Jason La Rose
It’ll be a short trip for whoever comes out on top at the Atlantic Regional, with five teams competing to represent the region at the 2024 TELUS Cup in Membertou, Nova Scotia.
The Dartmouth Majors are set to play host, welcoming the Halifax Macs, Kensington Wild, Moncton Flyers and Pinnacle Growlers to the East Hants Sportsplex in Lantz. The five teams rolled through their respective playoffs, posting a combined 37-12 record – and five of those losses were inflicted by the Majors and Macs on each other during the NSU18MHL final.
There is experience in the group – the Majors, Macs and Flyers have combined for 25 national championship appearances, while the Wild are looking for their first trip to nationals since 1976, and the Growlers for their first trip ever.
RECENT CHAMPIONS (TELUS CUP FINISH)
2023 – Pictou County Majors (5th place) 2022 – Moncton Flyers (gold medal) 2019 – Halifax Macs (5th place) 2018 – Moncton Flyers (5th place) 2017 – Cape Breton West Islanders (gold medal)
DARTMOUTH MAJORS HOST
Regular season record: 30-8-0 (2nd in NSU18MHL) Goals for: 160 Goals against: 77 Leading scorer: Aiden O’Donnell (24G 22A 46P)
Playoff record: 8-4 Goals for: 36 Goals against: 28 Leading scorer: Brennan O’Donnell (3G 8A 11P)
ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL Quarterfinal: defeated South Shore Mustangs 3-0 (3-0, 5-2, 2-0) Semifinal: defeated Valley Wildcats 3-1 (4-1, 2-1, 2-4, 4-3 OT) Final: lost to Halifax Macs 3-2 (1-3, 5-4, 2-4, 5-4 OT, 1-2)
Last national championship appearance: 2016 (5th place) Total national championship appearances: 10 (1984, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2015, 2016)
HALIFAX MACS NSU18MHL CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 34-4-0 (1st in NSU18MHL) Goals for: 167 Goals against: 83 Leading scorer: Luc Legere (24G 32A 56P)
Playoff record: 9-4 Goals for: 42 Goals against: 29 Leading scorer: Maddex Marmulak (8G 8A 16P)
ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL Quarterfinal: defeated Pictou County Majors 3-0 (2-1 OT, 3-2, 4-0) Semifinal: defeated Cape Breton West Islanders 3-2 (1-2, 1-4, 4-0, 3-1, 7-5) Final: defeated Dartmouth Majors 3-2 (3-1, 4-5, 4-2, 4-5 OT, 2-1)
Last national championship appearance: 2019 (5th place) Total national championship appearances: 6 (1980, 1983, 1994, 2011, 2014, 2019)
KENSINGTON WILD PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 21-10-4 (2nd in NBPEIMU18HL) Goals for: 180 Goals against: 120 Leading scorer: Ethan Dickson (31G 44A 75P)
Playoff record: 4-0 Goals for: 63 Goals against: 37 Leading scorer: Ethan Dickson (3G 5A 8P)
ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL P.E.I. final: defeated Charlottetown Knights 4-0 (5-1, 5-4, 6-1, 6-2)
Last national championship appearance: 1976 (13th place) Total national championship appearances: 1 (1976)
MONCTON FLYERS NEW BRUNSWICK CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 26-6-3 (1st in NBPEIMU18HL) Goals for: 177 Goals against: 98 Leading scorer: Austin Sanchez (18G 37A 55P)
Playoff record: 8-0 Goals for: 48 Goals against: 17 Leading scorer: Austin Sanchez (6G 7A 13P)
ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL N.B. semifinal: defeated Saint John Vitos 4-0 (11-1, 7-2, 5-2, 3-1) N.B. final: defeated Northern Moose 4-0 (6-5, 6-1, 5-1, 5-4 OT)
Last national championship appearance: 2022 (gold medal) Total national championship appearances: 9 (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1986, 2009, 2012, 2018, 2022)
PINNACLE GROWLERS NLU18MHL CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 26-6-0 (1st in NLU18MHL ) Goals for: 165 Goals against: 80 Leading scorer: Nolan Avery (21G 28A 49P)
Playoff record: 8-4 Goals for: 42 Goals against: 28 Leading scorer: Andy Knight (5G 7A 12P)
ROAD TO THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
Semifinal: defeated Central Impact 4-1 (3-2, 3-2 OT, 4-1, 2-3, 5-1) Final: defeated East Coast Blizzard 4-3 (2-5, 0-4, 6-2, 5-3, 6-1, 1-4, 5-0)
Last national championship appearance: none Total national championship appearances: none