The Thunder Bay Kings will compete for a spot on the national stage.
Head Coach Jeff Riccardi and his staff and players will be on the bus all day Wednesday making their way to Virden, Manitoba for the Under-18 AAA TELUS Cup West Regionals, which begin Thursday.
It’s a four-team round-robin involving the Kings along with the host Southwest Cougars, Winnipeg Wild and Notre Dame Hounds.
“It seems like it’s a different type of game than what we play in Toronto, maybe more physical,” Riccardi said when asked about scouting the out-of-province competition. “The preparation work before the first puck drop is so important just to make sure that the players’ bodies are ready. If the bodies are ready, then their minds will flow so we’ll do everything (as a coaching staff) to put them in the right position and it will be their job to come and play.”
The Kings knocked off the Kenora Thistles to claim the Hockey Northwestern Ontario district crown.
The remainder of the round-robin schedule includes a matchup with the Wild Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a tilt with the Hounds on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
The tournament winner will skate in the Canadian championship in Okotoks, Alberta beginning on Monday, May 16th.
