulu, the way he took Wheeler under his wing, showed him the way, and included and treated the youngster as a hockey player and teammate.

A three-year difference is a lot outside of hockey but, when we’re playing the game, it’s like we’re all the same.”

“When I first came in, I wouldn’t really say a word. Now that I know everyone, and Noah obviously helped me a lot with that, I feel like I talk a lot more now,” Wheeler says. “The maturity levels are obviously a lot different. Sometimes the boys will chirp me about only being in Grade 9 and some of the boys are Grade 12 and 11. Now, it’s not much of a big deal. I don’t really see it as affecting me much. The boys don’t mind me. A three-year difference is a lot outside of hockey but, when we’re playing the game, it’s like we’re all the same.”

It’s that last point that perhaps sheds the most light on what kind of player and person Wheeler is. DeCourcey and Matulu both mention during separate conversations that anyone who watches or plays with or against Wheeler would never know he was 14. He’s a 14-year-old who has grown confident in talking to peers and adults alike and, on the ice, he’s a 6-foot, two-way forward who can take over plays and games.

He put up 34 points (16-18—34) in 30 games during the regular season – one point back of Matulu – and co-led the Flyers in playoff scoring with eight points (3-5—8) in seven postseason contests.

He taught me on the ice that, even though you’re not the bigger, stronger guy out there, you can still make a big impact on the team,”

 

“He taught me on the ice that, even though you’re not the bigger, stronger guy out there, you can still make a big impact on the team,” Matulu says. “When he came out here, he was ready to play but he got a lot better during the year and now he’s one of our top players and top scorers. Even though he’s young, age is just a number and the possibilities are endless for Zach. I like the way he’s playing, he’s contributing a lot to our team and I try to play a little like he does, bring a positive impact to the team.”

As for Wheeler, his biggest takeaway and learning from Matulu comes down to including everyone and simply treating people the right way.

“He’s an older guy and, for me, I do camps with younger kids, so a younger kid meeting an older guy, you’re going to be more timid and shy,” Wheeler says. “He really showed me that I have to introduce myself, make them feel welcome and just treat people how you’d like to be treated.”

A few months from now, Matulu is scheduled to start the next chapter of his life at the University of Moncton, where he plans to study criminology with a long-term goal of becoming a police officer. He also hopes to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Wheeler, meanwhile, will be back for a second season with the Flyers before he is QMJHL draft-eligible in 2023.

Before that happens, though, the duo and the rest of the Flyers have a national title to play for – Moncton is making a ninth appearance at the TELUS Cup, looking to win Canada’s National Men’s U18 Club Championship for the first time.

Moncton Flyers 6, Mississauga Reps 5 (OT)

• Game stats available here

Cantonniers de Magog 11, Sydney Rush 2

• Game stats available here

Vancouver NE Chiefs 5, Notre Dame Hounds 4 (OT)

• Game stats available here

Next games - Wednesday, May 18: 

• Cantonniers de Magog vs. Moncton Flyers (1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT)
• Sydney Rush vs. Vancouver NE Chiefs (5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT)
• Mississauga Reps vs. Notre Dame Hounds (8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT)

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the championship game on May 22; please check local listings for details. All preliminary-round games and the semifinals will be livestreamed at HockeyCanada.ca/TELUSCup.

Quotes: 

“It feels incredible that we were able to complete the comeback and a huge part of that is because of the support we had from our fans in the stands. When we were down a goal late in the third, we could hear them going crazy and we fed off that energy to tie the game. Watching the puck go in to win the game was an amazing feeling and I think that it shows that we can compete with any team in the tournament.”

- Jack Martin (Moncton Flyers) on his hat trick, which included the game-tying and game-winning goals 

“We executed very well with the puck today and put in a complete team effort, with every player contributing in some way. In the first period we were a little undisciplined after the whistle, but once we got back to playing our game, we were able to have success the rest of the way. A lot of the players’ families have travelled a long way to support us in Okotoks and we want to make sure that we play up to our standard for them each game.”

- Magog head coach Stéphane Robidas on his team improving to 2-0 after an 11-goal outing against Sydney 

“It was a great feeling to score the game-winning goal, but this is a team sport and we would not have won this game without each other. Collectively we really wanted to win this game and we were able to persevere and come out on top against a great team. Tonight was a battle and we still have a lot of work to do to reach our ultimate goal, but we took a big step towards that by coming back to win.”

- Matteo Pero (Vancouver NE Chiefs) on scoring his third goal of the game in overtime to secure his team’s first win of the tournament

For more information on the 2022 TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Mississauga Reps 8, Sydney Rush 3 
• Game stats available here

Moncton Flyers 5, Notre Dame Hounds 1 
• Game stats available here

Cantonniers de Magog 6, Vancouver NE Chiefs 3
• Game stats available here

Next games - Tuesday, May 17: 

• Moncton Flyers vs. Mississauga Reps (12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT)
• Cantonniers de Magog vs. Sydney Rush (3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT)
• Notre Dame Hounds vs. Vancouver NE Chiefs (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the championship game on May 22; please check local listings for details. All preliminary-round games and the semifinals will be livestreamed at HockeyCanada.ca/TELUSCup.

Quotes: 

“After not playing for five weeks, I was really pleased with our effort today, although it certainly was not a perfect game. To have a win under our belt after the first day of the tournament, especially after scoring eight goals, is a nice feeling and we hope to build off that moving forward.”

- Mississauga head coach Shawn Snider on his team’s opening-game performance 

“Our group was a little nervous to start the game, but as soon as we put some pressure on the other team, we were able to create turnovers and find success offensively. There are not many players that get the opportunity to play in a national championship, and once we scored our first two goals, it gave our team a lot of confidence that helped us play to a victory.”

- Moncton head coach John DeCourcey on his team scoring twice in the first period after being held without a shot in the opening six minutes

“I thought that we were able to swing the momentum at the end of the first period and as cliché as it sounds, it gave us a lot of confidence heading into the first intermission. Our players deserve a lot of credit for the way they played tonight. They have grown so much this season and to see them come out in the first game of a national championship and play so well was very fun to watch as their coach.”

- Magog head coach Stéphane Robidas on his team’s game-tying goal with less than a minute left in the first period 

For more information on the 2022 TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Notre Dame Hounds are heading to Okotoks with a wealth of TELUS Cup experience. With 54 wins and a record five national titles across their 11 appearances at Canada’s National Men’s U18 Club Championship, the Hounds are on the hunt for another success in Southern Alberta.

After edging out the Saskatoon Blazers by a single point atop the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) during the regular season, the Hounds dropped just two of 11 playoff games en route to the SMAAAHL championship, including a sweep of Warman in the final.

Notre Dame ran through the preliminary round at the West Regional without a loss, and looked to be in control of the final with an early 3-0 lead over the host Southwest Cougars. But the Cougars battled back, and it took an Andrew Altwasser goal with 17.2 seconds left to give the Hounds a 4-3 victory and a spot in Okotoks.

They’re back at the national championship for the first time since they won it all in Sudbury, Ont., in 2018, looking to prove once again why they’re considered among the premier hockey programs in the country.

The Hounds own a high-powered offence, with Cole Wirun and Ethan Look, who finished second and third, respectively, in SMAAAHL scoring, leading a group that potted a league-leading 233 goals.

But Jeremy Mylymok, Notre Dame’s director of hockey, is quick to point out it’s a well-rounded roster, one that will serve the Hounds well in a seven-games-in-seven-days tournament like the TELUS Cup.

“We have four lines that can play,” he says. “We don't rely on one line or one power player or one goalie.”

Notre Dame is also built on cohesiveness, with a large portion of the group having grown up together at the Wilcox, Sask.-based school.

“We have some first-year, second-year guys, too, but over half the team is three- or four-year players that have developed here at Notre Dame,” Mylymok says. “So we know these players well, they really put in the work to get where they're at today.”

And let’s not forget the experience behind the bench. Head coach Del Pedrick returned to the Hounds this season after a short stint in Romania; he was the bench boss when Notre Dame won back-to-back TELUS Cup championships in 2009 and 2010.

The Hounds open their TELUS Cup schedule against the Atlantic Region champions, the Moncton Flyers, on May 16.

HOW THEY GOT TO OKOTOKS

Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League
Quarterfinal: defeated Battlefords Stars 3-1 (5-2, 3-4, 6-2, 3-2)

Semifinal: defeated Regina Pat Canadians 3-1 (2-3, 4-2, 5-2, 4-0)

Final: defeated Warman Wildcats 3-0 (4-3 OT, 5-4, 6-3)

West Regional

Preliminary round: 3-0-0 – first place (defeated Winnipeg Wild 3-2, defeated Southwest Cougars 3-0, defeated Thunder Bay Kings 8-3)

Final: defeated Southwest Cougars 4-3

REGULAR SEASON

Regular season record: 35-9-0 (1st in SMAAAHL)
Goals for: 233 (1st in SMAAAHL)
Goals against: 118 (T-3rd in SMAAAHL)
Longest winning streak: 12 (Jan. 30-March 11)
Top 3 scorers:

- Cole Wirun – 38G 41A 69P (2nd in SMAAAHL)

- Ethan Look – 19G 49A 68P (3rd in SMAAAHL)

- Ben Aucoin – 23G 28A 51P (11th in SMAAAHL)

PLAYOFFS

Playoff record: 12-2
Goals for: 65
Goals against: 35
Top 3 scorers:

- Ethan Look – 7G 11A 18P

- Ben Aucoin – 7G 11A 18P

- Ishan Mittoo-Khulbe – 9G 7A 16P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

1979 – Notre Dame Hounds | bronze medal | 5-1-0 | 32GF 16GA

1980 – Notre Dame Hounds | gold medal | 6-0-0 | 36GF 15GA

1981 – Notre Dame Hounds | fifth place | 3-2-1 | 24GF 17GA

1982 – Notre Dame Hounds | fifth place | 2-3-0 | 21GF 15GA

1984 – Notre Dame Hounds | silver medal | 4-3-0 | 26GF 16GA

1986 – Notre Dame Hounds | gold medal | 7-0-0 | 51GF 16GA

1987 – Notre Dame Hounds | silver medal | 4-3-0 | 28GF 20GA

1990 – Notre Dame Hounds | bronze medal | 4-2-1 | 25GF 17GA

2009 – Notre Dame Hounds | gold medal | 6-0-1 | 44GA 21GA

2010 – Notre Dame Hounds | gold medal | 4-0-3 | 29GF 22GA

2018 – Notre Dame Hounds | gold medal | 7-0-0 | 28GF 10GA

PLAYERS TO WATCH

ETHAN LOOK

confident playmaker … lethal shot … fast skater … always has the puck on his stick

LUKE MARSHALL

smooth-skating defender … produces offence from the back end … great at retrieving pucks and making the first pass

WHL DRAFTED PLAYERS

Van Eger – Swift Current 2020 (4th round, 88th overall)
Joey Rocha – Swift Current 2020 (5th round, 109th overall)

OHL DRAFTED PLAYERS

Owen Thomas – Sarnia 2021 (7th round, 132nd overall)

QMJHL DRAFTED PLAYERS

Rémi Lapalme – Rouyn-Noranda 2021 (7th round, 118th overall)

OKOTOKS, Alta. – The Town of Okotoks will be a hub of hockey activity as the host community of the 2022 Esso Cup and TELUS Cup, with the top men’s and women’s U18 club teams from across Canada converging on Central Alberta to compete for a pair of national championships, May 16-22.

In the Esso Cup, five regional champions will join the host, Prince Albert Bears for Canada’s National Women’s U18 Club Championship. Competing teams include the Fraser Valley Rush (Pacific), Durham West Lightning (Ontario), Northern Selects (Atlantic), Notre Dame Hounds (West), and Remparts du Richelieu (Quebec).

“We cannot wait to drop the puck at two Hockey Canada national championships in Okotoks this week,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties for Hockey Canada. “For the first time, fans will be able to experience the Esso Cup and TELUS Cup in one centralized location, bringing the excitement of Canada’s U18 Club Championships to Foothills County.

“On May 22 we will crown champions at both events for the first time since 2019, and are thrilled that Canadian hockey fans can watch the best U18 club teams in the country compete for a national championship once again.”

The TELUS Cup, Canada’s National Men’s U18 Club Championship, will see the host Sydney Rush take on five regional champions including the Cantonniers de Magog (Quebec), Moncton Flyers (Atlantic), Mississauga Reps (Central), Notre Dame Hounds (West) and Vancouver NE Chiefs (Pacific).

“To have the Esso Cup and TELUS Cup in Okotoks has created a buzz around town and the entire community is excited to have these events in our own backyard,” said Geoff Stewart, President of Okotoks Minor Hockey Association. “Usually, our association slows down at this time of year, and it has been incredible to see and hear the local response from not only the association, but the community. The passion and love of the game in Okotoks is truly unique and having the opportunity to host both tournaments has not been taken for granted.”

Opening ceremonies will take place prior to the evening games on May 16, while the presentation of the tournament awards as well as both the regional and national TELUS and Esso scholarships will be made at the conclusion of the preliminary round.

The tournaments conclude May 22 with Championship Sunday broadcast nationally on TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners, starting with the Esso Cup finale at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT, and the TELUS Cup championship game at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT.

Fans looking to attend the national U18 club championships, supported by Tourism Calgary, can purchase their tickets now at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets. Event packages begin at $70 plus fees, while single-game tickets are available for as low as $10 for preliminary-round games.

For more information on the 2022 Esso Cup and 2022 TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.