SASKATOON – The Telus Cup will once again not feature a team from the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League.
RELATED: Winnipeg Wild open Regionals with a win
This year’s provincial champions, the Winnipeg Wild, couldn’t secure a spot in the national tournament as they lost 4-3 to the Saskatoon Contacts in the west regional final on Sunday at Rod Hamm Memorial Arena. Saskatoon’s Ty Prefontaine scored the game winner 11:06 into the second overtime period.
The Contacts also got goals from Quinton Ong, Austin Wieler and Jonah Bumphrey. Caiden Daley, Noah King and Brendan Arnold all scored for Winnipeg.
RELATED: Winnipeg Wild ready for West Regionals
The Wild have won the provincial title in four of the last five years but have failed to advance past regionals in each of their seven appearances.
The last time a Manitoba team played in the Telus Cup was in 2011 when the Winnipeg Thrashers captured the Canadian title.