CALGARY, ALBERTA – The city of Kenora, ON prepares to host the top midget hockey teams in Canada, at Canada’s 2004 National Midget Championship, which runs from April 19-25, 2004. The 2004 National Midget Championship (formerly the Air Canada Cup) marks the 26th year of the Midget Hockey Championship.

Five regional Midget teams play down to qualify for the National Midget Championship, with the Kenora Stars qualifying as the host team to form a six team round robin tournament.

Teams competing at the 2004 National Midget Championship are:

• Red Deer (AB) Optimist Chiefs, representing the Pacific Region
• College Charles-Lemoyne (QC), representing the Québec Region
• Kenora (ON) Stars, as the Host Team
• Cornwall (PEI) Thunder, representing the Atlantic Region
• Toronto (ON) Marlboros, representing the Central Region
• Brandon (MB) Wheat Kings, representing the Western Region

The 2004 National Midget Championship opens on April 19th, with three games scheduled. The action begins with Team West (Brandon) facing Team Pacific (Red Deer) at noon (ET), followed at 3:30 pm (ET) by Team Quebec (College Charles-Lemoyne) vs. Team Atlantic (Cornwall) and at 8pm (ET) by Team Central (Toronto) against the Host Team (Kenora). Opening ceremonies will be held at 7:30 pm.

All games at the 2004 National Midget Championship will be played at the Kenora Recreation Centre. Tickets are available on-site at the Rec. Centre or by calling 1-800-347-9617.

The National Midget Championship game will be broadcast live on TSN/RDS, the official broadcaster of Hockey Canada, on at 3:30pm (ET).

Past players over the 26 year history of the National Midget Championship (formerly the Air Canada Cup) have included 2002 Olympic gold medalists Simon Gagné (1998), Al MacInnis (1979), Michael Peca (1990), Joe Sakic (1986) and Steve Yzerman (1980), 2002 National Junior Team member Joffrey Lupul (2000), and notable NHL-ers such as Dany Heatley (1998) Daniel Brière (1994), Ron Francis (1980), Olaf Kolzig (1987), Scott Mellanby (1983), Derek Morris (1995) and Patrick Roy (1982).