Saskatchewan communities come together
Churchbridge and Langenburg used a benefit hockey game and auction to raise more than $30,000 to support a family struck by tragedy
The devastation of tragedy. The power of community. The spirit of the Prairies.
On Jan. 20, Damion Holstein was driving with his father and girlfriend to play a game with the Langenburg U18 Warriors when they were hit by a train in Churchbridge, Sask., a small community near the Manitoba border.
Miraculously, Damion and his girlfriend survived with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
“I honestly don't remember much during the accident, like when it happened, but before and after, it's all there,” recalls Damion, who suffered broken ribs and a lacerated spleen and had his hockey season come to an end.
“[My girlfriend], she tore a ligament in one foot, and I think a tendon in the other and she also had a concussion.”
However, Damion’s father, 41-year-old David Holstein, who was behind the wheel, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“He was pretty funny. He always put a smile on people's faces,” says Damion. “He is what got me into hockey because he loved watching [the] Los Angeles [Kings] play and that was his favourite team up until the end.”
The Warriors were still on the ice when they learned what happened and decided to hang Damion’s jersey on their bench for the remainder of the game as a show of support — something the 17-year-old is extremely grateful for.
“To see the support from my team, it was really heartwarming, and they didn't really know until the third period. The fact they still went out of their way put my jersey up that game was phenomenal,” says Damion.
David Holstein, left, with his sons Damion and Riley.
Almost immediately after the incident, the Langenburg Warriors began making plans to do something more for Damion, his younger brother Riley and their mom Kathleen Jenson.
“It’s an interesting thing when something happens in a small community. It’s just everybody wants to help and they don’t know, but they just start helping anyway and that’s kind of what happened,” says Wendy Maksymchuk, team manager of the Warriors.
To show their support, the Warriors decided they would move their last regular season home game, slated for Feb. 1, to Damion’s hometown of Churchbridge, which is about 10 minutes from Langenburg.
“We thought that would be a really nice sentiment, but just on a very small level,” says Maksymchuk.
At the same time, the community of Churchbridge was also looking for ways to show their support and decided to use the Warriors’ last home game as an opportunity to hold a fundraiser and silent auction with the proceeds going to Damion and his family.
“I got a phone call from the principal from the school in Churchbridge who said that the Churchbridge community also wanted to do something and were wondering if they could turn the hockey game into a community benefit fundraiser for Damion and his brother Riley,” recalls Maksymchuk, adding, “I was so
relieved because it felt like we have a direction because so many people wanted to help and now we had a plan. Things just exploded from there.”
By this time, a coach with the Warriors had contacted TSN’s Darren Dreger and asked if he could help in any way. Dreger, who went to high school in Langenburg and still has family in the community, reached out to the Regina Pats and Edmonton Oilers and shared the tragedy.
The Pats responded by sending a signed Connor Bedard jersey while the Oilers sent a signed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins jersey.
“A bit of the buzz that kind of started things rolling really quickly was Darren Dreger's efforts,” says Maksymchuk. “That Bedard jersey, we were just coming off the World Juniors and it just created the buzz that I think that the event needed right from the start because we knew it was coming pretty much as soon as we knew the event was going to take place.”
Three other signed jerseys —Tanner Jeannot (Nashville Predators), Kevin Kaminski (SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves) and George Reed (Saskatchewan Roughriders) — were also donated along with 75 other items. Organizers decided to auction off the jerseys through Facebook ahead of the game to not only raise money but generate interest in the game, while the rest would be raffled off or used for the silent auction.
“Once we got to the people channelling their efforts, things kind of went together really quickly because there were so many people that wanted to help,” says Maksymchuk.
Autographed jerseys, including Connor Bedard (Regina Pats) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Edmonton Oilers), on display at Kaminski Arena in Churchbridge, Sask., on Feb. 1, 2023.
On Feb. 1, the Warriors' game against the Balcarres Broncs was held at Churchbridge’s Kaminski Arena in front of a capacity crowd.
“These teams had never played in front of a full house before and they were actually so nervous,” says Maksymchuk. “It was kind of cute, actually, and they very much enjoyed it, but you could tell right off the start their hands were shaking.”
“It really warmed my heart to see my friends and family come together to bring together a benefit game for us. It was really nice to see that,” says Riley.
During the third period, the online Facebook auction for the autographed jerseys concluded, bringing in over $6,500. The Bedard jersey fetched an eye-popping $4,000 while Nugent-Hopkins went for $1,600.
“Everybody’s eyes were huge and jaws were on the ground,” says Maksymchuk.
“I can’t even put words to it because I would have never expected that,” adds Jenson. “Not only to see them fill the rink and show support but basically to save me. I had no idea how I was going to function in the next while. Their dad and I had been split for 15 years but you’re still not on your own, you’re still sharing work, sharing expenses and losing all that was very difficult, not to mention the loss of their father.”
In the end, approximately $30,000 was raised from the jersey and silent auctions, the raffle and general donations, with all the proceeds going to a trust fund that had been established for Damion and Riley.
“You don’t expect a whole community to step up like that,” says Jenson. “It was a whole bunch of small communities coming together. It wasn’t just Churchbridge or Langenburg, it was the surrounding area that showed up and supported us.”
“To see the community come together for the benefit game and show their loving support was incredible,” adds Damion.
Officials selected for U18 national club championships
28 referees and linespersons to work Esso Cup and TELUS Cup
Officials from across the country are ready to take the ice for Canada’s U18 national club championships. Twenty-eight officials – 14 referees and 14 linespersons – have been selected by Hockey Canada for the Esso Cup and TELUS Cup.
2025 Esso Cup officials
The officials for the 2025 Esso Cup in Lloydminster, Alberta, were drawn from the Women’s Officiating Program of Excellence. Officials attended development camps and received ongoing mentorship in their Member programs, and were evaluated by national officiating coaches prior to the final selection.
“The Esso Cup is a great opportunity for these officials to finish the season with a national championship,” says Dan Hanoomansingh, manager of officiating with Hockey Canada. “These officials have challenged themselves throughout the season and faced stiff competition to be selected for this prestigious event.”
Referees
• Lindsey Ducharme (Hockey Alberta) • Emily Hill (Hockey Alberta) • Jenna Leighton (Hockey Nova Scotia) • Daphnée Lemay (Hockey Quebec) • Tori Pirruccio (Ontario Women’s Hockey Association) • Jillian Purcell (Hockey New Brunswick) • Kaitlyn Sauser (Hockey Saskatchewan)
Linespersons
• Megan French (Hockey Alberta) • Carley Jewell (Ontario Women’s Hockey Association) • Josée Martin (Hockey New Brunswick) • Taylor Pearson (Hockey Saskatchewan) • Leah Rideout (Hockey Nova Scotia) • Shadei Saadé (Hockey Quebec) • Coby Sullivan (Ontario Women’s Hockey Association)
The officiating coaches for the Esso Cup are Ashley Desjardins (Winnipeg, MB) and Theresa Llorente (Toronto, ON).
2025 TELUS Cup officials
The officials chosen for the 2025 TELUS Cup in Chilliwack, B.C., are part of BC Hockey’s High Performance Officiating Program. They have undergone a lengthy identification and evaluation process by BC Hockey throughout the season, with several of these officials attending Hockey Canada Officiating Program of Excellence camps.
“The TELUS Cup is a once-in-a-career opportunity for the officials of the host Member program,” says Hanoomansingh. “These officials have worked hard and competed all year from U18 AAA to Major Junior, and earned their selection to the national championship.”
Referees
• Jakob Brandstrom • Jagjit Cheema • Caden Fanshaw • Trey Hucalak • Bryce Manders • Malcolm Simpson • Kai Walsh
Linespersons
• Jeff Dayton • Ryder Fabian • Nick Gillam • Aidan Hitchmough • Isaac La Roy • Nishan Mahal • Jack McNabb
The officiating coaches for the TELUS Cup are Ron Dietterle (Aldergrove, BC) and Josh Smith (Blackfalds, AB).
Road to the 2025 TELUS Cup: Regina Pat Canadians
The West Region champions have scored (and scored and scored and scored) their way to a 10th trip to the national championship
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)
Road to the 2025 Esso Cup: Saskatoon Stars
The West Region champions are back for a fifth Esso Cup appearance and are eager for a first national title
The Saskatoon Stars’ best finish at the Esso Cup was a silver medal in 2018, and it’s been six years since they last competed at the Esso Cup. Finally West Region champions again and capturing gold is the goal in Lloydminster.
Perennial runners-up in the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) since 2022-23, the Stars will make a fifth appearance at Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship.
Saskatoon is loaded with young talent across their roster. There are nine first-year players on the roster: six forwards, two defenders and one goaltender. Rookie Sadie Green was second in Stars scoring with 17 goals and 36 points during the regular season before adding nine goals and five helpers in the playoffs.
In goal, Saskatoon has been riding Tarynn Sutter in her first season in the SFU18AAAHL. Sutter posted a 15-2 record in the regular season with two shutouts, a 1.78 goals-against average and .940 save percentage. Her strong play continued in the playoffs, with Sutter earning a 5-2 record, 1.58 GAA and .932 save percentage.
The Stars last qualified for the Esso Cup in 2019 and have always put in strong performances on the national stage. Saskatoon topped the preliminary-round standings in both 2018 and 2019, led by Mackenna Parker (2018) and Anna Leschyshyn (2019) who finished as top scorer of their respective tournaments. Along with silver in 2018, the Stars earned bronze in 2015 and their goal is to complete their collection of medals with gold this year.
There are big shoes to fill for the West Region champions after the Regina Rebels won the 2024 Esso Cup. In tournament history, Saskatchewan teams have won three national titles (2011 Notre Dame Hounds, 2014 Weyburn Gold Wings, 2024 Regina Rebels) and have been on the podium six times since 2009.
HOW THEY GOT TO LLOYDMINSTER
Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated Weyburn Gold Wings 2-0 (7-1, 7-1) Semifinal: defeated Swift Current Wildcats 2-1 (6-3, 0-2, 5-2) Final: defeated Battlefords Sharks 2-1 (3-0, 1-2, 6-1)
West Regional Championship: defeated Eastman Selects 2-1 (1-2, 5-4, 6-0)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-OTW-OTL-L): 18-4-0-8 (2nd in SFU18AAAHL) Goals for: 110 (2nd in SFU18AAAHL) Goals against: 67 (2nd in SFU18AAAHL) Longest winning streak: 7 (Dec. 7-Jan. 16)
Top 3 scorers: - Halle Duchene – 20G 21A 41P (2nd in SFU18AAAHL) - Sadie Green – 17G 19A 36P (5th in SFU18AAAHL) - Kolbee Ashe – 17G 18A 35P (6th in SFU18AAAHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 8-3 Goals for: 47 Goals against: 18
Top 3 scorers: - Halle Duchene – 7G 8A 15P - Sadie Green – 9G 5A 14P - Kolbee Ashe – 6G 4A 10P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2015 – Saskatoon Stars | bronze medal | 5-2 | 26GF 14GA 2016 – Saskatoon Stars | 4th place | 3-4 | 11GF 16GA 2018 – Saskatoon Stars | silver medal | 6-1 | 29GF 6GA 2019 – Saskatoon Stars | 4th place | 4-3 | 29GF 21GA
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Kolbee Ashe – Rochester Institute of Technology Kinley Brassard – Minot State University Halle Duchene – Mercyhurst University Claire Moorman – University of Manitoba
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
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)
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Japan
Thursday, April 17 | 2:30 p.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Quarterfinal
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. JAPAN (APRIL 17)
It’s on to the playoff round for Canada’s National Women's Team, which faces off against Japan in quarterfinal action Thursday at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Last Game
Canada closed its preliminary-round schedule Monday with a 7-1 win over host Czechia that locked up second place in Group A. Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice to give the Canadians a 2-1 lead after two periods before they exploded for five in the final frame, including three in a span of 58 seconds. Kristin O’Neill added a pair of goals of her own, Erin Ambrose celebrated her 100th international game with a pair of assists and Sophie Jaques got her first Team Canada goal to round out the scoring.
The Japanese clinched second place in Group B with a narrow 1-0 win over Germany in their prelim finale Tuesday. Miyuu Masuhara was terrific in a 34-save shutout performance, including 17 in the third period as the Germans pushed for the equalizer. Rui Ukita netted the lone goal early in the second for Japan.
Last Meeting
Canada and Japan clashed in the preliminary round at the 2023 Women’s Worlds in Brampton, where the Canadians earned a 5-0 win. Sarah Fillier led the offence with two goals and an assist as Canada jumped on the Japanese early with 26 shots in the first period (and finished with a 60-11 advantage overall). Sarah Nurse added a goal and an assist, and Emerance Maschmeyer turned aside all 11 shots she faced for the shutout.
What to Watch
Entering this tournament, three members of the Team Canada roster were still in search of their first international goal – all of them defenders. Micah Zandee-Hart got off the schneid first, scoring against Switzerland (in her 69th game!) and Jaques put herself on the scoresheet against the Czechs. That just leaves Chloe Primerano. The 18-year-old – the third-youngest player to appear for Canada at Women’s Worlds – has acquitted herself nicely thus far, averaging 13:31 of ice time per game across three prelim games. She put herself squarely on the international radar with her epic shootout winner against the U.S. in the Rivalry Series in November, but is still in search of her official maiden marker. Primerano is no stranger to Team Canada goals – she scored 18 in 21 games with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, the second-most in U18 program history.
The Japanese are as disciplined a team as you will ever see. In their four preliminary-round games, Japan took only two penalties, allowed just a single power play and has gone more than 136 minutes without being whistled for an infraction. Their goaltending has also been terrific, with Masuhara playing every second of the prelims and fashioning a 1.01 goals-against average and .965 save percentage while making the second-most saves of any netminder (110).
Milestone Watch
Poulin is set to become just the fourth player to reach 200 games played with Canada’s National Women’s Team, but that’s not the only milestone on her mind. Captain Canada needs three more goals to surpass Jayna Hefford as Canada’s all-time leading goal scorer at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, and three more assists and two more points to take over from Hayley Wickenheiser atop those categories.
In goal, Ann-Renée Desbiens needs just one victory to surpass Swiss icon Florence Schelling and become the winningest goaltender in Women’s Worlds history (22).
A Look Back
Canada has been nothing short of dominant in eight all-time meetings with Japan, winning all eight, averaging 12 goals a game and not allowing a single goal.
The most goals Canada has ever scored in an international game is 18, which it has done three times – twice against Japan. Angela James and Vicky Sunohara had hat tricks in an 18-0 victory at the inaugural Women’s Worlds in 1990, and Wickenheiser and France St-Louis contributed three-goal efforts to an 18-0 win at the 1996 Pacific Rim Championship.
All-time record: Canada leads 8-0 Canada goals: 96 Japan goals: 0
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
For more information: |
- <
- >
