The Thunder Bay Kings and Winnipeg Wild are back at the West Regional for a second consecutive year, looking to earn a berth at the Men’s U18 National Club Championship in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.

Joining the Kings and Wild will be the Saskatoon Blazers, who are looking to qualify for nationals for the first time since 1974, and the host Warman Wildcats, who are in just their second full season of existence.

There should be plenty of offence in Warman; three of the four teams averaged at least 3.50 goals per game during the regular season (Saskatoon and Winnipeg actually scored a five-goals-per-game clip) and continued that trend in the playoffs, scoring four 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 record: 35-7-2 (1st in SMAAAHL)

Goals for: 232

Goals against: 124

Leading scorer: Cole Reschny (23G 42A 65P)

Playoff record: 9-0

Goals for: 45

Goals against: 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 national championship appearance: 1974 (fourth place)

Total national championship appearances: 1 (1974)

THUNDER BAY KINGS

HNO CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 12-17-7 (9th in GTHL)

Goals for: 97

Goals against: 108

Leading scorer: Lucas Bertolin (17G 13A 30P)

Playoff record: 2-1

Goals for: 13

Goals against: 7

Leading scorer: unavailable

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL

HNO championship: defeated Kenora Thistles 2-1 (4-5, 4-0, 5-2)

Last national championship appearance: 2019 (sixth place)

Total national championship appearances: 9 (1975, 1976, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2019)

WARMAN WILDCATS

HOST

Regular season record: 25-16-3 (5th in SMAAAHL)
Goals for: 156
Goals against: 126
Leading scorer: Kazden Mathies (19G 28A 47P)

Playoff record: 3-5
Goals for: 20
Goals against: 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: lost to Saskatoon Blazers 3-0 (2-3, 2-3, 1-6)

Last national championship appearance: none
Total national championship appearances: none

WINNIPEG WILD

MU18AAAHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 32-11-1 (3rd in MU18AAAHL)
Goals for: 220
Goals against: 124
Leading scorer: Cole Robertson (32G 28A 60P)

Playoff record: 9-3
Goals for: 48
Goals against: 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 national championship appearance: none
Total national championship appearances: none