For the 40th time, Canada’s top Junior A teams have gathered, this year in Dauphin MB, to battle for the National Junior A Championship, beginning Saturday, May 1st. This year marks the fourth time Manitoba has hosted the tournament, joining Flin Flon in 2001, Winnipeg in 1992 and Brandon in 1973.
The host team, the Dauphin Kings, are joined by regional representatives Vernon Vipers (Pacific), La Ronge Ice Wolves (West), Oakville Blades (Central) and Brockville Braves (East). The five teams will take to the ice at the Parkland Recreation Complex hoping to earn one of the two berths in Sunday’s nationally-televised championship game.
The Vipers are looking to become the first team since Vernon in 1990 and 1991 to repeat as national Junior A champions, while also looking for their sixth national title, more than any other team. Vernon is the only team in the field to previously win the National Junior A Championship (1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2009), while Dauphin and La Ronge are making their debut at the national championship. The Kings are looking to become the first host team since Weyburn in 2005 to win the national title; they are 38-2-1 on home ice this season.
The gold medal game on Sunday, May 9 will be broadcast live on TSN at 12:00 PM Pacific time. In addition, all 10 round-robin games, along with both semifinals on Saturday, May 8, will be available via webcast through FASTHockey at hockeycanada.fasthockey.com. All games are available on a pay-per-view basis for $6.99 each.
On Friday, April 30, the opening ceremonies will take place at the Dauphin’s Countryfest Cabaret at the Parkland Recreation Complex. There will be a barbeque at 5:30 p.m. followed by the introduction of the five competing teams at 7 p.m. A concert by country music star Charlie Major will follow.
