Canada’s best in U18 hockey are set to take to the ice in Okotoks for a double dose of nationals.
The Pason Centennial Arenas will be home to the Esso Cup and Telus Cup from May 16-22 where the national U18 AAA female and male champions, respectively. will be determined.
“At first it came as a shock to the community of Okotoks and our minor hockey association that we would be hosting both of these prestigious hockey tournaments,” said Geoff Stewart, President of the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association, in a release. “To have the Esso Cup and Telus Cup in Okotoks has created a buzz around town and the entire community is very excited to have these events in our own backyard.
“Usually our association slows down at this time of year and it has been incredible to see and hear the local response from not only the association, but the community.”
Click the link for the full schedule information for the Esso and Telus Cup events.
Esso Cup contenders
Fraser Valley Rush
The Pacific Region champions are hoping a historic qualification is a harbinger of things to come at the Esso Cup.
The B.C. champion Fraser Valley Rush became the first team from the province to eliminate the Alberta champions en route to claiming the Pacific Region title when it dispatched the Edmonton Pandas in two games last month.
“I think it was our depth and our work ethic,” said Rush general manager Alain Wozney. “We got some good goaltending to start with and even when we fell behind, one of the key things with this team is its composure and they never panic.
“Our group comes together and just plays harder and the stars just lined up for us.”
The 2022 event will mark the Langley-based team’s third trip to nationals and its first since 2013.
Impressively, the Rush has made its mark with a young squad featuring just four senior players.
Notre Dame Hounds
Based on performances, the Hounds are poised to make noise at the Esso.
Notre Dame posted a 24-2-2 record in the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League regular season and knocked out Saskatoon and Regina to blitz to the league title.
The Wilcox-based team bested the host Westman Wildcats in the West regional to advance to the national competition for the first time since winning the Esso in 2011.
Notre Dame boasts a formidable goaltending tandem with Eva Flippova and Bailey Lindsay both winning 13 games, seven of which were shutouts.
Up front, Ryann Perrett and Keana McKibbin, the latter a former member of the Rocky Mountain Raiders, finished third and sixth in league scoring, respectively.
Prince Albert Bears
Bearing down on hosting duties has been a two-year wait for Prince Albert.
After the national competition was curtailed for two straight seasons, the Prince Albert Bears finally get the opportunity to be the host team for the event albeit one province to the west from home.
Prince Albert finished fifth in the Saskatchewan AAA loop with a 10-15-5 mark and bowed out in the first round of the postseason.
University of Calgary commit Sophia Zuck led the Bears with 35 points in 30 games while rookie netminder Paige Fischer posted an impressive .922 save percentage in 16 games of action.
Remparts de Richelieu
To call Richelieu’s road to Okotoks dramatic would be a massive understatement.
A three-round shootout for Coupe Dodge determined Québec’s champion and Esso Cup representatives with Les Remparts getting the better of arch nemesis the As de Québec 1-0 with Ann-Sophie Bertrand notching the deciding goal for the team’s only win of the season over the As.
Offence is in ample supply for the regional winners with Éloïse Caron and Doryane Hallé finishing as the top two scorers in the province with 46 and 37 point seasons, respectively.
Durham West Lightning
On paper there’s a good chance for Lightning to strike in Okotoks.
The Ontario region winners enjoyed a tremendous season from start to finish with a record of 21-1-3 prior to sweeping its way through the playoff round with wins over Saugeen-Maitland, Etobicoke and Whitby.
Durham allowed just 19 goals against during the regular season and, at the other end of the ice, tallied 95 goals in 25 games.
The Lightning will look to build on its bronze medal performance at the 2017 Esso Cup, its only qualification to date.
Northern Selects
Selecting any major holes in the season of the Atlantic region champions would be an exercise in futility.
The Pictou, N.S. based Northern Selects added to its considerable championship pedigree in the Maritimes with another dream season punctuated by just one loss during the regular season followed by a sweep through the playoff round.
At regionals, the Selects kept up the momentum with a 4-0 record to stamp its ticket to the Esso Cup with an exclamation point.
Telus Cup contenders
Notre Dame Hounds
No squad has been more prolific at this tournament than the Wilcox, SASK school.
The Hounds are back for their 12th appearance at the Telus Cup where they’ve won a record five national titles, more than any other team in the country.
Notre Dame went 4-0 at the Western regional championship in Manitoba, knocking off the Winnipeg Wild, Thunder Bay Kings and Southwest Cougars to claim its spot in Okotoks.
The Saskatchewan powerhouse brings a deep roster to the competition with three 20-goal scorers and seven with over 40 points. Forward Cole Wirun and Ethan Look finished second and third in the league scoring race, respectively.
Mississauga Reps
Earning the Central Region slot at nationals typically comes with expectations.
Ontario teams have feasted of late at the Telus Cup with the central region owning three of the past five championships.
The Reps will look to add to that haul after a dramatic playoff and regional final to earn its pathway to Okotoks.
The top team in the famed Greater Toronto Hockey League all season, Mississauga lost in the playoff to the defending Telus champion Toronto Young Nationals.
The Reps got the last laugh by knocking off Toronto in the regionals for its second appearance at nationals.
Cantonniers de Magog
A familiar name on the Telus circuit of late is back for another shot at glory.
Cantonniers, based out of the community of Magog some 120 km east of Montreal, were finalists in the national competition in both 2018 and 2019.
The 2021-22 season saw the Quebec champions post a 29-9-3 record along with 13 wins in 16 playoff games bookended by edging out Chevaliers de Lévis in the final.
Magog boasts a balanced attack with each skater registering at least 15 points in the regular season, including seven who eclipsed the 30-point plateau led by forward Raoul Boilard and Connor Macey.
Moncton Flyers
There was little room left for doubt in who would claim the Atlantic Region.
Moncton was the top team all season in the New Brunswick and P.E.I. with a 25-3-2 mark and kept it up with a sweep through the playoffs and regionals.
The 2022 event will mark the Flyers’ ninth appearance at nationals with the Flyers vying to soar to their first Telus Cup title.
Sydney Rush
A debut two seasons in the making will finally be a reality in Okotoks.
After being slated to host the 2021 and 2022 nationals, Nova Scotia’s Sydney Rush will finally get the opportunity to be the host of the competition several provinces away from its base in Cape Breton.
With the Rush forced to defer hosting duties with the pandemic still raging earlier this winter, the team gets the automatic qualification slot at the Telus Cup.
After a solid regular season, the Rush were knocked off in the league quarterfinals to Cole Harbour and will be dealing with an almost two month layoff between competitions.
Vancouver NE Chiefs
Another debutante on the national stage comes in with wind its sails from the west.
The Vancouver NE Chiefs became the first B.C. team to knock off the Alberta champions in the Pacific Regionals since 2014 when it edged out the Calgary Buffaloes in a tight three-game series last month.
The Chiefs will look to be the first team from the west coast province to win the national banner in 40 years.
Okotoks hockey fans will recognize Vancouver as the Bow Mark Oilers’ opponent on two occasions at last month’s Mac’s Tournament with Vancouver knocking out Okotoks in the playoff round after Okotoks took the round-robin matchup.
