Bernadette Larose
The home of three of the last five national champions, all eyes will be on the Central showdown.
Not only are the Toronto Young Nationals the hosts of the Central Regional, having booked their ticket before the postseason even began, but the reigning TELUS Cup champs came alive in the playoffs to win the GTHL title.
But the Road to the TELUS Cup won’t be an easy one, with the dominant Mississauga Reps filling the GTHL slot and two other regular season top seeds (the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the GNU18L and Nepean Raiders of HEO) looking to book a ticket to the national championship.
RECENT CHAMPIONS (TELUS CUP FINISH) 2019 – Toronto Young Nationals (gold medal) 2018 – Toronto Young Nationals (fourth place) 2017 – Mississauga Rebels (bronze medal) 2016 – North York Rangers (gold medal) 2015 – Toronto Young Nationals (gold medal)
TORONTO YOUNG NATIONALS HOST
Regular season record: 13-6-9 (4th in GTHL) Goals for: 76 Goals against: 58 Leading scorer: unavailable
Playoff record: 5-0 Goals for: 14 Goals against: 7 Leading scorer: unavailable
ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL Game 1: defeated Toronto Titans (4-0) Game 2: defeated Vaughan Kings (2-1) Game 3: defeated Thunder Bay Kings (3-2) Game 4: defeated Toronto Jr. Canadiens (2-1) Final: defeated Mississauga Reps (3-2)
Last national championship appearance: 2019 (gold medal) Total national championship appearances: 6 (1976, 2001, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019)
MISSISSAUGA REPS GTHL REPRESENTATIVE
Regular season record: 22-3-3 (1st in GTHL) Goals for: 114 Goals against: 46 Leading scorer: unavailable
Playoff record: 4-1 Goals for: 26 Goals against: 6 Leading scorer: unavailable
ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL Game 1: defeated Don Millis Flyers (7-2) Game 2: defeated Markham Majors (5-0) Game 3: defeated Toronto Jr. Canadiens (5-1) Game 4: defeated Toronto Titans (7-0) Final: lost to Toronto Young Nationals (2-3)
Last national championship appearance: 2010 (sixth place) Total national championship appearances: 1 (2010)
HURON-PERTH LAKERS ALLIANCE CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 21-9-0 (second in Alliance) Goals for: 98 Goals against: 77 Leading scorer: Jimmy Schiedel (7G, 17A, 24P)
Playoff record: 6-2 Goals for: 23 Goals against: 8 Leading scorer: Cole Lewis (5G, 4A, 9P)
ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL Quarterfinal: defeated Waterloo Wolves 2-0 (2-1, 4-0) Semifinal: defeated Kitchener Jr. Rangers 2-1 (1-2, 3-1, 6-1) Final: defeated London Jr. Knights 2-1 (4-2, 0-1, 3-0)
Last national championship appearance: none Total national championship appearances: none
GUELPH GRYPHONS OMHA CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 12-6-5 (2nd in OMHA-SCTA) Goals for: 89 Goals against: 55 Leading scorer: M. Madden (16G 11A 27P)
Playoff record: 4-0-1 Goals for: 18 Goals against: 6 Leading scorer: Austen Pomerleau (5G 0A 5P)
ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL Game 1: tied Oshawa Generals (1-1) Game 2: defeated Ajax-Pickering Raiders (4-2) Game 3: defeated Oakville Rangers (6-1) Game 4: defeated York-Simcoe Express (4-0) Final: defeated Ajax-Pickering Raiders (3-2)
Last national championship appearance: none Total national championship appearances: none
SAULT STE. MARIE GREYHOUNDS GNU18L CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 20-4-0 (1st in GNU18L) Goals for: 102 Goals against: 50 Leading scorer: Lincoln Moore (18G 19A 37P)
Playoff record: 3-1-1 Goals for: 19 Goals against: 11 Leading scorer: Lincoln Moore (3G 3A 6P)
ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL Game 1: tied Sudbury Nickel Capitals (2-2) Game 2: defeated New Liskeard Cubs (2-0) Game 3: defeated North Bay Trappers (7-2) Game 4: defeated Timmins Majors (6-2) Final: defeated Sudbury Nickel Capitals (4-3)
Last national championship appearance: 2007 (6th place) Total national championship appearances: 3 (1993, 1999, 2007)
NEPEAN RAIDERS HEO CHAMPIONS
Regular season record: 27-2-3 (1st in HEO) Goals for: 186 Goals against: 69 Leading scorer: Luke Posthumus (38G 43A 81P)
Playoff record: 7-1 Goals for: 43 Goals against: 15 Leading scorer: Luka Benoit (7G 7A 14P)
ROAD TO THE CENTRAL REGIONAL Quarterfinals: defeated Carleton Place (7-2, 8-2) Semifinals: defeated Ottawa Jr. Senators (6-3, 4-2) Final: defeated Navan Grads (5-0, 5-3, 4-0)
Last national championship appearance: none Total national championship appearances: none