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The 2011 Telus Cup Kicks Off In April With Privateers Serving As Host
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| Wednesday, January 19, 2011 - Submitted by Gene Johnson, Managing Editor |
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For the first time since 1989, Canada's National Midget Championship will return to Newfoundland & Labrador when St. John's hosts the 2011 Telus Cup where the Fog Devils will welcome five regional champions.
Three games will kick off the 2011 Telus Cup on April 18 -- West meets Pacific, Quebec takes on Atlantic and the host St. John's Pennecon Privateers will battle the Central Region champions. All games will be played at the Mile One Centre, 50 New Gower St. The competition concludes April 24, with the Gold Medal game scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League have won the Telus Cup the previous two seasons. Last year, the Hounds defeated the Mississauga Reps of the Greater Toronto Hockey League in a 3-2 shootout held in Levis, Quebec where the Commandeurs de Levis served as the host team.
The Telus Cup first began as the Wrigley National Midget Hockey Tournament, which ran for five years from 1974 though 1978. During that time the Wrigley was an invitational event with regions declaring their respective winners through competition during the Christmas and New Year's holidays within each of Canadian Hockey's 11 branch play-downs. A host team comprised the 12th competitor in the Wrigley played annually in January.
In April 1979, the inaugural Air Canada Cup was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, giving Canada its first true national midget club hockey championship. Through a series of playoffs, each of Canadian hockey's 12 branch champions advanced to the national finals sending its winner to the Air Canada Cup.
In 1984, the cup format was revised to an annual competition involving five regional champions declared from inter-branch play-downs. A host club comprised the sixth team in the competition. This format remains today.
In 2005, the Air Canada Cup was changed to his new name: the Telus Cup. Previous participants, who are now or who have played in the National Hockey League, include Joe Sakic, Dany Heatley, Al MacInnis, Steve Yzerman, Ron Francis, Mike Peca and Rod Brind'amour.
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