THUNDER BAY, Ont. – With preparations for the 2019 TELUS Cup underway in Thunder Bay, Ont., hockey fans can start planning their trip to northwestern Ontario with the release of the official tournament schedule and full-event ticket packages for Canada’s National Midget Championship, set for April 22-28, 2019.

The host Thunder Bay Kings, who have won the TELUS Cup twice (1995 and 1997), will welcome five regional representatives – Atlantic, Central, Quebec, Pacific and West – to the 3,371-seat Fort William Gardens as they look to be crowned national champions next April.

“We are excited for the opportunity to compete for a national championship in front our hometown fans, and to welcome five great teams to our incredible hockey town,” said Gary Linquist, chair of the local host committee. “As we continue to prepare both on and off the ice, we can’t thank our community members enough for their support and efforts to ensure the 2019 TELUS Cup will be a memorable and world-class event for everyone involved.” 

The tournament will kick off on April 22, with the Central Region champions taking on the Atlantic titlists at 12 p.m. ET, followed by the Quebec champs taking on the West winners at 4 p.m. ET. Opening day will conclude with the host Kings opening their quest for the TELUS Cup against the Pacific Region champions at 7:30 p.m. ET.

“The release of the schedule and ticket packages for the 2019 TELUS Cup is a major milestone as Thunder Bay prepares to welcome the top Midget teams in Canada, and provides a new level of excitement for hockey fans of all ages in our community,” said Trevor Hosanna, executive director of Hockey Northwestern Ontario. “We are determined to create a memorable experience for the teams, the players and their families, hockey fans and volunteers, and we look forward to showcasing all that Thunder Bay has to offer in April.”

Early-bird ticket packages for the 2019 TELUS Cup are available for purchase online now at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, and cost $42 for youth under the age of 18 and $63 for adults. Special pricing is available for Thunder Bay North Stars and Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey season-ticket holders, as well as Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association families. Single-game tickets will be available for purchase at a later date.

“The TELUS Cup is one of Hockey Canada’s premier events and it provides fans the opportunity to watch six of the top Midget teams in Canada compete on the national stage,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties for Hockey Canada. “The early-bird ticket package is an affordable way for fans to secure their seat early for this prestigious event, and to contribute back to the long term health of minor hockey in Thunder Bay as 100% of the event profits go back to support the game locally.”

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will air the gold-medal game on April 28. All preliminary-round games and both semifinals, as well as the bronze-medal game, will be available via live stream at HockeyCanada.ca/TELUSCup.

Historically, the TELUS Cup has generated more than $6 million in local economic impact, and net proceeds from the event will be directed to supporting grassroots hockey initiatives in the community. 

For more information on the 2019 TELUS Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca/TELUSCup, or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.