As long as I can remember, I've heard and read stories of my ancestry dating back to the Red River Resistance, including a book written about my great-grandma’s family living on a reserve in Northern Manitoba. Families on my dad’s side settled in small Métis towns called St-Malo and St-Pierre-Jolys.

I’ll admit… after hearing about my ancestors’ experiences, I wasn't sure if being Indigenous was good or if it was something I should be ashamed of. In minor hockey, people used to always ask ‘Who is that little native boy on the ice?’ just because I was playing on a boys’ team and had a long braid.

I didn’t think much of it at the time, until I heard some of the things people were saying about other Indigenous people in the community, things I never thought I would hear. Although we spoke regularly in our household about our Métis heritage, it was difficult to express it outside our walls.

After that, I thought if I didn't expose myself as being Indigenous that I wouldn't get bullied or hurt. I buried it away and focused on my real passion—hockey. Every time I stepped on the ice, I wanted to be the best player so one day I could be a role model for other Indigenous athletes with similar experiences.

I lived by the motto “I work hard today to be better for tomorrow.” Carrying that with me, I was able to make the British Columbia roster as a double under-ager for the 2023 Canada Winter Games on Prince Edward Island, and was lucky enough to help Team B.C. win its first-ever gold medal!

That event was a huge moment in my journey; I believe I made a name for Indigenous athletes to show that you can play with everyone.

My journey with Team B.C. has continued for the last two seasons, winning a pair of bronze medals at the U18 Women’s National Championship, getting to serve as captain at the most recent tournament in New Brunswick and being named Top Defender.

I have also won two Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) championships with RHA Kelowna in the Female U18 Prep division, broke the record for most career assists in division history and earned CSSHL Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Oh, and I lived out a dream by getting to wear the Maple Leaf with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and win a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Finland. How’s that for a platform for Indigenous athletes!

Through my time with Team B.C., I learned about ISPARC (Indigenous Sports Physical Activity and Recreation Council), which leads the teams that represent the province at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC) every year. In 2023, just a few months after my Canada Games experience, I made my first NAHC appearance in Winnipeg.

I returned for a second tournament in 2024 in Grande Prairie, winning a bronze medal, and earned the Premier’s regional and provincial awards for Indigenous youth excellence in sports.

I made a third trip just a few months ago on home ice in Kamloops, just a couple hours from where I grew up in Osoyoos, getting the honour of being captain again and leading Team B.C. to silver, the best finish in program history.

Those tournaments were amazing experience, both personally and culturally. I felt accepted by opponents, fans, coaches and teammates. They were so, so important in my growth as a hockey player and as an Indigenous athlete.

There’s one story from my NAHC years that will stick with me, and I want to share it. It really drives home why I want to work with the younger generation (which is funny for me to say being only 18!) to truly embrace our culture.

One of my best friends, who is Indigenous, would constantly be reminded by her teammates that she wasn't good enough to play for Team B.C. at the U18 Women’s Nationals. No one cared if she made the ISPARC Team B.C.; to them, it would never be as good as what they considered the “real Team B.C.”

I never hesitated to remind her how skilled of a player she was. It was—and still is—very hard for me to understand how her teammates could not only be so mean, but at the same time talk about Indigenous athletes and the NAHC tournament as a lower form of competition.

Hearing them say that we aren't good enough hockey players just because we were Indigenous was something that didn’t sit well for me. It made me realize that I have to fight for what's right and stop hiding in the shadows.

I am very proud to say that I am a citizen of the Métis Nation of British Columbia (MNBC) and that I live on the traditional unceded territory of the Sylix (Okanagan) Nation!

I made a decision to learn more about being Métis. The MNBC staff was welcoming and supported me in learning about my culture and other Indigenous cultures. I was honoured to be sashed by the president of the MNBC and receive two warrior sashes made for me by Métis Elders.

I was invited by the MNBC Board of Directors to speak with government representatives and talk about the mental, physical and emotional challenges that Indigenous athletes have to face. I explained how hard it is to be faced with discrimination just for being Indigenous.

Due to the negative impact, I took a 12-week course with former NHLer Aaron Volpatti to help with my mental health and confidence. He showed me that if I envision what I want to focus on and to not let outside voices get to me, I'll be able to accomplish anything.

This knowledge was very important; I learned that it's okay to speak up and to fight for what's right. I knew I didn't have to hide who I was anymore because I had a whole team of people who would back me up and pick me up if I ever got down. Being a citizen of the MNBC has allowed me to be a role model for Indigenous athletes, proving that there are no limits if you are willing to put in the work.

Alongside the highs and lows of being an Indigenous athlete, I faced another challenge that was out of my control—I have often been overlooked or underestimated because of my height. (I’m 5-foot-2, in case you’re wondering.)

No matter what I did, every mistake and every loss was because I was short. I knew my height would come with challenges, but never did I think a coach would belittle me because of it. I would be told that I cost the team the game, implying that it was because I was too short. During my NCAA recruitment, this coach would always bring up my size as a negative when speaking to other coaches, rather than focusing on my skills.

I’m short…and I can’t do anything about it! I am so lucky to have been able to work with two coaches, Venla Hovi and Kris Hogg, who really took me under their wing and didn't just look past me because of my height.

Venla—a two-time Olympian and Women’s Worlds veteran with Finland—was the first coach who gave me confidence to use my height as an advantage. She saw my potential and worked with me to be comfortable being uncomfortable. She really changed the way I played, for the better. She allowed me to see my height as a strength and as something people wouldn't be able to stop. I was so fortunate to have a strong believer like her on my side.

When I made the move from the Okanagan Hockey Academy to RHA Kelowna, Kris was the coach who encouraged me and supported my growth as a player. He always put me out there to every single college he could, never once saying I was too short to play Division I hockey. He also pushed me past my boundaries on and off the ice, which helped me to break records I wouldn't have thought possible.

It is with the support of Venla and Kris, along with coaches and trainers like Mark Fitzgerald, Jim Liebel, Tyler Liebel, Travis Martell, Derek Ruck, my dad Dean and so many more that I have been able to live my hockey dreams—representing my province, representing my Indigenous community and (the craziest of all) representing my country!

This coming season, I’m proud to have accepted a scholarship to Penn State University to continue my hockey career.

Through my journey I have realized that no matter what, you have to fight for what's right and continue to battle against the hard. I am so thankful for all the opportunities I have had, and I continue to work hard today to be better for tomorrow so that I can make my dreams to represent Canada at the Olympics and play in the PWHL a reality.

My hope is that my journey and story will be an inspiration to young Indigenous athletes, showing them that any boundary is breakable with the right mindset.

CHILLIWACK, British Columbia – The Regina Pat Canadians have won their fifth TELUS Cup, defeating the Chevaliers de Lévis 3-2 in overtime in the gold medal game Sunday night at Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship.

It’s the seventh medal for the Pat Canadians at the TELUS Cup, along with gold medals in 1983, 1988, 1994 and 1999, silver in 1989 and bronze in 2015. The five national titles ties Regina with the Notre Dame Hounds and Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François for the most in tournament history.

Maddox Schultz (Regina, SK) scored the winner 28 seconds into the extra frame and assisted on Regina’s other two goals. The TELUS Cup Most Valuable Player registered a point in all seven games and finished with a tournament-high 20 points (9-11—20), leading all players in goals and assists.

“Right from the start of the year, our goal was to make it to the TELUS Cup. As soon as we got here our plan was to win it, so it is all super surreal right now. We played a full 60 minutes, so going into the locker room we knew someone had to be the hero,” said Schultz. “This was an absolutely crazy experience, seeing the puck go in the net, seeing the referee call the goal, it is something I will never forget. I am looking forward to enjoying it with my teammates.”

Regina opened the scoring with a power-play goal from Jonah Siverston (Regina, SK) late in the first period before Lévis forward Malyk Coté (Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon, QC) evened the score just over a minute later. Félix Grenier (Lévis, QC) put the Chevaliers ahead by one early in the second period, but Regina captain Logan Mehl (Regina, SK) tied the game at two with 1:09 remaining in the middle frame.

“It is an amazing feeling, special. [Going into overtime], I told the guys to seize the moment, embrace it and do everything we have worked on all season long,” said Pat Canadians head coach Ryan Hodgins (Regina, SK). “Watching the puck go in the net [in overtime] was crazy. My coaches were right beside me to celebrate and I have a special group of friends that are also coaches that have put in the work and time to make this happen.”

Taylor Tabashniuk (Regina, SK) made 29 saves for his fifth win in as many games, finishing with a 1.20 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in the tournament.

A full game summary can be found HERE.

In between the medal games, Hockey Canada announced the 2025 TELUS Cup tournament awards:

• Most Valuable Player – Maddox Schultz (Regina, SK), Regina Pat Canadians
• Top Forward – Charles-Antoine Dubé (Saint-Anges, QC), Chevaliers de Lévis
• Top Defence – Eli Johnson (Regina, SK), Regina Pat Canadians
• Top Goaltender – Finn McKiernan (Kelowna, BC), Okanagan Rockets
• Most Sportsmanlike Player – Nathan Weber (Riverview, NB), Moncton Flyers
• TELUS Cup Scholarship ($1,000) – Josh Myatt (London, ON) Elgin Middlesex Canucks

Moncton Flyers defeat Elgin Middlesex Canucks 4-1 to win bronze medal

Earlier in the day, Moncton rebounded from a 3-0 loss to Lévis in the semifinals to win the bronze medal, defeating the Elgin Middlesex Canucks 4-1. It marks the second medal for the Atlantic Region representatives after winning gold at the 2022 TELUS Cup.

Flyers captain Nathan Weber (Riverview, NB) opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period and added an assist, on route to his second TELUS Cup medal with Moncton.

“We wanted to be in the gold medal game, but to finish third in the country is a pretty big deal. It is an unbelievable experience, something you are going to cherish for the rest of your life,” said Weber. “Every time you have a chance to win your final game, you want to end on a high note, and to end in third place in Canada is a big deal. I could not be any prouder of my teammates.”

Marc MacPhee (Moncton, NB), Tristan Richard (Dieppe, NB) and Caleb Cyr (Dieppe, NB) also registered a goal and an assist each for the Flyers, who went 3-for-4 on the power play. Parker Graham (Chatham, ON) scored the lone Canucks goal in the final minute of the game.

A full game summary can be found HERE.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2025 TELUS Cup, please visit Hockey Canada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok, and by using #TELUSCup.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the host locations for Canada’s 2026 U18 national club championships, with the Esso Cup set for Dieppe, New Brunswick, and the TELUS Cup heading to Peterborough, Ontario.

“Hosting premier hockey events takes a tremendous effort from everyone in the chosen communities,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact. “From volunteers, sponsors and the fans, Canadians from coast to coast to coast step up every year to help grow the game of hockey and provide lifelong memories for these athletes.”

From April 19-25, the Moncton Rockets of the Maritime Major Female Hockey League (MMFHL) will welcome five regional champions to compete for Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship at the UNIplex. It marks the first time the Esso Cup has been hosted in the province of New Brunswick and fourth time the Rockets have competed in the event (2010, 2014, 2015), and represents a partnership between Hockey Canada, Hockey New Brunswick and the City of Dieppe.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome the nation’s top U18 AAA female hockey teams and players to our community for the 2026 Esso Cup,” said Mélanie McGrath, co-chair of the Esso Cup host organizing committee. “This tournament is a celebration of talent, determination, and the bright future of women’s hockey in Canada. We’re honored to be part of this incredible event and can’t wait to create unforgettable memories for the players, families, and fans.”

The Peterborough Junior AAA Petes of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) will make their national championship debut at the TELUS Cup, which is set for April 20-26 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The 2026 event marks the return of Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship to Ontario for the first time since 2019 in Thunder Bay and is hosted in partnership with the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) and the City of Peterborough.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the TELUS Cup to Peterborough— this is the most exciting hockey moment for our community since we hosted the Memorial Cup in 1996,” said City of Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal. “In Peterborough, hockey is more than a game, it is part of our identity. The TELUS Cup is an incredible chance to cheer on the future stars of the sport, showcase our facilities and the home of the legendary Peterborough Petes, and celebrate everything that makes Peterborough an unforgettable destination not only for minor hockey, but also for active family fun.”

Fans can stay up to date on news about the 2026 Esso Cup and 2026 TELUS Cup, including schedules, ticket information and other promotions, by signing up to become a Hockey Canada Insider.

The 2025 Esso Cup is currently being played in Lloydminster, Alberta, with the host Steelers welcoming the Eastern Stars (Atlantic), Edmonton Jr. Oilers (Pacific), Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière (Québec), North York Storm (Ontario) and Saskatoon Stars (West).

The 2025 TELUS Cup is underway in Chilliwack, British Columbia, with the host Thunderbirds joined by the Elgin Middlesex Canucks (Central), Chevaliers de Lévis (Québec), Moncton Flyers (Atlantic), Okanagan Rockets (Pacific) and Regina Pat Canadians (West).

For more information on Hockey Canada, the Esso Cup and the TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
About Peterborough:

Peterborough is a vibrant mid-size city shaped by its connection to nature, the waterway, community, and a rich tradition of sport and recreation. Conveniently located 90 minutes northeast of Toronto, on the doorstep of The Kawarthas cottage country, Peterborough is the largest urban centre on the historic, 386-kilometre Trent-Severn Waterway, named one of 52 destinations to visit in 2025 by New York Times. Peterborough is located on the Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, known collectively as the Williams Treaty First Nations.

About Dieppe:
Dieppe is the fourth largest city in the maritime province of New Brunswick located on the outskirts of the City of Moncton. A primarily francophone community, over 63% of the residents consider French as their mother tongue. Named in honor of the Canadian soldiers killed during the landing of Allied troops on the beaches in Dieppe, France in 1942, Dieppe is located along the Petitcodiac River and forms the southeastern part of the Greater Moncton Area. Dieppe is located on the unceded and unsurrendered territories of the Wolastoqiyik, Mi'gmaq, and Peskotomuhkati peoples.

Of the five teams that won regional titles to advance to the 2025 TELUS Cup, three – the Regina Pat Canadians, Elgin Middlesex Canucks and Chevaliers de Lévis – finished atop their respective leagues in the regular season, and another – the Moncton Flyers – finished level on points but lost out on first place on a tiebreaker.

And then there’s the Okanagan Rockets, who had to beat ‘em to join ‘em.

The Rockets – the third-place team in the B.C. Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) – had to go on the road to beat the best in the BCEHL, the Cariboo Cougars, winning the best-of-three final on an overtime goal from Hudson Getzlaf in Game 3.

Then they had to travel to Alberta and outlast the Alberta Elite Hockey League champion Calgary Flames in another three-game thriller, getting 28 saves from Finn McKiernan in a 1-0 victory in the deciding game.

Now Okanagan will make the 290-kilometre journey to Chilliwack for Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship, 11 years after NHL first-rounder Tyson Jost helped it to bronze at the 2014 TELUS Cup.

Dion Schraeder paced the offence with a BCEHL-high 39 goals in 36 games, and his 62 points were second best in the league (and 21 more than any other Rocket).

It has been 43 years since the Burnaby Winter Club claimed B.C.’s lone national title, and the Rockets’ bronze is the only medal won by a West Coast team since then. This year’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship is the first ever to feature a pair of teams from British Columbia, with Okanagan joining the host Fraser Valley Thunderbirds.

HOW THEY GOT TO CHILLIWACK

British Columbia Elite Hockey League
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)

Pacific Regional
Final: defeated Calgary Flames 2-1 (4-1, 0-4, 1-0)

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-L-OTL-T): 21-12-1-2 (3rd in BCEHL)
Goals for: 149 (5th in BCEHL)
Goals against: 121 (3rd in BCEHL)
Longest winning streak: 6 (Jan. 11-26)
Top 3 scorers:
- Dion Schraeder – 39G 23A 62P (2nd in BCEHL)
- Gavin Wood – 11G 30A 41P (19th in BCEHL)
- Nathan Juch – 10G 27A 37P (25th in BCEHL)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 8-2
Goals for: 32
Goals against: 17
Top 3 scorers:
- Gavin Wood – 4G 8A 12P
- Brayden Westman – 5G 6A 11P
- Hayden Laing – 3G 8A 11P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

2014 – Okanagan Rockets | bronze medal | 2-2-3 | 28GF 22GA

WHL DRAFTED PLAYERS

Hudson Getzlaf – Vancouver Giants 2023 (5th round, 108th overall)
Von Lakovic – Kelowna Rockets 2024 (6th round, 113th overall)
Logan Jugnauth – Prince George Cougars 2023 (6th round, 125th overall)
Kylen Martens – Tri-City Americans 2023 (9th round, 189th overall)
Hayden Laing – Tri-City Americans 2023 (9th round, 191st overall)
Elijah Henson – Edmonton Oil Kings 2022 (9th round, 197th overall)
Carter Rebman – Edmonton Oil Kings 2024 (11th round, 226th overall)

As the old adage goes – defence wins championships.

And the Regina Pat Canadians are awfully good in their own end – across 58 regular-season and playoff games, the Pat Canadians have allowed just 147 goals (an average of 2.54 per game).

To drive that point home? In their four-game romp through the West Regional, Regina gave up just two goals.

But this team can score. A lot. The Pat Canadians potted 233 goals in 44 regular-season games in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League (SMU18AAAHL), added 38 in 10 postseason games en route to the SMU18AAAHL title and had 25 in its four games at the regional tournament.

Add ‘em up, and Regina will bring an average of more than five goals a game (296 in 58 games) to the 2025 TELUS Cup in Chilliwack.

The straw that stirs the drink is phenom forward Maddox Schultz; the 15-year-old (he turned 15 on March 15) led the SMU18AAAHL with 93 points (43-50—93) in 44 games in the regular season and added 32 (15-17—32) in 14 postseason contests, capped off by a hat trick in the regional final win over the Winnipeg Wild.

Schultz, the pre-emptive first overall pick in the WHL Prospects Draft next month, has recorded points in 54 of 58 games and each the last 22 dating back to early February, and only twice during that streak has he failed to record multiple points.

In total, six Pat Canadians passed the 50-point mark, averaging at least a point per game.

This will be the 10th appearance for Regina at Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship, making it one of just seven programs to reach double digits. Four-time national champions (1983, 1988, 1994, 1999), victory in the Fraser Valley would bring the Pat Canadians even with Notre Dame and Séminaire Saint-François for the most ever.

HOW THEY GOT TO CHILLIWACK

Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League
Quarterfinal: defeated Prince Albert Mintos 3-0 (3-2, 4-2, 7-2)
Semifinal: defeated Saskatoon Blazers 3-1 (5-2, 3-4, 5-2, 4-0)
Final: defeated Moose Jaw Warriors 3-0 (2-1, 2-1, 3-1)

West Regional
Preliminary round: 1st place (3-0) – defeated Winnipeg Wild 5-1, defeated Kenora Thistles 5-0, defeated Thunder Bay Kings 8-0
Final: defeated Winnipeg Wild 7-1

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-L-OTL): 35-7-2 (1st in SMU18AAAHL)
Goals for: 233 (1st in SMU18AAAHL)
Goals against: 128 (1st in SMU18AAAHL)
Longest winning streak: 14 (Jan. 18-Feb. 23)
Top 3 scorers:
- Maddox Schultz – 43G 50A 93P (1st in SMU18AAAHL)
- Jonah Sivertson – 32G 45A 77P (2nd in SMU18AAAHL)
- Chase Surkan – 28G 45A 73P (3rd in SMU18AAAHL)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 13-1
Goals for: 63
Goals against: 19
Top 3 scorers:
- Maddox Schultz – 15G 17A 32P
- Eli Johnson – 6G 18A 24P
- Jonah Sivertson – 11G 11A 22P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

1978 – Regina Pat Canadians | 10th place | 1-4-0 | 19GF 27GA
1983 – Regina Pat Canadians | gold medal | 6-2-0 | 37GF 26GA
1985 – Regina Pat Canadians | silver medal | 5-2-0 | 21GF 18GA
1988 – Regina Pat Canadians | gold medal | 5-1-1 | 38GF 24 GA
1989 – Regina Pat Canadians | silver medal | 4-3-0 | 28GF 19GA
1994 – Regina Pat Canadians | gold medal | 5-2-0 | 23GF 17GA
1999 – Regina Pat Canadians | gold medal | 6-1-0 | 39GF 15GA
2015 – Regina Pat Canadians | bronze medal | 5-1-1 | 32GF 16GA
2017 – Regina Pat Canadians | 4th place | 2-4-1 | 22GF 25GA

WHL DRAFTED PLAYERS

Boston Tait – Wenatchee Wild 2024 (1st round, 12th overall)
Chase Surkan – Brandon Wheat Kings 2024 (1st round, 14th overall)
Cooper Bratton – Prince George Cougars 2024 (2nd round, 41st overall)
Jonah Sivertson – Prince Albert Raiders 2023 (4th round, 71st overall)
Cash Lanigan – Portland Winterhawks 2023 (4th round, 83rd overall)
Ethan Young – Brandon Wheat Kings 2024 (4th round, 85th overall)
Nathan Gardiner – Calgary Hitmen 2024 (6th round, 117th overall)
Taylor Tabashnuik – Red Deer Rebels 2022 (6th round, 127th overall)
Ethan Dundas – Calgary Hitmen 2023 (7th round, 133rd overall)
Ryan Ulmer – Seattle Thunderbirds 2022 (7th round, 153rd overall)
Eli Johnson – Prince George Cougars 2023 (7th round, 154th overall)
Adam Muntain – Spokane Chiefs 2024 (8th round, 162nd overall)
Logan Mehl – Kelowna Rockets 2022 (9th round, 191st overall)
Cruz Klapak – Winnipeg Ice 2022 (10th round, 220th overall)

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

Chase Pettipiece – Flint Firebirds 2025 U18 (1st round, 8th overall)
Parker Graham – London Knights 2025 U18 (2nd round, 40th overall)
Cole Edmunson – Sarnia Sting 2025 U18 (3rd round, 42nd overall)
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)

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)

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)

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)