Queens set for new season

The defending provincial champion Thunder Bay Winning Streak Charters bantam AA Queens will kick-off their 2011-12 season next weekend in Minnesota as the club competes in the inaugural Duluth Scrimmage Jamboree Sept. 9-11.

The eight-team event commences for the Queens when they take on the reigning Illinois State title holders, the Chicago Young Americans, at 5:30 p.m. CDT on Sept. 9.

Day two action will provide a pair of encounters for Thunder Bay. They’ll meet the Minneapolis Red Army Express at 9:30 a.m. CT and will then conclude play for the day vs. the current Minnesota U-14 champs from Wayzata at 2 p.m. CDT.

Woodbury, Minn., provides the opposition in their final contest of the event on day three. Puck drop there is set for 9 a.m. CDT.

All games will be played at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center.

From there tournament play for the Queens will continue in October when the squad travels to Windsor to participate in the Hocktoberfest tourney, which will be followed by a visit to Detroit in November for the Manon Rheaume Tournament.

December will see the club hitting the ice at the annual Queens Showcase Dec. 9-11 at Fort William First Nation Arena.

The New Year will bring contests for the bantam AA side back in Duluth as well as in Milwaukee and the Minneapolis area.

Culminating the campaign will be a trip to Toronto for the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association championships in April, where the Queens will attempt to keep their provincial crown.

Comprising the staff for the WSC Queens will be head coach David Vescio along with assistants Dan Oleksuk and Anna Blando, who will also serve as one of the club’s trainers. Keri Oleksuk and Carrie Vescio will provide co-manager duties with Vescio also acting in a trainer’s capacity.