Telus Cup Western Regionals brings quality hockey and much more to Virden this week.
The Thursday through Sunday tournament has four teams battling for a berth in the Telus Cup national U18 AAA male hockey championship. The Tundra Oil & Gas Place was slated to hold the event in both 2020 and 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation both times. Now the organizing committee, whose members have changed a bit over the years, is looking for the community to support its efforts.
“It’s something to do,” said Liza Park, a committee member and Virden’s economic development manager. “We’ve been in our homes for two years. I just really hope the community will come out and watch great hockey.”
The event pits the Southwest Cougars regional team against three league champs: Winnipeg Wild (Manitoba), Notre Dame Hounds (Saskatchewan), and Thunder Bay Kings (Northwestern Ontario). Cougars head coach Troy Leslie said his crew has nothing to lose. He also emphasized the talent present at this event.
“There’s a lot of players on all of these rosters that you’re going to see in (Junior A) or the Western Hockey League in the future,” he said.
The committee has tried to create a great atmosphere for the tournament. The efforts include a band playing on Thursday and Friday night. As well as talented players and entertainment, the event will also bring dollars to the community.
“You bring in people and they all spend money when they are here,” Park said. “They are all going to shop in your stores, eat in your restaurants, stay in your hotels.”
Virden previously hosted in 2012. Statistics of the economic impact of that event are unavailable. However, Park is looking to conduct a survey this year to see what money is spent in the community and in which business sectors.
The proceeds of the tournament will be divided among the Cougars, Hockey Manitoba, and Virden Minor Hockey. VMH president Jason Hayward said:
“It is a great opportunity for the association to help out. It will turn out to be a great fundraiser for the association that will be useful in keeping fees down and supplying needed equipment in the future.”
Local hockey fans will get a chance to see Virden’s own Ty Plaisier, an important defenceman and leader, and Pipestone’s Luke MacKenzie, a talented young forward, suit up for the Cougars. Assistant coach Tanner Lewis hails from Virden. Leslie is a Virden resident and Elkhorn product who coached the Junior A Virden Oil Capitals for the franchise’s first seven seasons in town.
Leslie is definitely familiar with the Telus Cup Western Regionals. Back in 2000, as a first-year assistant coach with the Cougars, he helped the squad make it to the event’s finals when it was the host in Souris. The head coach that season? Del Pederick, who now brings his Notre Dame Hounds to Virden to compete for the title. In 2012, as head coach, Leslie led the Cougars to the Telus Cup Western Regionals finals again – this time with the team hosting in Virden. Both times Southwest fell to the Saskatoon Contacts in the title tilt.
