Teresa Hutchinson comes full circle
More than three decades after winning gold at the first-ever IIHF Women’s World Championship, Teresa Hutchinson is giving back as a volunteer in Brampton
Teresa Hutchinson will never forget the moment she won a gold medal with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 1990 IIHF World Women’s Championship.
“It's always special when you get to compete for your country,” Hutchinson says. “You know, doing it at the first World Championship was obviously a great honour.”
Thirty-three years later, Hutchinson finds herself back at Women’s Worlds, this time as a volunteer in Brampton.
“I like to be busy. I like to do things that have meaning and have purpose and being able to volunteer and give back to something in a game that's given me so much, it's just something that I wanted to do,” she says.
A product of Thornhill, Ont., Hutchinson played for a senior women’s team in nearby Newtonbrook as a teenager and eventually found herself playing defence for a high-level Senior A hockey team in Mississauga. By 1990, she was so good that she wound up making Team Canada for the inaugural Women’s Worlds in Ottawa.
A few years after winning gold, Hutchinson turned her attention to coaching. She has since coached at just about every level, including provincial U16, U18 and Canada Games teams, winning titles along the way.
“For the love of the game and a different perspective,” Hutchinson says about her desire to begin and remain in coaching, “Hockey has given me the opportunity to give back and help the next generation, learn and more importantly, love the game and become better people.”
In 2020, Hutchinson, who has been an assistant coach with the women’s hockey team at York University for five seasons, was named BFL Female Coach of the Year (High Performance) for her outstanding resume and continuous commitment to the game.
“Obviously, it's a great honour,” she says. “I found out as I got into coaching … that there's so much more to coaching than a lot of people know, the long hours that you put in, so it's nice to be recognized and acknowledged for that and the contributions that I've made for the game over the past numerous years.”
Changes for the better
Thirty-plus years ago, fan support for women’s hockey in Canada at a national level was there, even if corporate sponsorship dollars weren’t.
Hutchinson saw that firsthand during a pre-tournament game against West Germany held outside of Ottawa ahead of the 1990 worlds.
“It was just a small barn with two or three benches that had seating around it and it was full, and literally fans were hanging over the boards,” recalls Hutchinson. “There was body-checking back then and I got rocked by a German player right at the blue line. I was scared because I thought the fans were gonna come over the glass at the German player.”
Since then, stars like Angela James, Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser and Cassie Campbell have come and gone, increasing the sport’s popularity and paving the way for today’s stars like Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Nurse and Natalie Spooner.
“I've watched almost all of the games and all of the tournaments and just to see how it's advanced, not just in the play on the ice, but also the support that the players are getting from their federations and they're getting from the fans. It’s amazing,” says Hutchinson. “To see the little kids, boys and girls, coming up looking for autographs and just being starstruck when they see the players, it’s so special. It’s special to see the players of today getting the recognition.”
Another difference is that there are far more opportunities for women to continue a career in hockey after their playing days are over — something that wasn’t necessarily available in the early 1990s for women like Hutchinson, who has had a 30-year career in law enforcement along with her coaching career.
“Women can make a career out of hockey,” says Hutchinson. “There is the athletics side, but they can also get into the television or management and that is an amazing thing.”
Room to grow
As a volunteer lead in Brampton, Hutchinson is responsible for overseeing a handful of the hundreds of volunteers at the Women’s Worlds.
One of the reasons for so many volunteers is the number of Hockey Canada-organized community events such as public skating, ball hockey, Esso Fun Days, Try Hockey, coaching and officiating clinics.
“It is really trying to expose people that don't have that much exposure to hockey to the game. The good thing is that most of the participants that come in for any of the clinics and that are getting tickets to one of the games. So, again, just to help grow that exposure to hockey,” Hutchinson says. “We've had a couple of volunteers that maybe aren't as familiar with hockey and, you know, they've had the opportunity to watch some of the games so hopefully that gets them hooked.”
While there is still work that needs to be done to grow women’s hockey, Hutchinson says having the Women’s Worlds in a culturally rich and ethnically diverse community such as Brampton is an important step forward.
“Something that hockey generally has lacked is the diversity of the visible minority. Just like anything in life, we should represent the community that we live in. The fact that it's here, I think it's really exposing it to newer Canadians or maybe Canadians that haven't had hockey as one of their primary sports or entertainment and that is really important,” she says.
With files from Paul Edmonds
U18 Men’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Slovakia
Thursday, April 24 | 3 p.m. CT | Allen, Texas | Preliminary Round
Canada’s National Men's Under-18 Team starts defence of its gold medal Thursday at the 2025 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, taking on Slovakia in its Group A opener in Texas.
Last Game
Canada closed outs its pre-tournament schedule Monday with
an 8-3 loss to Sweden in Plano. Brady Martin and Jackson Smith scored to give the Canadians a 2-1 lead
after 20 minutes, but five unanswered goals by the Swedes in the second
period proved to be the difference. Braeden Cootes had the other Canadian
goal on a third-period power play, and Martin finished with a goal and an
assist.
The Slovaks won a thriller in the tournament opener Wednesday, needing a shootout to down Finland 1-0. Michal Pradel was the story in between the pipes; he turned aside all 34 shots he faced through regulation and overtime and was perfect on four opportunities in the shootout. Michal Svrcek and Alex Misiak provided the only offence, converting on their chances in the first and fourth rounds, respectively.
Last Meeting
The Canadians and Slovaks last met at the U18 level in August, a 5-1 win for Canada in preliminary-round play at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton. Luca Romano and Cameron Schmidt scored two goals apiece for the Canadians, who held a 44-28 advantage in shots on goal.
The last faceoff between the teams at U18 Men’s Worlds came in the bronze medal game at the 2023 tournament in Switzerland. In that one, Matthew Wood tied the game with 70 seconds to go and Macklin Celebrini – 14 months before he was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft – was the overtime hero as Canada earned a 4-3 victory to win bronze. Wood finished with a goal and three assists, while Celebrini contributed two goals and a helper.
What to Watch
Canada looks to be set between the pipes, with their goaltending duo from the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup back together. Jack Ivankovic is no stranger to Canadian hockey fans; a returnee from the team that won U18 Men’s Worlds gold a year ago in Finland, he backstopped Canada to gold in Edmonton with a minuscule 0.75 goals-against average, and made a little history at the World Juniors when he became just the first 17-year-old goaltender to start a game for Canada’s National Junior Team since 1987. Lucas Beckman was an absolute workhorse with Baie-Comeau in the QMJHL this season, finishing second in minutes played (3,058), fourth in saves (1,437), fourth in save percentage (.914) and fifth in goals-against average (2.65) while earning a league-leading 31 wins for the Drakkar.
Jan Chovan is the top-rated Slovak for the 2025 NHL Draft, ranking 16th among international skaters in the final Central Scouting rankings. He was the leading scorer for Slovakia at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, contributing a goal and five assists in four games. Andreas Straka is the lone Slovak skater to ply his trade in the Canadian Hockey League this season, recording 34 points (9-25—34) in 53 games with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. He’s the 95th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. And while he likely won’t get the start against Canada in the back-to-back, keep en eye on Pradel. The third-ranked North American goaltender – one spot ahead of Ivankovic – was terrific to get his team the extra point against the Finns.
A Look Back
Canada has never lost to Slovakia at the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, winning all 12 meetings (with two coming by way of overtime).
In addition to the OT thriller for bronze in 2023, the teams also needed extra time in their preliminary-round meeting at the 2017 tournament in Slovakia, when Stelio Mattheos scored his second goal of the game 2:38 into overtime to give Canada a 4-3 win over the hosts.
All-time record: Canada leads 12-0 (2-0 in OT) Canada goals: 43 Slovakia goals: 17
Memories of 200
From Lake Placid to Ceske Budejovice and so many points in between, Jocelyne Larocque is set to make National Women’s Team history in typical understated fashion
Jocelyne Larocque remembers Game No. 1.
It was Nov. 4, 2008, in Lake Placid, New York, and a 20-year-old Larocque was in the lineup for Canada’s National Women’s Team for the first time as it opened up the 4 Nations Cup against Finland.
“I remember being extremely nervous, but really grateful for the opportunity to play on the national team,” Larocque says. “Just thinking every day, be a sponge, absorb as much as you can, watch what other players do and try to do what they do.”
Her debut was a successful one, both individually and as a team; Canada blanked Finland 6-0 and Larocque chipped in the sixth goal in the final minute, jumping in off the blue line to stuff in a Sarah Vaillancourt rebound.
Sixteen-and-a-half years later, Larocque is on the cusp of history. When she steps onto the ice Sunday for the gold medal game at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, the Ste. Anne, Manitoba, product will become just the fifth player in Team Canada history – and the first defender – to appear in 200 international games.
She will join Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford, Caroline Ouellette and Marie-Philip Poulin, who reached the milestone in Canada’s quarterfinal win over Japan on Thursday.
“When I reflect on my history with Team Canada, I just feel a lot of gratitude,” says Larocque, who plies her trade professionally with the Ottawa Charge of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). “I don't think it’s common for people to be able to do what they love at the highest level on so many occasions. I reflect on when I first came on the team to where my journey has gone, and what really stands out to me is the people, the staff and players that I've been able to play with.”
She is a four-time world champion (2012, 2021, 2022, 2024) and a two-time Olympic gold medallist (2014, 2022) whose hockey résumé is as impressive as they come.
Twice an NCAA national champion (2008, 2010) and twice a First Team All-American (2008-09, 2010-11) at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Larocque also won a trio of Western Women’s Hockey League titles with the Calgary Oval X-Treme from 2005-07 and a Clarkson Cup with the Markham Thunder in 2018, and she was the first Canadian selected in the inaugural PWHL Draft in 2023, going second overall to Toronto.
And yet she still finds herself as one of the most underrated players in the women’s game. Perhaps it’s her lack of offensive numbers – that goal in her debut all the way back in 2008 is one of just nine she has scored wearing the Maple Leaf.
But what she brings to the team, and to the defensive group in particular, is so much more valuable.
“She hasn't been in a position to produce offensively because of that really important [shutdown] role that she's been given,” says Renata Fast, a teammate since 2015 and frequent blue-line partner. “She owns it, and she's so good at it. She loves shutting down other teams, and a lot of the time, a player like her, who's very defensive-minded, doesn't get the credit they deserve. I think for years, she's been the hardest player in the world to play against, and she's been a huge part of the success this program has had because just of her steadiness back there.
“In my time in the program, she's been the person that's changed the culture, allowing players to play their game right away, because she wants people to come in and be themselves, and you can sense that from just being around her. She’s just such an incredible teammate and one of the greatest leaders.”
As a leader, Larocque learned from the best. At that 2008 4 Nations Cup, she remembers the generosity of veterans Becky Kellar and Cheryl Pounder, providing an opportunity to pick their brains about all things Team Canada. She also mentions Wickenheiser and Colleen Sostorics as role models.
Now it’s her turn to be that role model for a young defensive group that in Ceske Budejovice includes 24-year-old Sophie Jaques and 18-year-old Chloe Primerano, two players with a combined six games of senior team experience coming into the tournament.
But for Larocque, it’s not about experience. It’s about having fun, playing relaxed and simply just enjoying the time you have with the Maple Leaf on your chest. That’s where success begins.
“I'm extremely competitive,” she says. “Everybody in this [Women’s Worlds] is, but you do have to remember that you're having a lot of fun. And I find when I'm playing light and free and fun, that's when I'm playing my best. Our D corps for many years now, things are very light and fun, but also very focused and detailed. I feel really proud that we've created that.
“What I like to remind younger players is that this is the highest level, so there are going to be mistakes, but to not let the mistakes define you or hurt your confidence. You can learn from them but still be confident in yourself and your abilities and to not let that snowball.”
Jocelyne Larocque played for 🇨🇦's National Women's U22 Team on the day Chloe Primerano was born (Jan. 2, 2007). Jocelyne Larocque jouait pour l’équipe nationale féminine des M22 du 🇨🇦 le jour où Chloe Primerano est née (2 janv. 2007).#RivalrySeries | #SérieDeLaRivalité pic.twitter.com/oCGSB70y5g
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) November 6, 2024
Born May 19, 1988, Larocque has been the elder stateswoman with Team Canada for a number of years now, but the soon-to-be 37-year-old admits it wasn’t until Sarah Fillier joined the team as its first player born in the 2000s a few seasons ago that she really started to think about age.
Not surprisingly, they were thoughts of gratitude.
“The longer you play, obviously [younger] people are going to be coming up,” she says. “It’s kind of inevitable, but it's also something where you do take a second and you're like, ‘Wow, I am grateful that I'm still able to play at this level, doing what I love,’ because hockey brings me so much joy.”
“You have someone at this world championship like Chloe, who's quite a bit younger than her, and I know Chloe is so comfortable to go up to Joce and ask her for advice and spend time with her,” Fast adds. “And I know when I joined the program, Joce is someone that I migrated towards right away, just because of the quality she exudes, just so comforting and such a positive person in our locker room.”
But don’t let all this talk about age give the wrong impression. In her 12th Women’s Worlds and with a potential fourth Olympic Winter Games less than a year away, Larocque isn’t going anywhere.
“I've never let age dictate or hold me back,” she says. “I still think that I'm getting better and better every year, but [playing 200 games] also comes with a lot of discipline, where you do need to stay on top of your fitness. And I think that what has helped me stay on this team for so many years is making sure that I'm always ready – physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. United States
Sunday, April 20 | 12 p.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Gold Medal Game
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (APRIL 20)
It all comes down to this. Canada’s National Women's Team faces off against the United States on Sunday in the gold medal game at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Last Game
Canada scored four goals in 1:58 late in the second period
to down Finland 8-1 in the semifinals Saturday. The Finns opened the scoring just 46 seconds
into the game, but Erin Ambrose responded quickly and Marie-Philip Poulin
added a record-breaking goal as the game-winner before the end of the first
period. Fifteen players registered at least a point in the game, with Claire
Thompson leading the way with her second-straight three-point performance
(1-2—3) and Daryl Watts scoring a pair of goals. Ann-Renée Desbiens had 19
saves to record her 22nd Women’s Worlds win—the most of any goaltender in
tournament history.
The U.S. earned its spot in the gold medal game with a narrow 2-1 win over Czechia. After the hosts scored the lone goal of the first period, Laila Edwards tied the game on a power play in the middle frame and Kelly Pannek notched the game-winning goal midway through the third to keep the Americans’ streak of appearing in every Women’s Worlds intact—24 for 24.
Last Meeting
Always the marquee matchup of the preliminary round, Canada dropped a 2-1 decision to the United States last Sunday. The Americans held a 2-0 lead after two periods before Laura Stacey scored on a breakaway to cut the lead in half seven minutes into the third. Desbiens made 26 saves in goal.
What to Watch
Jocelyne Larocque is set to become the first defender to reach 200 career games with Canada’s National Women’s Team. The 36-year-old has been a cornerstone of the Canadian blue line for over a decade and will become the fifth player to reach the milestone, following Poulin earlier in the tournament. In addition to her typical standout play on the defensive side, Larocque has three assists and is +5 heading into the gold medal game. On offence, Poulin continues to lead the way with four goals and seven assists in six games, putting her atop the tournament scoring list. The 34-year-old has found tremendous chemistry with Victoire de Montréal teammates Jenn Gardiner and Laura Stacey; the trio has combined for 11 goals and 27 points in six games and are a combined +31.
The Americans have gone with a scoring-by-committee approach, getting at least four points from six different players (Carpenter, Janecke, Keller, Knight, Murphy, Pannek). Hilary Knight continues to play at a high level in her 15th Women’s Worlds; the U.S. captain came into the tournament as the all-time leader in goals (67) and points (119), and became the all-time assist leader on April 15, passing the legendary Hayley Wickenheiser and her 49 assists to now sit at 52. Pannek is leading the way offensively for the Americans with four goals and eight points in six games.
Milestone Watch
Poulin may have taken over from Hayley Wickenheiser as Canada’s all-time points leader at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, but Captain Canada still has a couple of milestones on her mind. She needs two more goals to surpass Jayna Hefford as Canada’s all-time leading goal scorer and one more assist to take over from Wickenheiser atop that category.
A Look Back
It’s Chapter 192 in the story of Canada vs. United States, with the Canadians in search of win No. 109 in the rivalry.
This Women’s Worlds in Czechia marks the 11th different country to have hosted the North American rivals (in order of countries played in: Canada, Finland, United States, Japan, Sweden, Italy, China, Russia, South Korea, Denmark and Czechia).
All-time record: Canada leads 108-82-1 (25-21 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 530 United States goals: 467
Road to the 2025 TELUS Cup: Okanagan Rockets
The Pacific Region champions were giant killers en route to their first trip to the national stage in 11 years
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)
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Finland
Saturday, April 19 | 1 p.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Semifinal
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. FINLAND (APRIL 19)
It’s Semifinal Saturday at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, with Canada’s National Women's Team set to take on Finland in its final four faceoff at Budvar Arena.
Last Game
Canada punched its ticket to the semifinals with a 9-1 win over Japan in its quarterfinal Thursday. Jenn Gardiner and Sarah Fillier scored two goals apiece to pace the offence for the Canadians, who piled up 62 shots on goal. Claire Thompson added a goal and two assists, Renata Fast had three helpers, and 14 skaters recorded at least a point. Included in that list was Marie-Philip Poulin; the captain celebrated her 200th international game with her 86th point at Women’s Worlds, pulling even with Hayley Wickenheiser for the most by a Canadian in tournament history.
The Finns survived their Nordic neighbours in their quarterfinal, edging Sweden 3-2 in the first game of the day Thursday. Jennina Nylund and Ronja Savolainen scored in the first period and Susana Tapani netted the winner midway through the second after the Swedes had battled back, assuring Finland a place in the medal games for the second year in a row and 22nd time in 24 Women’s Worlds dating back to the inaugural event in 1990.
Last Meeting
Canada and Finland met last Thursday in the Canadians’ prelim opener, a 5-0 win. Gardiner scored a pair of goals, Poulin had a goal and an assist and Kristen Campbell was perfect in her first-ever Women’s Worlds start, making 24 saves for the shutout.
What to Watch
Gardiner has been a revelation for the Canadians, leading the tournament with five goals in as many games (and sitting in a four-way tie for second with seven points) despite coming into the tournament with just four games of National Women’s Team experience (and only 14 across all three levels of the Team Canada women’s program). And it doesn’t seem to matter where head coach Troy Ryan plugs the Surrey, B.C., native into the lineup – she opened the tournament with a pair of goals on the top line with Poulin and Laura Stacey, and struck twice on the fourth unit alongside Kristin O’Neill and Emma Maltais against the Japanese. Gardiner is no stranger to filling the net; she averaged more than a point per game across her final three NCAA seasons with Ohio State University and won a pair of national championships with the Buckeyes, and those offensive skills have transferred pretty well to the pro grame; Gardiner is second in PWHL rookie scoring with 16 points (4-12—16) in 27 games, trailing only Fillier.
Finland misses Jenni Hiirikoski. Seven times the Top Defender at Women’s Worlds, the tournament’s all-time leader in games played (96) and the Finns’ heart-and-soul captain, Hiirikoski is absent from the lineup for the first time since 2003 due to a mysterious illness that has kept her sidelined for all but four games since January. With the future Hall of Famer missing, Savolainen has done the heavy lifting on the Finnish blue-line, scoring three of her team’s 10 goals and averaging more than 21 minutes per game. Finland will also need its goaltenders to step up. The trio of Sanni Ahola, Anni Keisala and Emilia Kyrkko have all made appearances thus far, but have combined for a tournament-low .870 save percentage.
Milestone Watch
Poulin has a couple of milestones 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 two more assists and one more point 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
The head-to-head history sways decisively to the North American side of the Atlantic Ocean, with Canada owning 88 wins and a tie in 91 all-time meetings with Finland.
This will be the 14th time the Canadians and Finns will face off in a semifinal at Women’s Worlds; the 12th and most recent victory for Canada came in 2017 in Michigan, when Poulin had a goal and an assist and Shannon Szabados posted a 23-save shutout in a 4-0 win.
All-time record: Canada leads 88-2-1 Canada goals: 469 Finland goals: 115
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 Esso Cup: Edmonton Jr. Oilers
The Pacific Region champions and reigning bronze medallists are back for yet another national appearance, hoping this is finally their year
Bronze medallists a year ago in Vernon, the Edmonton Jr. Oilers are returning to the Esso Cup ready to become champions.
With only a single overtime loss across 36 games this season, the Jr. Oilers held a 21-game win streak from Oct. 2 to Jan. 19. Notably, that loss came at the hands of the Esso Cup hosts, the Lloydminster Steelers. The Jr. Oilers finished atop the Alberta Female Hockey League and swept past the Greater Vancouver Comets in the Pacific Regional to qualify for a tournament-leading ninth Esso Cup.
The Jr. Oilers are loaded with experience and talent, with eight players returning from last year. Six players also represented Alberta at the 2024 U18 Women’s National Championship (Taya Christie, Ciara Lang, Keira Grant, Paige Smith, Layla Matthew and Daniella Martorana). Edmonton is also a highly scouted team with 16 university and college commitments on its roster.
Edmonton scored 124 goals during the regular season—36 more than the next highest team in the AFHL, and the Jr. Oilers iced eight of the top 10 scorers, led by Parker Small (11-20—31). Tavia Koscielnuk was the top rookie scorer for Edmonton, finishing fifth with 11 goals and 26 points. However, the offence is not limited to forwards. Lang (8-19—27), Cadence Richards (8-18—26) and Bree Prediger (9-14—23) finished in the top 10 of AFHL scoring as defenders.
Between the pipes, the Jr. Oilers have the best goaltending duo in Alberta. Returning netminder Ella Dunham-Fox earned a 15-1 record, 1.03 goals-against average and .948 save percentage, while Christie topped the AFHL with a 12-0 record, 0.78 GAA and .960 save percentage.
Although the Jr. Oilers have had the most appearances at Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship, the team has never lifted the Esso Cup. Their best performances were silver medal finishes in 2011 and 2014.
HOW THEY GOT TO LLOYDMINSTER
Alberta Female Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated Sherwood Park Kings 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)
Pacific Regional Championship: defeated Greater Vancouver Comets 2-0 (3-2, 4-0)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 27-0-1 (1st in AFHL) Goals for: 124 (1st in AFHL) Goals against: 26 (1st in AFHL) Longest winning streak: 21 (Oct. 2-Jan. 19)
Top 3 scorers: - Parker Small – 11G 20A 31P (2nd in AFHL) - Ciara Lang – 8G 19A 27P (3rd in AFHL) - Evie Hanson – 12G 14A 26P (4th in AFHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 8-0 Goals for: 31 Goals against: 7 Top 3 scorers: - Keira Grant – 7G 4A 11P - Daniella Martorana – 2G 5A 7P - Reanna Loberg and Julia Curran – 3G 3A 6P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2024 – Edmonton Jr. Oilers | bronze medal | 5-2 | 17GF 11GA 2015 – Edmonton Thunder | 5th place | 2-3 | 9GF 10GA 2014 – Edmonton Thunder | silver medal | 3-4 | 16GF 18GA 2013 – Edmonton Thunder | bronze medal | 6-1 | 23GF 18GA 2012 – Edmonton Thunder | bronze medal | 3-4 | 15GF 12GA 2011 – Edmonton Thunder | silver medal | 6-1 | 26GF 12GA 2010 – Edmonton Thunder | bronze medal | 3-4 | 17GF 18GA 2009 – Edmonton Thunder | 4th place | 2-4 | 17GF 14GA
UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Taya Christie – University of New Brunswick Julia Curran – Boston University Keira Grant – University of New Brunswick Evie Hanson – Union College Dejah Howes – University of Windsor Ciara Lang – Clarkson University Reanna Loberg – Union College Daniella Martorana – Merrimack College Layla Matthew – Clarkson University Bree Prediger – Merrimack College Madeline Renfree – University of New Brunswick Cadence Richards – Brown University Jayde Sansregret – University of New Brunswick Parker Small – Long Island University Paige Smith – Bemidji State University Tayah Wallace – University of British Columbia
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)
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