The Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship, will see the host team, Metro Boston Pizza, face off against teams representing the Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, West, and Pacific regions during five days of round-robin play before moving into semifinals and the medal games.

“I’m pleased that high-level female Midget hockey is coming to the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre, and our South Shore community,” said Connie Martin, chair of the 2018 Esso Cup host organizing committee. “Events Lunenburg County and the host committee want to make the 2018 Esso Cup an enjoyable and memorable tournament for all the players, their supporters, and fans that will come out to watch the host team, Metro Boston Pizza, and the five teams from across Canada.”

The Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre will welcome teams and fans alike April 22-28, 2018, as Nova Scotia becomes the second Atlantic province to host the Esso Cup since its inception in 2009; Charlottetown, P.E.I., hosted the championship in 2012.

“A key component of our events revolves around the local investments made in the host communities in growing the game we all share a passion for,” said Dean McIntosh, senior director of events and properties at Hockey Canada. “The event revenue from the 2018 Esso Cup will stay in Bridgewater and the province of Nova Scotia as a legacy to help grow and promote the female game – much like the World Sledge Hockey Challenge revenue did earlier this year. We had a wonderful experience in Bridgewater in January, and we look forward to working with the community to celebrate the female game at the 2018 Esso Cup.”

Historically, the Esso Cup has generated in excess of $1 million in local economic impact through the provision of services to the athletes, families, and fans that travel into the community for the event. The 2016 Esso Cup, held in Weyburn, Sask., boasted a legacy of more than $135,000 that was directed to projects and programming to support female hockey in southern Saskatchewan.

The 2017 Esso Cup will be held in Morden, Man., from April 23-29.

For more information on the Esso Cup, please visit Hockey Canada, or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.