Hockey Canada names hosts for spring 2022 national championships
Cape Breton, Estevan and Prince Albert to host events next season
CALGARY, Alta. – Following the February cancellation of all spring 2021 events, Hockey Canada has announced the new host cities for its three spring 2022 national championships – the Esso Cup, TELUS Cup and Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.
The Esso Cup will return to Saskatchewan for the third time in 2022 when the Prince Albert Bears host Canada’s National Women’s U18 Club Championship at the 3,299-seat Art Hauser Centre, April 17-23. The TELUS Cup, Canada’s National U18 Club Championship, will head to Cape Breton, N.S., for the first time, with the Sydney Rush welcoming the event to the 1,250-seat Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre, April 18-24.
The Esso Cup represents a partnership between Hockey Canada, the local organizing committee and the Saskatchewan Hockey Association (SHA), while the TELUS Cup is a partnership between Hockey Canada, the local organizing committee and Hockey Nova Scotia.
The Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, will head to Estevan, Sask., in 2022, marking the event’s return to the province for the first time since 2012. The Estevan Bruins of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) will play host to the tournament from May 20-29 at the 2,700-seat Affinity Place. The 2022 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, represents a partnership between Hockey Canada, the local organizing committee, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), SJHL and SHA.
“Hockey Canada is excited to mark the return of its national championships in 2022 by announcing Prince Albert, Cape Breton and Estevan as the hosts of our three spring events next year,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties for Hockey Canada. “Despite not being able to host national events since 2019, we know the local organizing committees in these three communities will deliver world-class experiences to all participants. Hockey Canada recognizes the excitement for a possible return to fans in the stands, and we look forward to welcoming back hockey fans in these communities if it is deemed safe to do so.”
Historically, Hockey Canada’s national championships generate up to $2 million in local economic impact, while the net proceeds from all ticket sales remain in the host communities as a legacy to support programs that foster the growth of grassroots hockey.
Schedules and ticket information for the 2022 Esso Cup, TELUS Cup and Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, will be available at a later date.
While Hockey Canada continues to work closely with local, provincial and national health authorities, the dates and locations for three of Hockey Canada’s 2021 fall events have been confirmed. This includes the 2021 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, Oct. 31-Nov. 6 in Dawson Creek, B.C.; 2021 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup, Dec. 5-11 in Bridgewater, N.S.; and 2021 World Junior A Challenge, Dec. 12-18 in Cornwall, Ont.
For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.
Road to the 2025 TELUS Cup: Elgin Middlesex Canucks
After a first taste of adversity in the playoffs, the Central Region champions are taking plenty of momentum into their first national championship
There can be an argument made that no U18 team in Canada had a more successful regular season than the Elgin Middlesex Canucks.
The Canucks turned the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario into their own personal playground, finishing with 32 wins, two overtime losses and a shootout defeat, and outscoring teams by an almost unfathomable 191-42. (For those keeping track at home, that’s a goal differential of +149. The next best in the Alliance was +35).
But the postseason brought with it a few moments of adversity that seemingly every elite team faces on its road to glory.
After sweeping aside Brantford (outscoring the 99ers 13-4 in two games) and London (a 13-1 differential in three games), the Canucks were tested by the Waterloo Wolves in the Alliance final, losing their first two games of the season in regulation time in a series that went to the maximum five games.
At the Central Regional, Elgin Middlesex dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Markham Waxers and fell 4-2 to the Vaughan Kings in the preliminary round, and needed an overtime winner from Lucas Van Steensel (after erasing an early 2-0 deficit) to down the Kings in the regional final and punch its ticket to Chilliwack for the 2025 TELUS Cup.
The Canucks were balanced in the offensive end; Chase Pettipiece (26-22—48), Nash Jacobs (29-18—47), Parker Graham (12-35—47) and Morgan Paine (18-23—41) all cracked the 40-point barrier, with another 12 surpassing 20.
At the other end, Dylan Durno (0.83) and Brock Lane (0.95) both posted sub-1.00 goals-against averages in the regular season while sharing the netminding duties.
The Canucks will make their maiden appearance at Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship as the first Alliance team to reach the national tournament since the London Jr. Knights won silver in 2011.
HOW THEY GOT TO CHILLIWACK
Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario Quarterfinal: defeated Brantford 99ers 2-0 (9-3, 4-1) Semifinal: defeated London Jr. Knights 3-0 (3-0, 5-1, 5-0) Final: defeated Waterloo Wolves 3-2 (4-1, 2-3, 4-1, 0-1, 5-0)
Central Regional Preliminary round: 2nd place (3-2) – defeated Ottawa Automotive 7-2, lost to Markham Waxers 3-2 SO, defeated Sudbury Wolves 5-0, lost to Vaughan Kings 4-2, defeated Upper Canada Cyclones 5-1 Semifinal: defeated Upper Canada Cyclones 3-0 Final: defeated Vaughan Kings 3-2 OT
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 32-0-3 (1st in Alliance) Goals for: 191 (1st in Alliance) Goals against: 42 (1st in Alliance) Longest winning streak: 18 (Oct. 25-Jan. 10) Top 3 scorers: - Chase Pettipiece – 26G 22A 48P (1st in Alliance) - Nash Jacobs – 29G 18A 47P (2nd in Alliance) - Parker Graham – 12G 35A 47P (3rd in Alliance)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 13-4 Goals for: 68 Goals against: 23 Top 3 scorers: - Ty Lawson – 12G 8A 20P - Morgan Paine – 10G 7A 17P - Parker Graham – 5G 12A 17P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
OHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
Dylan Durno – Owen Sound Attack 2024 (8th round, 153rd overall) Lucas Van Steensel – North Bay Battalion 2024 (8th round, 158th overall) Nash Jacobs – Saginaw Spirit 2024 (8th round, 161st overall) James MacGregor – Owen Sound Attack 2024 (10th round, 189th overall) Luke Wachowiak – Niagara IceDogs 2024 (11th round, 219th overall) Tyson Ackerman – Saginaw Spirit 2024 (12th round, 241st overall) George Matsos – Windsor Spitfires 2024 (14th round, 264th overall)
Road to the 2025 Esso Cup: North York Storm
The Ontario champions took home silver a year ago, but they are back with their sights on gold in Lloydminster
The North York Storm went home with silver at the 2024 Esso Cup. Now they’re back hungry for gold.
The Ontario Region champions have been a top team in the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) for several years—the Storm narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2023 Esso Cup, losing in the gold medal game at the OWHA provincial championship to the eventual national champions, the Stoney Creek Sabres.
Last year in their Esso Cup debut, the Storm sat fourth after the preliminary round (2-3) but defeated the Edmonton Jr. Oilers 4-1 to advance to the gold medal game. North York had edged the Regina Rebels 7-6 in overtime during the prelims, but the Rebels came away with a 2-1 win to claim Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship.
This season, the Storm went19-1-2 during the regular season to finish first in the OWHL Southern standings. The momentum from the league playoffs carried into the provincial tournament, where for the second year in a row, the Storm allowed only four goals to punch their ticket back to the Esso Cup.
North York has a wealth of experience, with 16 players returning from Vernon. It will look to continue a run of success by Ontario teams; the region has put a team in the gold medal game in three consecutive years and has not finished lower than fourth place in the 14 editions of the tournament.
HOW THEY GOT TO LLOYDMINSTER
Ontario Women’s Hockey Association Playdowns: 2-0-0 – 2nd place in Region Q (defeated Toronto Aeros 2-0; defeated Scarborough Sharks 3-0) Preliminary round: 2-0-1 – 1st place in Group A (tied North Halton Twisters 1-1; defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5-2; defeated Central York Panthers 2-0) Quarterfinal: defeated Clarington Flames 2-0 Semifinal: defeated Peterborough Ice Kats 1-0 Final: defeated Stratford Aces 2-1
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-T): 19-1-2 (1st in OWHL Southern) Goals for: 86 (2nd in OWHL Southern) Goals against: 16 (1st in OWHL Southern) Longest winning streak: 9 (Oct. 5-Dec. 15)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 8-0-2 Goals for: 34 Goals against: 7
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2024 – North York Storm | silver medal | 3-4 | 23GF 21GA
Road to the 2025 TELUS Cup: Chevaliers de Lévis
Simply dominant from start to finish, the Quebec Region champions hope to cap a historic season with a national title
Let’s start with the obvious. The Chevaliers de Lévis are good. Very, very good.
The Ligue de hockey M18 AAA du Québec (LHM18AAAQ) has sent a team to the gold medal game at the TELUS Cup in nine of the last 11 tournaments. It’s home to the last two national champions – the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François in 2023 and Cantonniers de Magog in 2024 – and La Belle Province has produced 14 national titles, second most of any province behind only Saskatchewan (15).
But the Chevaliers did something this season that no team in LHM18AAAQ history has ever done. It went through the regular season without a defeat in regulation time – 38 wins, an overtime loss and three shootout defeats.
Lévis didn’t suffer a 60-minute setback until Game 3 of its second-round series against the Blizzard, and that was its lone postseason loss, meaning the Chevaliers will bring a combined record of 49-1-4 to Chilliwack for their second appearance at Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship.
The offence was terrific – the Chevaliers’ 195 goals ranked second in the LHM18AAAQ – but the defence was historic. Lévis allowed just 67 goals in 42 games, the fewest in a season in league history, bettering the mark of 71 set by the 2018-19 Chevaliers.
Antoine Proulx – who won gold with Canada White at the 2024 U17 World Challenge – and Ryan Gagné were lights out between the pipes; the duo tied for the LHM18AAAQ lead with 19 wins each, and were one-two in goals-against average (1.49 and 1.53, respectively) and save percentage (.939 and .940, respectively).
For all the success Quebec teams have had at the TELUS Cup, it has never produced three-consecutive national champions. In fact, no province has three-peated since Saskatchewan (Saskatoon Contacts once, Prince Albert Mintos twice) from 2005-07.
HOW THEY GOT TO CHILLIWACK
Ligue de hockey M18 AAA du Québec Division semifinal: defeated Albatros du Collège Notre-Dame 2-0 (4-2, 6-3) Division final: defeated Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François 3-1 (6-3, 3-0, 1-5, 7-3) Semifinal: defeated Gaulois de Saint-Hyacinthe 3-0 (6-1, 5-1, 5-0) Final: defeated Rousseau Royal de Laval-Montréal 3-0 (4-3, 3-2, 5-3)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 38-0-4 (1st in LHM18AAAQ) Goals for: 195 (2nd in LHM18AAAQ) Goals against: 67 (1st in LHM18AAAQ) Longest winning streak: 14 (Sept. 6-Oct. 23) Top 3 scorers: - Charles-Antoine Dubé – 27G 29A 56P (6th in LHM18AAAQ) - Charles-Albert Pouliot – 21G 31A 52P (12th in LHM18AAAQ) - Alex Desruisseaux – 20G 26A 46P (20th in LHM18AAAQ)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 11-1 Goals for: 55 Goals against: 26 Top 3 scorers: - Samuel Thibault – 9G 7A 16P - Alex Desruisseaux – 5G 10A 15P - Charles-Antoine Dubé – 7G 7A 14P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2005 – Commandeurs de Lévis | bronze medal | 4-2-1 | 24GF 20GA
QMJHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
Antoine Proulx – Titan d’Acadie-Bathurst 2024 (2nd round, 23rd overall) Brandon Delarosbil – Phoenix de Sherbrooke 2024 (2nd round, 31st overall) Josh Demers – Foreurs de Val-d’Or 2024 (3rd round, 51st overall) Jacob Boucher – Voltigeurs de Drummondville 2024 (3rd round, 55th overall) Elliot Lacroix – Voltigeurs de Drummondville 2024 (4th round, 59th overall) Ludovic Paradis – Voltigeurs de Drummondville 2024 (4th round, 73rd overall) Charles-Albert Pouliot – Charlottetown Islanders 2024 (5th round, 78th overall) Charles-Antoine Dubé – Remparts de Québec 2024 (6th round, 94th overall) Malyk Côté – Armada de Blainville-Boisbriand 2024 (7th round, 117th overall) Cohen Paquet – Tigres de Victoriaville 2024 (7th round, 124th overall) Ryan Gagné – Olympiques de Gatineau 2024 (8th round, 133rd overall) Felix Grenier – Voltigeurs de Drummondville 2024 (8th round, 144th overall) Émerik Paris – Voltigeurs de Drummondville 2023 (10th round, 168th overall)
Road to the 2025 Esso Cup: Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière
The Quebec Region champions are ready to make another Esso Cup appearance after just missing out in 2024
The Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière were one game away from representing Quebec at consecutive Esso Cups in 2024.
A 4-3 overtime win over the Intrépide de l’Outaouais sent the Étoiles to the Esso Cup in 2023—their second appearance at Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship. The Intrépide bounced back and shut out the Étoiles 2-0 in the 2024 Coupe Chevrolet provincial championship .
The Étoiles and Intrépide were top two in the Ligue de hockey d'excellence du Québec (LHEQ) again this season, with Outaouais edging Laurentides-Lanaudière by three points to top the standings. However, the Étoiles scored more goals (125) and allowed fewer (37), collecting a 23-5-0 record.
To return to the Esso Cup this year, the Étoiles would need to get past their provincial rivals; they defeated the Intrépide in the preliminary round and semifinals to book their spot in the provincial final. With the Coupe Chevrolet’s consolation-style bracket, the Intrépide downed the Stars 55 de Mauricie-CDQ to join the Étoiles in the final, where Laurentides-Lanaudière scored a 4-3 win to earn a spot at the 2025 Esso Cup.
Elli Allard helped to lead the Étoiles back to the national stage; the 16-year-old was second in LHEQ scoring with 18 goals and 47 points before adding three goals and 12 points in the playoffs.
HOW THEY GOT TO LLOYDMINSTER
Coupe Chevrolet Preliminary round: defeated Intrépide de l’Outaouais 4-2, defeated Amazones de Laval-Montréal 4-1 Quarterfinal: defeated Stars 55 de Mauricie-CDQ 4-0 Semifinal: defeated Intrépide de l’Outaouais 3-2 Final: defeated Intrépide de l’Outaouais 4-3
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 23-5-0 (2nd in LHEQ) Goals for: 125 (1st in LHEQ) Goals against: 37 (1st in LHEQ) Longest winning streak: 8 (Nov. 9-Jan. 11)
Top 3 scorers: - Elli Allard – 18G 29A 47P (2nd in LHEQ) - Maika Gauthier – 25G 18A 43P (3rd in LHEQ) - Abigaël Blais – 12G 17A 29P (6th in LHEQ)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 5-0 Goals for: 19 Goals against: 8
Top 3 scorers: - Elli Allard – 3G 9A 12P - Maika Gauthier – 6G 1A 7P - Abigaël Blais – 2G 3A 5P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2018 – Pionnières de Lanaudière | bronze medal | 2-3 | 11GF 17GA 2023 – Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière | fifth place | 2-3 | 8GF 9GA
Road to the 2025 TELUS Cup: Moncton Flyers
After a stunning national title three years ago, the Atlantic Region champions are back in search of an encore
The 2025 edition of the Moncton Flyers sure has a tough act to follow.
In 2022, as hockey came out of the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to some semblance of normal, the Flyers earned one of the most unlikely national championships ever, going undefeated to win just the second TELUS Cup by an Atlantic Region team.
The seven wins Moncton earned in Okotoks, Alberta, were almost exactly half of their combined total from their first eight appearances at Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship (15).
Now comes the return engagement, again in Western Canada.
Moncton outlasted a balanced field at the Atlantic Regional, edging the host – and defending champion – Kensington Wild in the final. The regional run came after an 8-2 playoffs in the New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Major U18 Hockey League (NBPEIMU18HL) and a 26-8-3 finish in the regular season, good for second in the NBPEIMU18HL.
In all, the Flyers haven’t lost a game by more than one goal since Feb. 18.
Moncton spread around the scoring – captain Nathan Weber topped the scoring chart during the regular season (19-33—52), Jaxon Somers paced the offence in the NBPEIMU18HL playoffs (9-5—14) and Marc MacPhee did the honours at the Atlantic Regional (3-6—9).
The defence wasn’t too bad, either – goaltenders Simon Cormier (2.67) and Luca Leger-Andrade (2.68) posted the top two goals-against averages in the regular season, and Cormier had a 2.11 mark in the playoffs.
With their trip to Chilliwack, the Flyers become one of just seven teams to reach double digits in TELUS Cup appearances (the Regina Pat Canadians will also make their 10th this year), and their 10 trips get them within one of St. John’s for the most by an Atlantic team.
HOW THEY GOT TO CHILLIWACK
New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major U18 Hockey League N.B. semifinal: defeated Saint John Vitos 4-1 (5-2, 5-0, 2-3, 5-2, 3-2) N.B. final: defeated Fredericton Caps 4-1 (2-3, 5-1, 4-3 OT, 3-2, 4-3)
Atlantic Regional Preliminary round: 1st place (3-1) – defeated Charlottetown Knights 6-3, lost to Halifax Macs 3-2 SO, defeated East Coast Blizzard 10-1, defeated Kensington Wild 6-1 Final: defeated Kensington Wild 5-3
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 26-8-0 (2nd in NBPEIMU18HL) Goals for: 167 (1st in NBPEIMU18HL) Goals against: 101 (1st in NBPEIMU18HL) Longest winning streak: 9 (Nov. 9-Jan. 4) Top 3 scorers: - Nathan Weber – 19G 33A 52P (4th in NBPEIMU18HL) - Jacob Pineau – 19G 30A 49P (5th in NBPEIMU18HL) - Jaxon Somers – 17G 25A 42P (11th in NBPEIMU18HL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-3 Goals for: 67 Goals against: 32 Top 3 scorers: - Jaxon Somers – 13G 8A 21P - Nathan Weber – 6G 15A 21P - Marc MacPhee – 7G 12A 19P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
1977 – Moncton Flyers | fourth place | 4-2-1 | 24GF 19GA 1978 – Moncton Flyers | fifth place | 4-2-0 | 19GF 13GA 1979 – Moncton Flyers | ninth place | 1-3-1 | 15GF 21GA 1980 – Moncton Flyers | eighth place | 2-3-0 | 17GF 20GA 1986 – Moncton Flyers | fifth place | 1-4-0 | 24GF 34GA 2009 – Moncton Flyers | fifth place | 1-4-0 | 15GF 32GA 2012 – Moncton Flyers | fifth place | 1-3-1 | 17GF 22GA 2018 – Moncton Flyers | fifth place | 1-4-0 | 8GF 17GA 2022 – Moncton Flyers | gold medal | 7-0-0 | 42GF 26GA
QMJHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
Jacob Pineau – Cape Breton Eagles 2024 (6th round, 100th overall) Simon Cormier – Moncton Wildcats 2023 (8th round, 141st overall) Jaxon Somers – Olympiques de Gatineau 2024 (9th round, 151st overall) Liam Daigle – Olympiques de Gatineau 2024 (10th round, 170th overall) Luc Morais – Moncton Wildcats 2023 (10th round, 178th overall) Nathan Weber – Charlottetown Islanders 2023 (11th round, 189th overall) Malik Bourque-Vigneault –Océanic de Rimouski 2024 (14th round, 247th overall)
Road to the 2025 Esso Cup: Eastern Stars
The Atlantic champions dominated this season and are ready to represent the East Coast at the Esso Cup for the first time
After eight years, Prince Edward Island will have a team represented at the Esso Cup and the Eastern Stars are ready to make the most of playing on a national stage.
The Stars come to Lloydminster on a hot streak that has lasted for five months—they have not lost a game since Nov. 10. They won the remaining 18 games in the Maritime Major Female Hockey League (MMFHL) regular season and went undefeated in the playoffs, sweeping their provincial rivals, the Western Wolves, to reach the Atlantic Regional .
Eastern carried its momentum into the regional tournament in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, going unbeaten in four preliminary-round games and setting up a battle against the host Northern Selects for a spot at the Esso Cup. After falling 5-2 in the regional final a year ago, the Stars got their revenge by defeating the Selects 3-1 to claim a spot at Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship.
Emily Gardiner has led the Stars’ offence this season with 26 goals and 51 points in 32 regular-season games. In the playoffs, rookie Avery MacPhee took the spotlight, leading the way with five goals and two helpers. In addition, defender Taylor Hunter represented Team Atlantic earlier this season at the 2024 U18 Women’s National Championship in Quispamsis, New Brunswick.
The Stars are thethird team to represent Prince Edward Island at the Esso Cup, following the Mid-Isle Wildcats (2017) and Kings County Kings (2011). They’re also in search of the first-ever medal for an Atlantic team; just three times in the first 14 editions of the tournament has an East Coast team reached the semifinals, and all three fell short in the bronze medal game.
HOW THEY GOT TO LLOYDMINSTER
Maritime Major Female Hockey League Prince Edward Island final: defeated Western Wolves 4-0 (2-1, 1-0, 3-2, 2-1)
Atlantic Regional Preliminary round: 4-0 – 1st place (defeated Halifax Capitals 2-1, defeated Northern Selects 2-1, defeated Moncton Rockets 3-0, defeated Eastern Ice Breakers 6-0) Final: defeated Northern Selects 3-1
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-T): 27-5-0 (1st in MMFHL) Goals for: 127 (2nd in MMFHL) Goals against: 52 (1st in MMFHL) Longest winning streak: 18 (Nov. 16-Feb. 11)
Top 3 scorers: - Emily Gardiner – 26G 25A 51P (3rd in MMFHL) - Ellie Mullins – 19G 17A 36P (9th in MMFHL) - Emily Lutley – 12G 22A 34P (11th in MMFHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 9-0 Goals for: 24 Goals against: 7
Top 3 scorers: - Avery MacPhee – 5G 2A 7P - Emily Lutley – 2G 5A 7P - Cadence Player – 3G 3A 6P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Emily Gardiner - Dalhousie University Taylor Hunter - Mount Allison University Olivia Lowe - Holland College Kali MacDonald - University of Prince Edward Island
Road to the 2025 TELUS Cup: Fraser Valley Thunderbirds
After six weeks on the sidelines, the hosts are ready to resume their quest for a home-ice national title
The long wait is almost over for the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds.
A season of anticipation is into its final days as the Thunderbirds prepare to welcome the country’s best to the Fraser Valley for the 2025 edition of the TELUS Cup.
When the puck finally drops on Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship on April 21 – Fraser Valley opens against the West Region champions, the Regina Pat Canadians – it’ll end a 44-day layoff for the hosts, who haven’t seen the ice since they were swept from the first round of the B.C. Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) playoffs by the Vancouver NW Hawks on March 8.
The Thunderbirds ran hot and cold during the regular season, never winning more than three in a row while never dropping more than four straight. They finished with an 18-16-1-1 (W-L-OTL-T) record, good for fifth in the eight-team BCEHL, with goals for (151) and goals against (163) totals that placed them fourth and seventh, respectively.
Cole Brown was the offensive star for Fraser Valley, pacing the BCEHL with 65 points (24-41—65) – meaning he was involved in 43.1% of the goals the Thunderbirds scored during the regular season. But it was a balanced offence behind Brown, with five players – Marco De Pedrina, Manwinder Sandhu, Simon Ward, Parker MacDougall (who left the team midseason to join the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels) and Noah Lawless – all finishing with 40+ points.
The Thunderbirds are looking to end a very long drought for host teams; not since the Calgary Northstars in 1991 has the hometown side been the last team standing, and only six in the 31 tournaments since then (most recently the Gaulois de Saint-Hyacinthe in 2023) have reached the gold medal game.
HOW THEY GOT TO CHILLIWACK
B.C. Elite Hockey League Quarterfinal: lost to Vancouver NW Hawks 2-0 (2-4, 2-6)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL-T): 18-6-1-1 (5th in BCEHL) Goals for: 151 (4th in BCEHL) Goals against: 163 (7th in BCEHL) Longest winning streak: 3 (Oct. 13-27) Top 3 scorers: - Cole Brown – 24G 41A 65P (1st in BCEHL) - Marco De Pedrina – 19G 28A 47P (12th in BCEHL) - Manwinder Sandhu – 10G 36A 46P (14th in BCEHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 0-2 Goals for: 4 Goals against: 10 Top 3 scorers: - Noah Lawless – 1G 2A 3P - Jeremy Kraft – 2G 0A 2P - Manwinder Sandhu – 0G 2A 2P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
WHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
Koltin Herfst – Victoria Royals 2024 (2nd round, 37th overall) Riley Charlton – Vancouver Giants 2024 (5th round, 94th overall) Lucas Wiercioch – Everett Silvertips 2024 (6th round, 125th overall) Simon Ward – Vancouver Giants 2022 (9th round, 180th overall)
Road to the 2025 Esso Cup: Lloydminster Steelers
The anticipation has been building all season, and the hosts are ready to welcome the best U18 club teams in Canada to the Border City
The Lloydminster Steelers have been counting down to the 2025 Esso Cup all season, and now the hosts are ready to use home ice to their advantage.
The Steelers finished in the top half of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL), ending the regular season with a 17-10-1 record.
Strong defence and goaltending have been crucial for the Steelers. Lloydminster allowed only 48 goals, the second-best goals-against mark in the AFHL behind the juggernaut Edmonton Jr. Oilers. In net, the Steelers have a dynamic duo in Grace Deveau and rookie Harlee Houle. Deveau sported a 1.13 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage, while Houle registered a 1.87 goals-against average and .926 save percentage during the regular season.
This will be Lloydminster’s first appearance at Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship, but the hosts are already familiar with one opponent: the Jr. Oilers. Edmonton lost just one AFHL game this season, and it came at the hands of the Steelers—a 2-1 overtime decision on Jan. 26.
Historically, the Esso Cup hosts have never won the tournament, but the Steelers are hoping to change that. Two host teams have previously reached the gold medal game—the Red Deer Chiefs (2015) and Sudbury Lady Wolves (2019).
HOW THEY GOT TO LLOYDMINSTER
Alberta Female Hockey League Quarterfinal: lost to Calgary Fire Red 2-0 (2-3, 1-2)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 17-10-1 (4th in AFHL) Goals for: 61 (4th in AFHL) Goals against: 48 (2nd in AFHL) Longest winning streak: 5 (Nov. 22-Dec. 20)
Top 3 scorers: - Raevyn Neahr – 10G 11A 21P (12th in AFHL) - Skylar Heinrichs – 10G 10A 20P (15th in AFHL) - Taryn Leighton – 6G 8A 14P (36th in AFHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 0-2 Goals for: 3 Goals against: 5
Top 3 scorers: - Ashlyn Hinton – 2G 0A 2P - Sydney Klebanosky – 0G 2A 2P - Raevyn Neahr – 0G 2A 2P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Grace Deveau – Trinity Western University Skylar Heinrichs - Mount Royal University Ashlyn Hinton – Lakeland College Kennedy McQuade - St. Thomas University Ryann Rekimowich – Lakeland College Natalie Tychkowsky – Red Deer Polytechnic
Road to the 2025 TELUS Cup: Pacific Regional
Flames vs. Rockets. Who wins their way to the Fraser Valley?
There are two teams left in the westernmost region of U18 hockey – either the Calgary Flames or Okanagan Rockets will represent the Pacific at the 2025 TELUS Cup in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
It’s the second time in three years these teams will meet for regional supremacy – Calgary swept Okanagan in a pair of competitive games in 2023, with the teams combining for 23 goals in two games. Both teams have made somewhat recent trips to the U18 Men’s National Club Championship – the Flames were the Pacific representatives two years ago, finishing in sixth place, while the Rockets won bronze in 2014 (the first medal by a B.C. team in 32 years).
Calgary and Okanagan skate into the best-of-three regional series with different kinds of momentum – the Flames swept their way through the AEHL final, while the Rockets persevered to down the Cariboo Cougars in overtime of Game 3 on the road to win the BCEHL title.
RECENT CHAMPIONS (TELUS CUP FINISH)
2024 – Calgary Buffaloes (bronze medal) 2023 – Calgary Flames (6th place) 2022 – Vancouver NE Chiefs (6th place) 2019 – Calgary Buffaloes (4th place) 2018 – Lethbridge Hurricanes (bronze medal)
CALGARY FLAMES AEHL CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 27-6-4-1 (1st in AEHL) Goals for: 173 Goals against: 98 Leading scorer: Evan Benoit (19G 23A 42P)
Playoff record: 8-1 Goals for: 41 Goals against: 23 Leading scorer: Nathan Ivey (7G 3A 10P)
ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL Quarterfinal: defeated Calgary Royals 2-0 (6-4, 5-2) Semifinal: defeated Calgary Buffaloes 3-1 (6-3, 1-3, 5-3, 6-1) Final: defeated Sherwood Park Kings 3-0 (4-2, 3-2 2OT, 5-3)
Last national championship appearance: 2023 (6th place) Total national championship appearances: 2 (1999, 2023)
OKANAGAN ROCKETS BCEHL CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 21-12-1-2 (3rd in BCEHL) Goals for: 149 Goals against: 121 Leading scorer: Dion Schraeder (39G 23A 62P)
Playoff record: 6-1 Goals for: 27 Goals against: 12 Leading scorer: Hayden Laing (3G 8A 11P)
ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL Quarterfinal: defeated Vancouver NE Chiefs 2-0 (4-1, 6-2) Semifinal: defeated Valley West Giants 2-0 (6-0, 2-1) Final: defeated Cariboo Cougars 2-1 (4-2, 2-4, 3-2 OT)
Last national championship appearance: 2014 (bronze medal) Total national championship appearances: 1 (2014)
Road to the 2025 Esso Cup: Pacific Regional
The Edmonton Jr. Oilers and Greater Vancouver Comets have earned provincial titles; who moves on to the Esso Cup?
We’re down to two in the Pacific Region.
The Greater Vancouver Comets hope to reach its first Esso Cup after a strong regular season in the British Columbia Elite Hockey League (BCEHL). Goaltender Olivia Tran leads the BCEHL in wins (19), shootouts (nine) and has the second-best goals-against average at 1.18—fellow Comets netminder, Alexandra Johnston, has the season’s best average with a 0.77 GAA. Johnston carried the regular-season momentum into the playoffs with a 4-0 record, 1.37 GAA and a .930 saves percentage.
In the Alberta Female Hockey League, the Edmonton Jr. Oilers were the team to beat, recording one overtime loss against the Lloydminster Steelers on January 26 during the regular season. Keira Grant had an excellent performance in the provincial tournament, scoring seven goals and adding three helpers in six playoff games. Standout goaltending from Taya Christie and Ella Dunham-Fox resulted in only five goals against and two shutouts during the provincial tournament.
RECENT CHAMPIONS (ESSO CUP FINISH) 2024 – Edmonton Jr. Oilers (bronze medal) 2023 – Fraser Valley Rush (silver medal) 2022 – Fraser Valley Rush (silver medal) 2019 – St. Albert Slash (gold medal) 2018 – St. Albert Slash (gold medal)
GREATER VANCOUVER COMETS BCEHL CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 28-2-2 (1st in BCEHL) Goals for: 137 Goals against: 33 Leading scorer: Rowan Brooke Hu (21G 20A 41P)
Playoff record: 4-0 Goals for: 11 Goals against: 6 Leading scorer: Carolyn Koo and Noe Crookham (2G 1A 3P)
ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL Semifinal: defeated Thompson-Okanagan Lakers 2-0 (3-2, 3-1) Final: defeated Northern Capitals 2-0 (1-0, 4-3)
Last national championship appearance: none Total national championship appearances: none
EDMONTON JR. OILERS AFHL CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 27-1-0 (1st in AFHL) Goals for: 124 Goals against: 26 Leading scorer: Parker Small (11G 20A 31P)
Playoff record: 6-0 Goals for: 24 Goals against: 5 Leading scorer: Keira Grant (7G 3A 10P)
ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL Quarterfinal: defeated Sherwood Park Reign 2-0 (5-2, 7-1) Semifinal: defeated Calgary Fire Red 2-0 (3-1, 1-0) Final: defeated St. Albert Slash 2-0 (5-1, 3-0)
Last national championship appearance: 2024 (bronze medal) Total national championship appearances: 8 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2024)
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