A perennial power in female hockey, the Thunder Bay Sportop midget AA Queens, will kick off their 2013-14 season this weekend as they travel to Southern Ontario to compete in the 9th annual Stoney Creek Sabres Showcase event at the Mohawk and Gateway Ice Centres in Hamilton.
The defending Ontario Women’s Hockey Association’s midget AA silver medalists open up play Friday as they take on the Clarington Flames at 10:50 a.m. followed by a 5:55 p.m. encounter with the Durham West Lightning.
Providing the next opposition will be the Buffalo Bisons in a contest that is slated for Saturday at 10:35 a.m.
Their fourth game will be determined on how they fare in round robin play with the playoff round set to begin Saturday evening and the medal round match-ups slated for Sunday.
A total of 64 teams are taking part in this high profile event with Thunder Bay having won the tourney in 2011 while also garnering a silver medal in 2010.
This tournament is one of eight the club has lined up for the season, including the Queens Showcase Weekend Dec. 6-8 at Fort William First Nation Arena, and will culminate with the OWHA provincial championships April 10-13, 2014 in Toronto with a berth to the Esso Cup Canadian Female Midget Championship on the line.
The 2014 Esso Cup will be hosted by the Stoney Creek Sabres in Hamilton April 20 to April 27, 2014.
The following is the Thunder Bay Sportop midget AA Queens 2013-14 tournament and exhibition series schedule.
Sept. 5-8
Stoney Creek Sabres Showcase
Hamilton
September 26-28
2 Nations Tier 1 Elite Showcase
Exeter, New Hampshire
Oct. 17-19
Bauer National Invitational Tournament
Blaine, Minn.
Nov. 2-3
Three-game exhibition series vs. St. Mary’s Academy of Winnipeg
Fort William First Nation Arena
Nov. 29-Dec. 1
Minnesota Thoroughbred’s Thanksgiving Tournament
St. Paul, Minn.
Dec. 6-8
Thunder Bay Queen’s Showcase
Fort William First Nation Arena
Dec. 12-15
2 Nations Tier 1 Elite Showcase
Blaine, Minn.
Feb. 6-9, 2014
2 Nations Tier 1 Elite Championship Showcase
Milwaukee, Wis.
March T.B.A., 2014
Three-game exhibition series vs. St. Mary’s Academy Flames
Winnipeg, Man.
April 10-13, 2014
OWHA Provincials
Toronto
T.B.D.
Esso Cup National Female Hockey Championship
April 20-27, 2014
Hamilton, Ont.
