Steinbach set to host Telus Cup

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This article was published 28/03/2017 (2582 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Those of you that have not yet had your fill of hockey this season, well, you’re in luck because there are a bevy of elite midget games on tap in Steinbach this weekend that should satisfy any hockey cravings.

Thursday through Sunday, Steinbach is hosting the Telus Cup ‘AAA’ Midget Western Regional tournament.

The Eastman Selects, who play their home games in Beausejour, are the host team of this tournament. Joining the Selects at the tournament are the Thunder Bay Kings, Manitoba champion Winnipeg Wild and Saskatchewan champion Regina Pat Canadians.

This tournament was also held in Steinbach in 2002, when the Selects were not only the host  team but also ended up winning the Manitoba ‘AAA’ Midget Hockey League championship that year that saw the Winnipeg Sharks also compete.

Eastman has also competed in two other West Regional tournaments as Manitoba champions, including in 2000 in Souris and in 1989 in Dryden.

The Selects have never won this West Regional tournament and will have their work cut out for them if they are to prevail this time around as the Wild and Regina, in particular, would be the favourites to advance to Sunday’s final.

The tournament kicks off today Thursday at 5:00 p.m. with Regina taking on the Winnipeg Wild. Then at 8:00 p.m. it will be the Selects facing the Thunder Bay Kings, which follows the 7:30 p.m. opening ceremonies.

The Wild, who finished first in the Manitoba ‘AAA’ Midget Hockey League regular season, swept the Yellowhead Chiefs three straight in the league finals. But the Selects, who finished seventh in the standings, knocked off the third place Winnipeg Thrashers in the quarter-finals, before losing to the Wild in the fifth and deciding game of the semis.

The Wild, who also beat the Selects in the league finals last year, went on to lose in overtime to the Saskatoon Contacts in the final of the 2016 Western Regionals one year ago at Saskatoon.

Each team will play three round robin games. On Friday the 5:00 p.m. game will have Thunder Bay vs. the Wild and then at 8:00 p.m. the Selects will go up against Regina.

Round robin play wraps up on Saturday with a pair of afternoon games as it will be Regina vs. Thunder Bay at 12:30 p.m. and then the Selects vs. the Wild at 3:45 p.m. in an all-Manitoba affair.

Host committee chair Lyle Morin says the planning for the tournament has gone well, “we are just looking forward to what should be some outstanding hockey.”

Rounding out the host committee are Laura Oswald, Angela Janz, Karen Cruise and Todd Mistlebacher.

Morin says they are hoping to average at least 500 fans per game. “This is a strong hockey community, I am sure the fans will come out and support the tournament.”

Sunday’s championship final goes at 2:00 p.m. The winner advances to the 2017 Telus Cup National Midget Championships, Apr. 24-30 at Prince George, B.C.

Tickets for the tournament are available at the door at $10.00 for adults, $7.00 for students, or a tournament pass for $50.00.