Road to the Men’s U18 National Club Championship: Calgary Flames
Kings. Wild. Blazers. Wildcats; who wins their strategy to Saint-Hyacinthe?
The Thunder Bay Kings and Winnipeg Wild are again on the West Regional for a
second consecutive 12 months, trying to earn a berth on the Men’s U18 National
Club Championship in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.
Joining the Kings and Wild would be the Saskatoon Blazers, who’re wanting
to qualify for nationals for the primary time since 1974, and the host Warman
Wildcats, who’re in simply their second full season of existence.
There must be loads of offence in Warman; three of the 4 groups
averaged at the least 3.50 objectives per recreation throughout the common season (Saskatoon
and Winnipeg really scored a five-goals-per-game clip) and continued that
development within the playoffs, scoring 4 per contest.
RECENT CHAMPIONS (U18 NATIONALS FINISH)
2022 – Notre Dame Hounds (fifth place)
2019 – Tisdale Trojans (bronze medal)
2018 – Notre Dame Hounds (gold medal)
2017 – Regina Pat Canadians (fourth place)
2016 – Saskatoon Contacts (sixth place)
SASKATOON BLAZERS
SMAAAHL CHAMPIONS
Regular season document: 35-7-2 (1st in SMAAAHL)
Goals for: 232
Goals towards: 124
Leading scorer: Cole Reschny (23G 42A 65P)
Playoff document: 9-0
Goals for: 45
Goals towards: 19
Leading scorer: Cole Reschny (8G 9A 17P)
ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Notre Dame Hounds 3-0 (5-2, 4-1, 4-0)
Semifinal: defeated Warman Wildcats 3-0 (3-2, 3-2, 6-1)
Final: defeated Regina Pat Canadians 3-2 (2-3, 4-2, 2-3 OT, 4-3, 8-0)
Last nationwide championship look: 1974 (fourth place)
Total nationwide championship appearances: 1 (1974)
THUNDER BAY KINGS
HNO CHAMPIONS
Regular season document: 12-17-7 (ninth in GTHL)
Goals for: 97
Goals towards: 108
Leading scorer: Lucas Bertolin (17G 13A 30P)
Playoff document: 2-1
Goals for: 13
Goals towards: 7
Leading scorer: unavailable
ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
HNO championship: defeated Kenora Thistles 2-1 (4-5, 4-0, 5-2)
Last nationwide championship look: 2019 (sixth place)
Total nationwide championship appearances: 9 (1975, 1976, 1985, 1988, 1992,
1995, 1996, 1997, 2019)
WARMAN WILDCATS
HOST
Regular season document: 25-16-3 (fifth in SMAAAHL)
Goals for: 156
Goals towards: 126
Leading scorer: Kazden Mathies (19G 28A 47P)
Playoff document: 3-5
Goals for: 20
Goals towards: 23
Leading scorer: Kazden Mathies (4G 4A 8P)
ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Swift Current Legionnaires 3-2 (1-4, 3-4, 5-1, 4-1,
2-1)
Semifinal: misplaced to Saskatoon Blazers 3-0 (2-3, 2-3, 1-6)
Last nationwide championship look: none
Total nationwide championship appearances: none
WINNIPEG WILD
MU18AAAHL CHAMPIONS
Regular season document: 32-11-1 (third in MU18AAAHL)
Goals for: 220
Goals towards: 124
Leading scorer: Cole Robertson (32G 28A 60P)
Playoff document: 9-3
Goals for: 48
Goals towards: 27
Leading scorer: Marlen Edwards (8G 8A 16P)
ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
Quarterfinal: defeated Winnipeg Thrashers 3-0 (8-1, 3-2, 5-1)
Semifinal: defeated Brandon Wheat Kings 3-2 (1-3, 3-1, 1-6, 6-2, 5-2)
Final: defeated Winnipeg Bruins 3-1 (3-1, 4-1, 2-3, 7-4)
Last nationwide championship look: none
Total nationwide championship appearances: none
