A perfect record in the West regional tournament has the Regina Pat Canadians on their way to Prince George for the Telus Cup national midget hockey championship.
The West final was a four-team event that featured representatives from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. The tournament, held in Steinbach, Man., wrapped up on Sunday and saw the Canadians down the Thunder Bay Kings 4-2 in the title game.
With that victory, the Canadians completed a 4-0 weekend. In their other games, they beat the Winnipeg Wild 2-1, defeated the Eastman Selects 4-1 and downed the Kings 7-2. Overall, they outscored their opponents 17-6. Not surprisingly, the Canadians had the three top offensive players - Lukas Sillinger (two goals, six assists), Preston Brodziak (four goals, three assists) and Tyler Lees (one goal, six assists). In net, Regina's Deen McNaab posted a 1.32 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
The other Western Canadian clubs at the Telus Cup will be the B.C. champion and host Cariboo Cougars and the Leduc Chrysler Oil Kings (Pacific representative). The Oil Kings struggled to a 14-15-5 regular season in the Alberta Midget Hockey League but caught fire in the playoffs and eventually beat the favoured Foothills CFR Chemical Bisons 3-1 in games in a best-of-five championship series.
The Central region team at the Telus Cup will be the Mississauga Rebels, while the Atlantic rep will be the Cape Breton West Islanders.
The Quebec team has not yet been determined. But, in the best-of-seven playoff final, the Saint-Francois Blizzard holds a 2-0 lead over Trois-Rivieres after 3-2 and 6-4 wins. Games 3 and 4 in the series are set for today and Sunday.
The Rebels, meanwhile, finished third during the Greater Toronto Hockey League regular season (19-7-7 record) but then beat the Toronto Young Nationals in six games in the GTHL playoff final. Next, in the Central regionals, they recorded a 5-0-2 record, including a 4-0 victory against the Windsor Junior Spitfires in the championship game.
The Rebels will look to bring a Telus Cup national title to the GTHL for the second consecutive year. The North York Rangers won the 2016 championship when the tournament was held in Quispamsis, N.B.
"We know that we're going to be playing the best of the best out in Prince George, but our team is confident and prepared to give it our all," said Rebels forward Evan Benwell on the GTHL website. "We're all excited for this once-in-a-lifetime experience and hopefully we can bring a championship home for the GTHL."
Benwell led the Central regional championship with 11 points in seven games.
Rebels goaltender Christian Purboo posted all five of his team's wins during the Central showdown and, along the way, had a sizzling .950 save percentage.
"I am really honoured to be participating in the Telus Cup, representing Ontario and the Rebels," Purboo said on the website. "Not many players get this experience, so I hope we take advantage of this opportunity, play our best and can be proud of our performance."
As for Cape Breton West, the Islanders topped the five-team Atlantic regional tournament with a 3-1 record in preliminary play and, in Sunday's championship game, edged second-place Moncton 3-2.
The Telus Cup will start April 24 at CN Centre. In the opening game, at noon, the Islanders will skate against the Quebec champion. At 4 p.m. that day, the Rebels will take on the Canadians and, at 7:30 p.m., the Cougars will play the Oil Kings.
Tickets are available at the CN Centre box office and through the Hockey Canada website (hockeycanada.ca).
2017 Telus Cup
April 24-30, CN Centre
Participating teams
Cariboo Cougars (Host)
Season record: 34-5-1-0
Leduc Chrysler Oil Kings (Pacific)
Season record: 14-15-5
Regina Pat Canadians (West)
Season record: 36-6-2
Mississauga Rebels (Central)
Season record: 19-7-7
Cape Breton West Islanders (Atlantic)
Season record: 31-5-2
Quebec will be represented by Saint-Francois or Trois-Rivieres
