For Trevor Sprague, the ultimate goal is always to skate in -- and win -- the Telus Cup national midget hockey championship.
But, this coming season, the head coach of the Cariboo Cougars will be even more motivated to lead his team into nationals. The 2012 Telus Cup will be played in Leduc, Alta., the city that was awarded the tournament instead of Prince George. The decision was made by Hockey Canada at its 2010 annual general meeting and took away the Cariboo club's chance to skate in the event as the host team.
Sprague wants to prove the 15- to 17-year-old regional reps would have been an ideal and competitive host.
"There's no doubt that this year is pretty special for us in the fact that we should be hosting the Telus Cup," he said. "It's something that, as a team and an organization, we won't take very lightly. We want to go to Leduc and the Mac's [international tournament in Calgary at Christmas time]. We want to represent British Columbia and the Major Midget League at both those events and the last two years we've been very close. Hopefully this will be the year that will put us over the top."
In each of the past two MML seasons, the Cougars were second-place finishers during the regular schedule and in playoffs. The playoff champion advances to face the Alberta winner for the right to go to the Telus Cup. And, at the Mac's, the Cats made the playoff round two years ago and fell short of qualifying for playoffs last year.
The Cougars will hold their first identification camp Aug. 5-7 at the Coliseum. Based on the talent pool in the north, and the fact nine players from the 2010-11 squad are eligible to return for duty, Sprague expects the Cats to retain their spot as one of the elite clubs in the MML.
"Guys obviously have a lot more experience going into tryouts on what my expectations are and what the league has for them," Sprague said. "But, every year, we've let a veteran go, too. So, who's that veteran going to be, if there is one? Those guys have to come and make the team like anybody else."
The deadline to register for the ID camp is July 31. Registration forms can be found on the Major Midget League website: (www.bchockey.net/MML/).
