THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Kings will host next year’s Telus Cup Midget AAA West Regional.
The tournament, which includes representatives from Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as the Kenora Thistles, will be staged between April 5, 2018 and April 8, 2018.
The winner earns a berth at the 2018 Telus Cup national midget championship in Sudbury.
“We’re eager to create a memorable experience for all the participants and visitors coming to the West Regional,” said Gary Linquist, president of the Kings, in a release issued on Monday by Hockey Northwestern Ontario.
“This is a great opportunity for our Major Midget program and we are looking forward to hosting the top midget AAA teams in the West.”
Thunder Bay teams captured midget championships in 1995 and 1997 and finished in the runner-up position in 1992 and 1996. They finished third in 1983 and 1988.
Two weeks after the regional midget championship begins, the western Canadian Junior B championship will arrive in the Lakehead.
The Keystone Cup is scheduled to begin on April 19, 2018. It’s the sixth time the tournament has been hosted in Northwestern Ontario, the first since 2009.
The Northern Hawks finished second in 2012, the best performance to date by a city team.
“We’re extremely excited to host the 2018 Keystone Cup-Western Canadian Junior B Championship,” said Frank Filice, president and head coach of the Northern Hawks. “We are confident the hockey community in Thunder Bay will support this great event.”
