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

Fifty-two teams call the Central Region home, but only six remain in the hunt for the region’s berth at the 2025 TELUS Cup in Chilliwack, British Columbia – the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks, Markham Waxers, Ottawa Automotive, Sudbury Wolves, Upper Canada Cyclones and Vaughan Kings.

There are familiar faces – the Waxers are the defending regional champions (they finished fourth at last year’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship in Nova Scotia), and the Kings are back for a second year in a row.

The field has a bit of a ‘Cinderella’ feel to it – only the Canucks (who went without a regulation-time loss) were the best regular-season team in their league – although all six teams have earned their spots; the five league champions finished a combined 43-17-5 in the playoffs.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (TELUS CUP FINISH)

2024 – Markham Waxers (4th place)
2023 – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (4th place)
2022 – Mississauga Reps (4th place)
2019 – Toronto Young Nationals (gold medal)
2018 – Toronto Young Nationals (4th place)

ELGIN-MIDDLESEX CANUCKS
ALLIANCE CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 32-0-3 (1st in Alliance)
Goals for: 191
Goals against: 42
Leading scorer: Chase Pettipiece (26G 22A 48P)

Playoff record: 8-2
Goals for: 41
Goals against: 11
Leading scorer: Ty Lawson (9G 6A 15P)

ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL

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)

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

MARKHAM WAXERS
OMHA CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 20-6-2-2 (6th in OMHA)
Goals for: 140
Goals against: 78
Leading scorer: Maxim Skinner (16G 19A 35P)

Playoff record: 11-4
Goals for: 61
Goals against: 33
Leading scorer: Ulysses Lombardi (11G 12A 23P)

ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL

OMHA Playoffs
Round robin: 1st in East Group B – defeated Whitby Wildcats 4-2, defeated York-Simcoe Express 5-2, defeated Quinte Red Devils 7-4, lost to Quinte Red Devils 2-1, defeated Barrie Jr. Colts 6-2, defeated Peterborough Petes 2-1, defeated Whitby Wildcats 2-0, defeated Peterborough Petes 6-3, lost to Barrie Jr. Colts 4-3, lost to York-Simcoe Express 3-1

OMHA Championship
Preliminary round: 2nd in Group 1 – lost to Ajax-Pickering Raiders 3-1, defeated Hamilton Kilty B’s 10-2, defeated Burlington Eagles 3-0
Semifinal: defeated Guelph Gryphons 6-2
Final: defeated North Shore Whitecaps 4-3 (SO)

Last national championship appearance: 2024 (4th place)
Total national championship appearances: 1 (2024)

OTTAWA AUTOMOTIVE
HEO CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 13-12-5 (4th in HEO)
Goals for: 103
Goals against: 87
Leading scorer: Sebastian Dzieciol (13G 15A 28P)

Playoff record: 6-4-3
Goals for: 35
Goals against: 32
Leading scorer: Owen Kelly (7G 2A 9P)

ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL

Semifinal: defeated Ottawa Jr. 67’s 2-1-3 (1-4, 1-0, 4-4, 3-3, 3-1, 2-2)
Final: defeated Upper Canada Cyclones X-X (2-0, 1-2, 6-4, 1-4, 3-4, 4-3, 4-1)

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

SUDBURY WOLVES
GNU18L CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 20-11-1 (4th in GNU18L)
Goals for: 158
Goals against: 113
Leading scorer: Denver Mulligan (26G 25A 51P)

Playoff record: 3-2-1
Goals for: 14
Goals against: 16
Leading scorer: Cameron Vekhala (3G 4A 7P)

ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL

Preliminary round: 4th place – tied Timmins Majors 2-2, lost to Soo U16 Greyhounds 4-2, defeated Soo U18 Greyhounds 3-1, lost to North Bay Trappers 4-1
Semifinal: defeated North Bay Trappers 4-3 (OT)
Final: defeated Timmins Majors 3-2

Last national championship appearance: 2018 (6th place)
Total national championship appearances: 6 (1987, 1994, 1998, 2008, 2012, 2018)

UPPER CANADA CYCLONES
HOST

Regular season record: 18-8-4 (2nd in HEO)
Goals for: 113
Goals against: 80
Leading scorer: Jay-Zeus Mbarushimana (22G 33A 55P)

Playoff record: 6-4-1
Goals for: 32
Goals against: 27
Leading scorer: Connor Bain (6G 7A 13P)

ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL

Semifinal: defeated OHA Mavericks 3-0-1 (1-1, 4-0, 5-3, 4-2)
Final: lost to Ottawa Automotive 4-3 (0-2, 2-1, 4-6, 4-1, 4-3, 3-4, 1-4)

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

VAUGHAN KINGS
GTHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 24-7-5 (2nd in GTHL)
Goals for: 125
Goals against: 50
Leading scorer: unavailable

Playoff record: 9-1
Goals for: 31
Goals against: 14
Leading scorer: unavailable

ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL

Quarterfinal: defeated Mississauga Senators 3-1 (6-3, 1-3, 2-0, 5-0)
Semifinal: defeated Toronto Young Nationals 3-0 (1-0, 5-3, 4-2)
Final: defeated Toronto Marlboros 3-0 (4-2, 2-1, 1-0)

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

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has unveiled the schedules and ticket package details for the 2025 editions of the Esso Cup, TELUS Cup and Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.

"We are grateful to the three amazing communities who have dedicated countless hours and put forward an immeasurable effort to play host to these three major events,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact. “The passion, teamwork and unwavering commitment has brought these events to life, that will create memories that will last a lifetime for the athletes, coaches, officials and fans.”

“We are also grateful to BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) for their efforts and support to deliver these events and look forward to continuing to work with them into the spring.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Esso Cup, TELUS Cup or Centennial Cup can now sign up here to support the delivery of three of Hockey Canada’s marquee national championships.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, will air select tournament games, with a full broadcast and streaming schedule to be announced at a later date.

2025 Esso Cup – Lloydminster, Alberta

The Esso Cup returns to Alberta for the first time since 2022, with the Lloydminster Steelers set to host Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship, April 20-26 at the Centennial Civic Centre.

Joined by five regional champions from across Canada, the Steelers will play their first game on April 20 at 7 p.m. MT against the Atlantic Region winners, following matchups between the Pacific and Quebec champions and Ontario and West titlists earlier in the day.

After each team plays five preliminary-round games, the top four clubs will advance to the semifinals on April 25, with the medal games scheduled for April 26.

Tickets for the 2025 Esso Cup can be purchased here.

2025 TELUS Cup – Fraser Valley, British Columbia

The host Fraser Valley Thunderbirds will welcome five regional champions to the West Coast for the 2025 TELUS Cup, Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship, April 21-27 at the Chilliwack Coliseum.

The Thunderbirds open their schedule against the West Region champions on April 21 at 7 p.m. PT to finish a three-game opening day that also sees the Central winners face the Atlantic champs and Quebec titlists play the Pacific champions.

Semifinals are scheduled for April 26, before the medal games on April 27.

Tickets for the 2025 TELUS Cup can be purchased here.

2025 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons – Calgary, Alberta

In partnership with the CJHL and AJHL, Canada’s top Junior A teams will compete for the 2025 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, May 8-18 at the Max Bell Centre. The host Calgary Canucks will be joined by nine champions from across the CJHL.

Teams will be separated into two groups and each play four preliminary-round games, with the quarterfinals scheduled for May 16, semifinals on May 17 and championship game on May 18.

Group A will include the champions from the AJHL, Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and Superior International Hockey League (SIHL).

The host Canucks and champions from the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec (LHJAAAQ), Maritime Hockey League (MHL) and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) comprise Group B.

Tickets for the 2025 Centennial Cup can be purchased here.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the host locations for Canada’s 2025 U18 national club championships, with the Esso Cup set for Lloydminster, Alberta, and the TELUS Cup returning west to the Fraser Valley in British Columbia.

From April 20-26, the Lloydminster Steelers of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) will welcome five regional champions to compete for Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship at the Centennial Civic Centre, marking the fifth time the Esso Cup has been hosted in Alberta and the first in the Border City.

The Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the B.C. Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) will make their national championship debut at the TELUS Cup from April 21-27 at the Chilliwack Coliseum, with Canada’s Men’s U18 National Club Championship returning to British Columbia for the first time since 2017. 

“Hosting a national championship is a tremendous undertaking, and we are grateful for the local organizing committees, Hockey Alberta and BC Hockey, for collaborating with our staff to host first-class events in Lloydminster and Chilliwack next spring,” said Pat McLaughlin, Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy. “Canada’s U18 national club championships have seen some of the top athletes in our country compete before they’ve gone on to wear the Maple Leaf internationally, and we know hockey fans in Alberta and British Columbia will enjoy watching teams play for gold next spring.”

Fans can sign up now to receive ticket information about the 2025 Esso Cup and 2025 TELUS Cup as it becomes available, or become a Hockey Canada Insider and receive advanced access to tickets and other promotions.

“These tournaments are often once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for the participants, families and fans, and thanks to the generous support of Esso and TELUS, we are excited to build on the legacy of both events in two outstanding hockey markets,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact for Hockey Canada. “We thank all communities that expressed interest in hosting one of these national championships next season and look forward to welcoming the best under-18 clubs in the country in the spring.”

At the 2024 Esso Cup, the Regina Rebels won their first national title in Vernon, B.C., while the Cantonniers de Magog became national champions for the second time at the 2024 TELUS Cup in Membertou, Nova Scotia. Both gold medal games were broadcast on TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada.

To learn more about Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

MEMBERTOU, Nova Scotia – The Cantonniers de Magog have won their second TELUS Cup after defeating the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-1 to complete a perfect 7-0 week at Canada’s Men’s U18 National Club Championship. 

It’s the fifth medal for the Cantonniers at the TELUS Cup, joining the gold medal won in 2000, and the silver medals from 2018, 2019 and 2022. 

Gabriel Courchesne (Drummondville, QC) netted the game-winning goal on the power play in the final minutes of the opening period. Courchesne, who had five multi-point games and at least one point in six of seven, finished as the tournament leader in goals (10) and points (15).

“This is an amazing feeling. We worked hard all year long for this moment, and we are all so happy to win this tournament. We have 20 players on our team that can do their job perfectly within our system, and that is what makes our group special,” Courchesne said. “We knew about the last three losses [in the gold medal game] this team had at the TELUS Cup, so we wanted to get a win for the coaches that lost those games, our program and ourselves.”

Simon-Xavier Cyr (Sherbrooke, QC) beat Brandon netminder Burke Hood (Brandon, MB) to open the scoring for the Cantonniers 11:58 into the game before Easton Odut (Brandon, MB) evened the score just over three minutes later. The Cantonniers added goals from Marc-Olivier Proteau (Lac-Mégantic, QC) and Antoine Boudreau (Drummondville, QC), who also contributed two assists apiece, in the second period to secure the win.

“I had such a sense of pride watching my players win every game this week, and it was an unbelievable feeling when I was able to rejoin my second family [for the semifinal] on Saturday,” said Magog head coach Samuel Collard (Sherbrooke, QC). “We wanted to bring this trophy back to Magog, and we never took anything for granted this week right up until the last minute. All year, we wanted to be a team that works hard and sticks together, and that is exactly what we did.”

Kyan Labbé (Sherbrooke, QC) made 19 saves for Magog to cap off an impressive tournament, leading all goaltenders in goals-against average (1.71) and save percentage (.942). Hood turned in a stellar performance in net for the Wheat Kings, making 42 saves.

“We worked all season to be national champions, and to be able to say that we accomplished that with people that we have been playing with since we were 10 years old is amazing. When we got the lead, we knew we needed to stay calm and we ended up getting two big goals in the second period,” said Labbé. “This is an incredible tournament, and we only had one thing on our minds here, and that was to win. This is a team that loves each other and we are really going to enjoy this win.”

A full game summary game be found HERE.

In between the medal games, Hockey Canada announced the 2024 TELUS Cup tournament awards:

• Most Valuable Player – Gabriel Courchesne (Drummondville, QC), Magog Cantonniers
• Top Forward – Antoine Boudreau (Drummondville, QC), Magog Cantonniers
• Top Defence – Liam O’Neill (Calgary, AB), Calgary Buffaloes
• Top Goaltender – Kyan Labbé (Sherbrooke, QC), Magog Cantonniers
• Most Sportsmanlike Player – Brady Turko (Brandon, MB), Brandon Wheat Kings
• TELUS Cup Scholarship ($1,000) – Ryan Piggot (Richmond Hill, ON), Markham Waxers

Calgary Buffaloes defeat Markham Waxers 4-3 in shootout to win bronze

Earlier in the day, Calgary rebounded from a 4-1 loss to Brandon in the semifinals to win the bronze medal, defeating the Markham Waxers 4-3 in a shootout to secure its seventh medal at the TELUS Cup.

Brayden Gourley (Calgary, AB) and Rhys Jamieson (Calgary, AB) scored in the shootout to give Calgary its third bronze all-time. Kael Svensson (Calgary, AB) turned aside all four attempts he faced in the shootout after making 36 saves in regulation and overtime, while Eamon Callaghan (Oshawa, ON) stopped 23 shots.

“I just wanted to stay calm and collected, and I trusted our guys to get the job done. The boys battled really hard, and we had to go through a little bit of adversity, but we were able get through it and come away with the win,” said Svenson. “It feels great [to win the bronze medal]. We really wanted to finish the tournament with a win, and although we did not come away with gold, we wanted to leave with something. I could not be more proud of this team.”

The teams traded goals in the opening two periods before Piggott scored on a partial breakaway to give Markham a 3-2 lead midway through the third. Calgary tied it just over four minutes later when Christian Stephanson (Calgary, AB) beat Callaghan for a shorthanded goal. Calgary and Markham traded chances in the 3-on-3 extra frame, but neither team could find the back of the net.

A full game summary game be found HERE. To download game highlights from the bronze medal game, please CLICK HERE.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram, and by using #TELUSCup.

No team spent more time on the Road to the TELUS Cup than the Markham Waxers.

After playing 35 regular-season games across 130 days from October to February, the Waxers grinded through 22 playoff contests in just 57 days, and it was quite a schedule.

Markham played 10 games in 22 days to qualify for the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) championship, which was four games in three days. After a three-week break, it survived a seven-games-in-seven-days marathon at the Central Regional.

And now the Waxers get to do it all over again in Membertou.

Markham finished the regular season strong, winning 11 of its last 12 games to slide into second place in the East Division of the OMHA, and after a loss to the first-place Ajax-Pickering Raiders to open the postseason, it dropped only two of the next 21, with a wild 6-5 win over the Waterloo Wolves the final step towards Cape Breton.

The Waxers got contributions from up and down the lineup, with four players averaging at least a point a game in the regular season and 10 recording at least 20 points, while three hit the point-per-game mark in the playoffs.

Tate Collins and Matthew Johnson were the catalysts up front; they co-led Markham in regular-season scoring with 46 points each before combining for 66 points across 22 postseason games.

It’s the first time the Waxers have qualified for Canada’s Men’s U18 National Club Championship, and the first time the Central representative has come from the OMHA since the Hamilton Reps in 2009.

HOW THEY GOT TO MEMBERTOU

Ontario Minor Hockey Association
Round robin: 2nd in East Group A – lost to Ajax-Pickering Raiders 4-0, tied North Central Predators 2-2, defeated Kingston Jr. Gaels 1-0, defeated Oshawa Generals 7-3, defeated North Central Predators 5-2, defeated Clarington Toros 8-3, defeated Clarington Toros 6-0, defeated Kingston Jr. Gaels 5-1, tied Ajax-Pickering Raiders 5-5, defeated Oshawa Generals 3-2

OMHA Championship
Preliminary round: 2nd in Group 2 – defeated Central Ontario Wolves 9-2, defeated Oakville Rangers 5-1, lost to Burlington Eagles 7-3
Semifinal: defeated Guelph Gryphons 5-3
Final: defeated Burlington Eagles 4-2

Central Regional
Preliminary round: 2nd place – defeated Ottawa Jr. 67’s 5-3, defeated Vaughan Kings 6-2, defeated Timmins Majors 10-1, lost to Waterloo Wolves 4-3 OT, defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 7-2
Semifinal: defeated Vaughan Kings 4-3
Final: defeated Waterloo Wolves 6-5

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-L-T-OTL): 24-8-1-2 (5th in OMHA)
Goals for: 157 (7th in OMHA)
Goals against: 87 (5th in OMHA)
Longest winning streak: 6 (Jan. 6-28)
Top 3 scorers:
- Matthew Johnson – 25G 21A 46P (15th in OMHA)
- Tate Collins – 19G 27A 46P (18th in OMHA)
- Philip Govedaris – 14G 24A 38P (35th in OMHA)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 17-3-2
Goals for: 109
Goals against: 57
Top 3 scorers:
- Tate Collins – 15G 24A 39P
- Matthew Johnson – 17G 10A 27P
- Philip Govedaris – 11G 16A 27P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

First appearance

OHL DRAFTED PLAYERS

Lucas Manikis – Flint Firebirds 2023 (10th round, 195th overall)
Kyle Butt – Windsor Spitfires 2023 (12th round, 240th overall)
Tate Collins – Owen Sound Attack 2023 (14th round, 272nd overall)
Eric Sencaj – Barrie Colts 2023 (14th round, 279th overall)

They’re back.

After a one-year hiatus, the Cantonniers de Magog will once again represent Quebec at the TELUS Cup, making it four appearances in the last five tournaments – 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024 (there was no tournament in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

While the regular season was solid but not spectacular – the Cantonniers’ 27 wins in the Ligue de développement du hockey M18 AAA du Québec (LHM18AAAQ) ranked fifth over the last six full seasons, dating back to the start of their title run in 2017-18 – it was the playoffs where Magog was once again at its best.

It swept Châteauguay and downed Lac St-Louis in four before eliminating the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François – the defending TELUS Cup champions – in a semifinal sweep.

The Estacades de Trois-Rivières were the final obstacle between Magog and Membertou, and after a back-and-forth series that went the distance, Mavrik Duhaime scored the Game 5 overtime winner to send the Cantonniers to Cape Breton.

It was scoring by committee during the regular season, with Gabriel Courchesne (24-35—59 – second in the LHM18AAAQ) pacing an offence that featured five players with 30+ points and six who hit double-digits in goals.

Kyan Labbé was terrific in goal, finishing second in goals-against average (1.98) and save percentage (.934) before playing all but 23 minutes of the playoff run.

All that’s left now is to get that elusive final win – the Cantonniers became just the third team to lose back-to-back national finals in 2018 and 2019 (joining the 1994-95 Red Deer Chiefs and 2014-15 Grenadiers de Châteauguay), and made it three in a row with an overtime loss to the Moncton Flyers in 2022.

HOW THEY GOT TO MEMBERTOU

Ligue de développement du hockey M18 AAA du Québec
Tacks semifinal: defeated Grenadiers de Châteauguay 2-0 (7-2, 10-4)
Tacks final: defeated Lions du Lac St-Louis 3-1 (2-6, 4-1, 4-1, 2-1)
Semifinal: defeated Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François 3-0 (4-2, 2-1 OT, 2-1)
Final: defeated Estacades de Trois-Rivières 3-2 (1-5, 4-3 OT, 1-0, 3-4, 2-1 OT)

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-L-OTL): 27-9-6 (2nd in LHM18AAAQ)
Goals for: 163 (T-1st in LHM18AAAQ)
Goals against: 111 (3rd in LHM18AAAQ)
Longest winning streak: 3 (Oct. 25-Nov. 1; Dec. 14-Jan. 5; Jan. 12-17)
Top 3 scorers:
- Gabriel Courchesne – 24G 35A 59P (2nd in LHM18AAAQ)
- Antoine Boudreau – 25G 29A 54P (5th in LHM18AAAQ)
- Alexis Toussaint – 14G 27A 41P (15th in LHM18AAAQ)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 11-3
Goals for: 48
Goals against: 32
Top 3 scorers:
- Marc-Olivier Proteau – 7G 9A 16P
- Antoine Boudreau – 5G 9A 14P
- Alexis Toussaint – 6G 6A 12P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

2022 – Cantonniers de Magog | silver medal | 5-2-0 | 42GF 22GA
2019 – Cantonniers de Magog | silver medal | 6-1-0 | 24GF 8GA
2018 – Cantonniers de Magog | silver medal | 3-3-1 | 24GF 25GA
2000 – Cantonniers de Magog | gold medal | 6-1-0 | 46GF 17GA
1995 – Cantonniers de Magog | 5th place | 2-3-0 | 7GF 12GA

QMJHL DRAFTED PLAYERS

Zachary Plamondon – Charlottetown Islanders 2023 (3rd round, 45th overall)
Antoine St-Laurent – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2023 (4th round, 68th overall)
Kyan Labbé – Saint John Sea Dogs 2023 (4th round, 72nd overall)
Vincent Desmarais – Drummondville Voltigeurs 2023 (5th round, 82nd overall)
Alexis Toussaint – Cape Breton Eagles 2023 (6th round, 99th overall)
Antoine Boudreau – Drummondville Voltigeurs 2022 (10th round, 171st overall)
Alexandre Raymond – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2023 (10th round, 171st overall)
Marc-Olivier Proteau – Shawinigan Cataractes 2023 (11th round, 191st overall)
Anthony Morin – Baie-Comeau Drakkar 2023 (11th round, 193rd overall)
Charles-Antoine Adam – Sherbrooke Phoenix 2022 (11th round, 195th overall)
Colin Brodeur – Halifax Mooseheads 2023 (13th round, 237th overall)
Zack Hansford – Shawinigan Cataractes 2023 (14th round, 245th overall)
Mavrik Duhaime – Cape Breton Eagles 2023 (14th round, 246th overall)

The Kensington Wild will have the shortest trip to Membertou for the 2024 TELUS Cup, but they’ve come an awfully long way to get there.

The post-pandemic years have been tough on the Wild, who won just 18 of 73 regular-season games across three seasons from 2020-23 and suffered a pair of playoff sweeps at the hands of the Charlottetown Knights (there was no postseason in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign).

But then came 2023-24.

Kensington finished second in the New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island U18 Major Hockey League (NBPEIU18MHL) and led the league in goal scoring, earning almost as many wins before the calendar turned to 2024 (13) as it did the previous two full seasons (17).

The Wild got their revenge on Charlottetown in the P.E.I. final, sweeping aside the Knights in four straight, and cruised through the Atlantic Regional with four wins and an overtime loss, capped by a 10-0 romp over the Halifax Macs in the regional final.

Ethan Dickson led the charge offensively, sitting atop the NBPEIU18MHL scoring chart with league-leading totals in goals (31), assists (44) and points (75), 20 points more than the next-highest scorer and 26 more than any other Wild skater. Between the pipes, George Gallant fashioned a league-best .929 save percentage across 17 appearances.

It’s the first time a team from Prince Edward Island has won the Atlantic championship since 2004, and the first time a team from Kensington will play for Canada’s Men’s U18 National Club Championship since 1976.

HOW THEY GOT TO MEMBERTOU

New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island U18 Major Hockey League
P.E.I. final: defeated Charlottetown Knights 4-0 (5-1, 5-4, 6-1, 6-2)

Atlantic Regional
Preliminary round: 1st place – defeated Halifax Macs 3-2, lost to Dartmouth Majors 2-1 OT, defeated Moncton Flyers 6-2, defeated Pinnacle Growlers 7-0
Final: defeated Halifax Macs 10-0

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-L-OTL): 21-10-4 (2nd in NBPEIU18MHL)
Goals for: 180 (1st in NBPEIU18MHL)
Goals against: 120 (2nd in NBPEIU18MHL)
Longest winning streak: 5 (Sept. 23-Oct. 14)
Top 3 scorers:
- Ethan Dickson – 31G 44A 75P (1st in NBPEIU18MHL)
- Liam Arsenault – 15G 34A 49P (4th in NBPEIU18MHL)
- Eddy Doyle – 15G 23A 38P (11th in NBPEIU18MHL)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 8-1
Goals for: 49
Goals against: 14
Top 3 scorers:
- Ethan Dickson – 9G 13A 22P
- Liam Arsenault – 9G 5A 14P
- Derek Andrews – 4G 8A 12P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

1976 – Kensington | 13th place | 0-6-0 | 4GF 47GA

QMJHL DRAFTED PLAYERS

Eddy Doyle – Halifax Mooseheads 2023 (4th round, 75th overall)
Michael Arsenault –Drummondville Voltigeurs 2022 (6th round, 102nd overall)
Ethan Dickson –Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2022 (13th round, 234th overall)

It’s not often an overtime loss in a mid-November game is notable.

But when that’s the only blemish on your record through the regular season and playoffs, it bears mentioning.

The Brandon Wheat Kings were simply dominant in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League (MBU18AAAHL) this season, posting a record of 43 wins and an overtime loss while outscoring opponents by an otherworldly 270-82 (the next-best totals were 193 GF and 120 GA).

Their run to the TELUS Cup – their first appearance since winning it all in 2004 – included a streak of 42 consecutive victories after that Nov. 10 loss to the Southwest Cougars, before the Wheat Kings dropped a meaningless game to the Thunder Bay Kings to close out the preliminary round at the West Regional, their place in the regional final already secured.

They were challenged in that final by the defending champion Saskatoon Blazers, but an overtime goal from Brady Turko sent the Wheat Kings to Membertou with a 1-0 win.

Turko was the trigger man all season long for Brandon, scoring 41 goals in 41 games during the regular season before adding 13 in 13 playoff contests. He rode shotgun alongside Jaxon Jacobson, the No. 5 pick by Brandon in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, who put up 106 points (37-69—106) in 35 games.

But let’s not forget the guys at the other end of the ice. Matthew Michta and Burke Hood have split the goaltending duties right down the middle, with both posting sub-2.00 goals-against averages in the regular season and a combined six shutouts.

Brandon will look to end a dry spell for its region. The most successful region in tournament history (with 17 national titles since 1984), West teams have only one gold medal (and one gold medal game appearance) in the last seven tournaments, by Notre Dame in 2018.

HOW THEY GOT TO MEMBERTOU

Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League
Quarterfinal: defeated Eastman Selects 3-0 (10-2, 7-0, 9-2)
Semifinal: defeated Pembina Valley Hawks 3-0 (6-1, 4-1, 4-2)
Final: defeated Winnipeg Wild 3-0 (5-2, 4-1, 4-3 OT)

West Regional
Preliminary round: 1st place – defeated Saskatoon Blazers 4-1, defeated Winnipeg Wild 3-1, lost to Thunder Bay Kings 5-3
Final: defeated Saskatoon Blazers 1-0 OT

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-L-OTL): 43-0-1 (1st in MBU18AAAHL)
Goals for: 270 (1st in MBU18AAAHL)
Goals against: 82 (1st in MBU18AAAHL)
Longest winning streak: 31 (Nov. 11-Feb. 25)
Top 3 scorers:
- Jaxon Jacobson – 37G 69A 106P (1st in MBU18AAAHL)
- Brady Turko – 41G 49A 90P (2nd in MBU18AAAHL)
- Ethan Stewart – 29G 35A 64P (3rd in MBU18AAAHL)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 12-1
Goals for: 64
Goals against: 21
Top 3 scorers:
- Jaxon Jacobson – 12G 16A 28P
- Brady Turko – 13G 13A 26P
- Colten Worthington – 9G 7A 16P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

2004 – Brandon Wheat Kings | gold medal | 4-2-1 | 26GF 20GA
1994 – Brandon Wheat Kings | 6th place | 0-5-0 | 11GF 25GA
1980 – Brandon | 9th place | 1-4-0 | 13GF 23GA

WHL DRAFTED PLAYERS

Jaxon Jacobson – Brandon Wheat Kings 2023 (1st round, 5th overall)
Easton Odut – Brandon Wheat Kings 2022 (2nd round, 34th overall)
Nolan Saunderson – Spokane Chiefs 2023 (5th round, 90th overall)
Brady Turko – Brandon Wheat Kings 2022 (5th round, 97th overall)
Burke Hood – Vancouver Giants 2022 (6th round, 119th overall)
Kaeson Fisher – Everett Silvertips 2022 (6th round, 124th overall)
Owen Wallace – Prince Albert Raiders 2021 (7th round, 138th overall)
Jonah Lemoine – Prince Albert Raiders 2023 (9th round, 178th overall)
Colten Worthington – Saskatoon Blades 2022 (11th round, 233rd overall)
Grady Taylor – Lethbridge Hurricanes 2023 (13th round, 278th overall)