The End of the Road Nears: Canadian U18 Men's National Championship Field Set

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The End of the Road Nears: Canadian U18 Men's National Championship Field Set

March 22, 2023

At this point we have traveled down much of the road to the Hockey Canada national championship tournaments as teams of young men and women around the country have been competing in league and provincial tournaments for the past month, playing for the right to advance to the regional championships that feed the national events. The U18 national championship for women is called the Esso Cup, while on the men’s side the tournament is now called the U18 Hockey Canada Club National Championship.

The Esso Cup is being hosted in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, by the Prince Albert Bears April 23-29 at the Art Hauser Centre. The host Bears will be joined by five regional champions, who will be determined over the course of the next month, for the tournament.

The U18 Men’s Club National Championship, formerly known as the Telus Cup, will be hosted in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, at Stade L.P. Gaucher April 24-30. The tournament returns to Quebec for the first time since 2015, with the host team Gaulois de Saint-Hyacinthe also being joined by five regional champions in competing for the national title.

The schedules are set, and now after the conclusion of each regional championship tournament this weekend, so are the National Championship fields.

Esso Cup Women’s U18 National Club Championship Schedule

U18 Men’s National Club Championship Schedule

Congratulations to the teams that will be competing in the Canada U18 Men's Club National Championship (Canada rankings as of April 12):

Host - #15 Saint-Hyacinthe Gaulois

Atlantic Region - #47 Weeks Major (Nova Scotia)

Quebec - #8 Seminaire Saint-Francois Blizzard

Central Region - #11 Toronto Jr. Canadiens

West Region - #3 Saskatoon Blazers

Pacific Region - #22 Calgary Flames

This document will continue to be updated as Canadian U18 men’s teams. progress along the road to the National Championship until the champions are crowned in late April. Join us on their journey and come back to check for regular updates.

The Moncton Flyers won the 2022 U18 National Club Championship.

CLICK HERE to find out everything you'd ever want to know about the 2022 tournament.

The Road to U18 Men's Canadian Club Nationals

League and provincial playoffs have been underway for a month or more across Canada, and the national-championship tournament is almost here The road to a national championship is long and demanding, full of twists, turns, upsets and fantastic finishes.

Five regional champions join the host Gaulois de Saint-Hyacinthe for the late-April tournament in Quebec. Those champs will represent the West Region, the Pacific Region, the Central Region (Ontario), Quebec and the Atlantic Region.

The West Region consists of two teams from Hockey Northwestern Ontario (HNO), 11 teams from the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League (MU18AAAHL) and 12 teams from the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL).

Pacific Region champions come from either the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) or the British Columbia Elite Hockey League (BCEHL). The champions of the 12-team AEHL and the nine-team BECHL battle it out for the right to represent their region in Quebec.

The 15 teams in the Ligue de developpement du hockey M18 AAA du Quebec (LM18AAAQ) compete for the right to represent their province at Nationals, while the Atlantic Region representative comes from either the six-team New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Major U18 Hockey League (NBPEIMU18HL), the five-team Newfoundland and Labrador U18 Major Hockey League (NLU18MHL) or the Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League (NSU18MHL).

The pathway through the Central Region, which consist of five strong Ontario leagues, is nearly as daunting as winning a national championship. The Central Region Championship tournament consists of the champions from the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA), Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO), the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario (Alliance Hockey), the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) and the Great North U18 League (GNML).

More than 60 teams across Ontario compete in the leagues that produce the Central Region representative. The Windsor Spitfires, ranked 19^th in Ontario and 84^th in Canada, are participating in the Central Region Championship as the host team.

The opening game of the U18 Hockey Canada Club Championship is set for Monday, April 24 at noon Eastern Time, with the No. 11 Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Central Region facing off against No. 47 Weeks Major from the Atlantic Region at Stade Louis-Phillippe-Gaucher.

U18 Men’s Club National Championship Bracket

West Region

The Thunder Bay Kings and Winnipeg Wild advanced to the West Regional for a second consecutive year, looking to earn a berth at the Men’s U18 National Club Championship in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec.

Joining the Kings and Wild are the Saskatoon Blazers, who hope to qualify for nationals for the first time since 1974, and the host Warman Wildcats, who are in just their second full season of existence.

Three of the four teams in the Western Regional averaged at least 3.50 goals per game during the regular season (Saskatoon and Winnipeg actually scored a five-goals-per-game clip) and continued that trend in the playoffs, scoring four per contest.

CLICK HERE for West Region Championship participating team information

CLICK HERE for West Region Championship schedule & scores

Championship Game – April 9

#5 Saskatoon Blazers 4, #22 Warman Wildcats 3

Saskatoon Blazers advance to Hockey Canada U18 Club National Championship.

Here is a breakdown of the teams and leagues that competed to be West Region representatives at U18 Nationals:

HNO Competing Teams (Ontario Rankings as of April 5)

#27 Thunder Bay Kings

#55 Kenora Thistles

HNO AAA Championship Information & Schedule

Championship Series (best of three)

Game 1 – Friday March 24

Kenora 5, Thunder Bay 4 (OT)

Game 2 – Saturday March 25

Thunder Bay 4, Kenora 0

Game 3 – Sunday March 26

Thunder Bay 5, Kenora 2

Thunder Bay wins the series, 2-1, and advances to the West Region Championship.

MU18AAAHL Competing Teams (Western Canada Rankings as of April 5)

#38 Winnipeg Wild

#42 Brandon Wheat Kings

#44 Winnipeg Bruins

#57 Pembina Valley Hawks

#67 Winnipeg Thrashers

#70 Interlake Lightning

#72 Southwest Cougars

#75 Eastman Selects

#79 Yellowhead Chiefs

#88 Parkland Rangers

#112 Norman Northstars

Championship Series Schedule and Information

Championship Series – March 24 - April 2 (best of five)

#38 Winnipeg Wild def. #44 Winnipeg Bruins, 3-1

Game 1 – Wild 3, Bruins 1

Game 2 – Wild 4, Bruins 1

Game 3 – Bruins 3, Wild 2

Game 4 – Wild 7, Bruins 4

Winnipeg Wild advance to West Region Championship.

SMAAAHL Competing Teams (Western Canada Rankings as of April 5)

#5 Saskatoon Blazers

#6 Regina Pat Canadians

#12 Saskatoon Contacts

#22 Warman Wildcats

#32 Prince Albert Mintos

#33 Swift Current Legionnaires

#36 Moose Jaw Warriors

#39 Notre Dame Hounds

#50 Yorkton Maulers

#55 Estevan Bears

#56 Tisdale Trojans

#60 Battlefords Stars

Playoff Bracket

League Standings

Championship Series – March 23-30 (best of five)

#5 Saskatoon Blazers def. #6 Regina Pat Canadians, 3-2

Game 1 – Thursday, March 23

Pat Canadians, 3 Blazers 2 (OT)

Game 2 – Saturday March 25

Blazers 4, Pat Canadians 2

Game 3 – Monday, March 27

Pat Canadians 3, Blazers 2

Game 4 – Wednesday, March 29

Blazers 4, Pat Canadians 3

Game 5 – Thursday, March 30

Blazers 8, Pat Canadians 0

Saskatoon Blazers advance to the West Region Championship.

Pacific Region

There were two teams left in the westernmost region of Canadian U18 hockey when the weekend started, and either the Calgary Flames or Okanagan Rockets would represent the Pacific Region at the U18 National Club Championship in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.

The Rockets have the most recent appearance at nationals, capturing the bronze medal in 2014, while the Flames are looking for their first national championship berth since 1999, when they earned silver.

Both teams came into the best-of-three regional series with plenty of momentum, coming off series sweeps in their respective league finals and outscoring their opponents by a combined total of 24-9.

CLICK HERE for Pacific Region Championship participating team information

CLICK HERE for Pacific Region Championship schedule & scores

Pacific Region Championship Series (best of three)

#16 Calgary Flames def. #8 Okanagan Rockets, 2-0

Friday, April 7

Flames 5, Okanagan Rockets 4 (OT)

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Flames 8, Rockets 6

Calgary Flames advance to 2023 Hockey Canada U18 Club National Championship

Here is a breakdown of teams that competed to be Pacific Region representatives at U18 Nationals:

AEHL Competing Teams (Western Canada Rankings as of April 5)

#4 Calgary Buffaloes

#16 Calgary Flames

#18 St. Albert Raiders

#19 Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue

#20 Okotoks Oilers

#24 Calgary Royals

#31 Sherwood Park Kings

#34 Calgary Northstars

#35 Lloydminster Bobcats

#37 Lethbridge Hurricanes

#41 Red Deer Chiefs

#43 Fort Saskatchewan Rangers

#46 Edmonton Jr. Oilers Orange

#47 Airdrie Bisons

#51 Leduc Oil Kings

#76 Grande Peace Storm

League Standings

Playoff Information

Championship Series – March 23 - April 2 (best of five)

#16 Calgary Flames def. #18 St. Albert Raiders, 3-0

Game 1 – Thursday, March 23

Flames 4, Raiders 3

Game 2 – Sunday, March 26

Flames 5, Raiders 3

Game 3 – Wednesday, March 29

Flames 4, Raiders 1

Calgary Flames advance to Pacific Region Championship.

BCEHL Competing Teams (Western Canada Rankings as of April 8)

#8 Okanagan Rockets

#10 Greater Vancouver Canadians

#23 Vancouver NE Chiefs

#24 Valley West Giants

#27 Vancouver NW Hawks

#28 Fraser Valley Thunderbirds

#45 Cariboo Cougars

#66 Thompson Blazers

#109 North Island Silvertips

Playoff Information

Playoff Bracket

Championship Series – March 24-26 (best of three)

#8 Okanagan Rockets def. #10 Greater Vancouver Canadians, 2-0

Game 1 – Friday, March 24

Rockets 5, Canadians 0

Game 2 – Saturday, March 25

Rockets 6, Canadians 2

Okanagan Rockets advance to the Pacific Region Championship.

Quebec Region

Fifteen teams battled through the Ligue de développement du hockey M18 AAA du Québect his season, and two-thirds of them were eliminated prior to championship weekend. The Lions du Lac St-Louis, Blizzard du Séminaire St-François, Vikings de Saint-Eustache, Gaulois de Saint-Hyacinthe and Estacades de Trois-Rivières entered the first-ever Classique de Champions looking to represent the Quebec at the Men’s U18 Club National Championship.

There was a new format this year in the Quebec 18U AAA playoffs as the final five teams competed in a single-elimination tournament; the first semifinal matchup had the Blizzard facing the Lions, while the Vikings awaited the winner of a wild-card game between the Gaulois and Estacades in the second semi.

Quebec teams have long found success on the national stage, medaling in all but two tournaments since 1990, but it has been a frustrating stretch of close calls as teams from the province have lost in the gold-medal game at four straight national championships (and seven of nine. And no team from Quebec has won gold since Sainte-Foy (now Séminaire St-François) in 2001.

CLICK HERE for Quebec Championship participating team information

CLICK HERE for Quebec Championship recap and scores

Provincial Championship Bracket

Championship Game – April 9

#7 St. Hyacinthe 5, #2 Saint-Francois 2

Saint-Hyacinthe Gaulois advance to 2023 Hockey Canada U18 Club National Championship.

The Gaulois already had received a berth as the host team, so the runners-up, also will compete in the National Championship tournament.

Here is a breakdown of the teams that competed to be the Quebec provincial representative at U18 Nationals:

LM18AAAQ Competing Teams (Quebec Rankings as of April 5)

#1 Saint-Eustache Vikings

#2 Saint-Francois Blizzard

#3 Lac St-Louis Lions

#4 Trois-Rivieres Estacades

#5 Magog Cantonniers

#6 Levis Chevaliers

#7 Saint-Hyacinthe Gaulois*

#8 College of Notre Dame Albatros

#9 Laval-Montreal Rousseau Royal

#10 Esther-Blondin College Phenix

#11 Chateauguay Grenadiers

#12 Charles-Lemoyne College Riverains

#13 Amos Forestiers

#14 Jonquiere Elites

#15 Outaouais Intrepide

* U18 Men’s Club Championship Host team

League Standings

Central Region

Sixty-one teams call the Central Region home, but only six remained in the hunt as teams began competing this week for the region’s berth at the Men’s U18 National Club Championship: the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks, Kemptville 73’s, North Bay Trappers, Oshawa Generals, Toronto Jr. Canadiens and host Windsor Jr. Spitfires

All six were fresh faces, with North Bay and Elgin-Middlesex the most recent regional competitors from the 2019 tournament. None of the six had played on the national stage since 2006, and they owned just five national-championship appearances between them – three for Oshawa and one each for North Bay and Toronto.

There was tons of talent in Windsor for the Central Region Championship as five of the six teams finished among the top two in their respective leagues in the regular season, and they posted a combined 39-12-4 postseason record to reach the regionals.

There are too many teams competing in the various Ontario leagues to list them all here, but here are the top-ranked clubs that were in contention for the Central Region championship:

CLICK HERE for Central Region Championship participating team information

CLICK HERE for Central Region Championship recaps and scores

Central Region Championship Game

Sunday, April 9

#1 Toronto Jr. Canadiens 6, #16 Windsor Spitfires 3

Toronto Jr. Canadiens advance to Hockey Canada U18 Club National Championship.

Central Region Top Competing Teams (Ontario Rankings as of April 5)

#1 Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)

#2 Ajax Pickering Raiders (OMHA)

#3 Elgin Middlesex Canucks (Alliance)

#4 Barrie Colts (OMHA)

#5 Burlington Eagles (OMHA)

#6 Oshawa Generals (OMHA)

#7 Markham Waxers (GTHL)

#8 Quinte Red Devils (OMHA)

#9 Toronto Nationals (GTHL)

#10 Toronto Marlboros (GTHL)

#11 Waterloo Wolves (Alliance)

#12 Renfrew Wolves (HEO)

#13 Soo Jr. Greyhounds (GNML)

#14 Kitchener Jr. Rangers (Alliance)

#15 North York Rangers (GTHL)

#16 Windsor Jr. Spitfires* (Alliance)

#17 Vaughan Kings (GTHL)

#18 Oakville Rangers (OMHA)

#19 Toronto Titans (GTHL)

#20 Richmond Hill Coyotes (OMHA)

* U18 Central Region Championship Host Team

Great North Playoff Schedule & Results

North Bay Trappers defeat Soo Greyhounds to advance to Central Region Championship.

GTHL League Standings

GTHL Playoff Bracket

Toronto Jr. Canadiens defeat Vaughan Kings to advance to Central Region Championship.

Alliance League Standings

Alliance Playoff Bracket

Alliance Playoff Schedule

Alliance Championship Series – March 20-30

#3 Elgin-Middlesex Canucks def. #11 Waterloo Wolves

Game 1 – Monday, March 20

Canucks 2, Wolves 0

Game 2 – Friday, March 24

Wolves 4, Canucks 0

Game 3 – Friday, March 24

Wolves 1, Canucks 1

Game 4 – Monday, March 27

Canucks 5, Wolves 3

Game 5 – Tuesday, March 28

Canucks 4, Wolves 3 =

Elgin-Middlesex Canucks advance to Central Region Championship.

HEO League Standings

HEO Regional Qualifier Schedule

HEO Playoffs Information

HEO Championship Series – March 24-31 (best of five)

#25 Kemptville 73’s def. #30 Ottawa Jr. Senators, 3-1

Game 1 – Friday, March 24

73’s 4, Senators 0

Game 2 – Saturday, March 25

Senators 3, 73’s 2 (2OT)

Game 3 – Monday, March 27

73’s 4, Senators 3 (OT)

Game 4 – Wednesday, March 29

73’s 1, Senators 0

Kemptville 73’s advance to Central Region Championship.

OMHA Playoffs Schedule & Standings

OMHA Playoff Information

OMHA Championship Game

March 26

#6 Oshawa Generals 2, # 2 Ajax-Pickering Raiders 0

Oshawa Generals advance to Central Region Championship.

Atlantic Region

The reigning national champions, the Moncton Flyers, were back to defend their Atlantic Region title and hoped to punch their ticket to the Men’s U18 National Club Championship in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.

Joining the Flyers were the Charlottetown Knights, Pinnacle Growlers, Pictou County Majors and host Fredericton Caps. The five teams rolled through their respective playoffs, posting a combined 37-10 record.

There is experience in the group – the Knights, Flyers and Caps have combined for 20 national-championship appearances, while the Majors are looking to qualify for the first time since 1997.

CLICK HERE for Atlantic Region Championship participating team information

CLICK HERE for Atlantic Region Championship scores

CLICK HERE for Atlantic Region Championship Game recap

Atlantic Region Championship Game

Sunday, April 8, 2023

#3 Weeks Major 2, #2 Moncton Flyers 1 (OT)

Weeks Major advances to the Hockey Canada U18 Club National Championship.

Atlantic Region League Standings, Scores & Upcoming Schedule

Atlantic Region Championship Website

Here is a breakdown of the Atlantic Region who competed for the right to represent the region at U18 Nationals:

NBPEIMU18HL Teams (Eastern Canada Rankings as of April 5)

#1 Charlottetown Knights