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)

There are two teams left in the westernmost region of U18 hockey – either the Calgary Flames or Okanagan Rockets will represent the Pacific at the 2025 TELUS Cup in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

It’s the second time in three years these teams will meet for regional supremacy – Calgary swept Okanagan in a pair of competitive games in 2023, with the teams combining for 23 goals in two games. Both teams have made somewhat recent trips to the U18 Men’s National Club Championship – the Flames were the Pacific representatives two years ago, finishing in sixth place, while the Rockets won bronze in 2014 (the first medal by a B.C. team in 32 years).

Calgary and Okanagan skate into the best-of-three regional series with different kinds of momentum – the Flames swept their way through the AEHL final, while the Rockets persevered to down the Cariboo Cougars in overtime of Game 3 on the road to win the BCEHL title.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (TELUS CUP FINISH)

2024 – Calgary Buffaloes (bronze medal)
2023 – Calgary Flames (6th place)
2022 – Vancouver NE Chiefs (6th place)
2019 – Calgary Buffaloes (4th place)
2018 – Lethbridge Hurricanes (bronze medal)

CALGARY FLAMES
AEHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 27-6-4-1 (1st in AEHL)
Goals for: 173
Goals against: 98
Leading scorer: Evan Benoit (19G 23A 42P)

Playoff record: 8-1
Goals for: 41
Goals against: 23
Leading scorer: Nathan Ivey (7G 3A 10P)

ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Calgary Royals 2-0 (6-4, 5-2)
Semifinal: defeated Calgary Buffaloes 3-1 (6-3, 1-3, 5-3, 6-1)
Final: defeated Sherwood Park Kings 3-0 (4-2, 3-2 2OT, 5-3)

Last national championship appearance: 2023 (6th place)
Total national championship appearances: 2 (1999, 2023)

OKANAGAN ROCKETS
BCEHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 21-12-1-2 (3rd in BCEHL)
Goals for: 149
Goals against: 121
Leading scorer: Dion Schraeder (39G 23A 62P)

Playoff record: 6-1
Goals for: 27
Goals against: 12
Leading scorer: Hayden Laing (3G 8A 11P)

ROAD TO THE PACIFIC REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Vancouver NE Chiefs 2-0 (4-1, 6-2)
Semifinal: defeated Valley West Giants 2-0 (6-0, 2-1)
Final: defeated Cariboo Cougars 2-1 (4-2, 2-4, 3-2 OT)

Last national championship appearance: 2014 (bronze medal)
Total national championship appearances: 1 (2014)

There are two teams left in La Belle Province – either the Rousseau Royal de Laval-Montréal or Chevaliers de Lévis will represent Quebec at the 2025 TELUS Cup in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

The Chevaliers have been simply dominant this season; they went without a regulation-time loss in the regular season, going 38-0-4, and are 8-1 on their postseason run, with a 5-1 setback in Game 3 against Séminaire Saint-François their only 60-minute setback across 51 games. The Rousseau Royal, meanwhile, are battle-tested, having gone the distance in all three of their series, and twice were an overtime goal from elimination.

Whoever earns the spot on the West Coast will be looking to make it back-to-back-to-back national titles for the region, following Séminaire Saint-François, which ended a 22-year gold medal drought for Quebec in 2023, and Magog, which finally got over the hump in 2024 after three gold medal game losses in as many tournaments.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (TELUS CUP FINISH)

2024 – Cantonniers de Magog (gold medal)
2023 – Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François (gold medal)
2022 – Cantonniers de Magog (silver medal)
2019 – Cantonniers de Magog (silver medal)
2018 – Cantonniers de Magog (silver medal)

ROUSSEAU ROYAL DE LAVAL-MONTRÉAL

Regular season record: 26-14-2 (4th in LHM18AAAQ)
Goals for: 151
Goals against: 137
Leading scorer: Zakary Horvat-Edouard (19G 38A 57P)

Playoff record: 8-5
Goals for: 54
Goals against: 43
Leading scorer: Benedetto-Antonio Masi (11G 8A 19P)

ROAD TO THE QUEBEC REGIONAL
Division semifinal: defeated Intrépide de Gatineau 2-1 (3-4, 5-4 OT, 4-3)
Division final: defeated Vikings de Saint-Eustache 3-2 (4-2, 6-7, 8-1, 0-3, 4-0)
Semifinal: defeated Riverains du Collège Charles-Lemoyne 3-2 (6-5, 4-5 OT, 2-5, 3-2 OT, 6-2)

Last national championship appearance: 2013 (bronze medal)
Total national championship appearances: 2 (2009, 2013)

CHEVALIERS DE LÉVIS

Regular season record: 38-0-4 (1st in LHM18AAAQ)
Goals for: 195
Goals against: 67
Leading scorer: Charles-Antoine Dubé (27G 29A 56P)

Playoff record: 8-1
Goals for: 43
Goals against: 18
Leading scorer: Charles-Antoine Dubé (6G 7A 13P)

ROAD TO THE QUEBEC REGIONAL
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)

Last national championship appearance: 2010 (6th place)
Total national championship appearances: 2 (2005, 2010)

There are a few familiar faces at the West Regional. The Winnipeg Wild and Thunder Bay Kings are both back for a fourth year in a row, joined by one of the region’s most successful teams, the Regina Pat Canadians, who are in search of a 10th trip to the U18 Men’s National Club Championship.

The host Kenora Thistles round out the quartet, with the winner off to the 2025 TELUS Cup in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

The three league champions are all coming in riding major playoff success – Kenora, Regina and Winnipeg claimed their titles by going 20-4 in the postseason, with only one of those four defeats coming by more than a single goal.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (TELUS CUP FINISH)

2024 – Brandon Wheat Kings (silver medal)
2023 – Saskatoon Blazers (bronze medal)
2022 – Notre Dame Hounds (fifth place)
2019 – Tisdale Trojans (bronze medal)
2018 – Notre Dame Hounds (gold medal)

KENORA THISTLES
HOST & HNO CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 19-29-3 (10th in MU18AAAHL)
Goals for: 130
Goals against: 191
Leading scorer: Carter Peters (25G 20A 45P)

Playoff record: 2-1
Goals for: 13
Goals against: 9
Leading scorer: Carter Peters (3G 4A 7P)

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
HNO championship: defeated Thunder Bay Kings 2-1 (2-3 OT, 4-3, 7-3)

Last national championship appearance: 2004 (4th place)
Total national championship appearances: 1 (2004)

REGINA PAT CANADIANS
SMAAAHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 35-7-2 (1st in SMAAAHL)
Goals for: 233
Goals against: 128
Leading scorer: Maddox Schultz (43G 50A 93P)

Playoff record: 9-1
Goals for: 38
Goals against: 17
Leading scorer: Maddox Schultz (9G 13A 22P)

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
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)

Last national championship appearance: 2017 (4th place)
Total national championship appearances: 9 (1978, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2015, 2017)

THUNDER BAY KINGS
HNO REPRESENTATIVES

Regular season record: 5-27-4 (13th in GTHL)
Goals for: 47
Goals against: 136
Leading scorer: unavailable

Playoff record: 1-2
Goals for: 9
Goals against: 13
Leading scorer: Sawyer Smith (3G 2A 5P)

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
HNO championship: lost to Kenora Thistles 2-1 (3-2 OT, 3-4, 3-7)

Last national championship appearance: 2019 (6th place)
Total national championship appearances: 9 (1975, 1976, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2019)

WINNIPEG WILD
MU18AAAHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 40-6-2 (2nd in MU18AAAHL)
Goals for: 236
Goals against: 89
Leading scorer: Ludovic Perreault (40G 46A 86P)

Playoff record: 9-2
Goals for: 50
Goals against: 27
Leading scorer: Ludovic Perreault (13G 9A 22P)

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Interlake Lightning 3-0 (7-0, 4-2, 4-3)
Semifinal: defeated Winnipeg Bruins 3-2 (3-2, 4-5, 7-1, 2-5, 3-2 OT)
Final: defeated Brandon Wheat Kings 3-0 (6-1, 6-3, 4-3 OT)

Last national championship appearance: none
Total national championship appearances: none