CHILLIWACK, B.C. - Two talented young hockey players from southeast Saskatchewan helped the Regina Pat Canadians win the Telus Cup national U18 AAA hockey championship.
Regina, who represented the west region at the tournament, defeated Quebec's Chevaliers de Lévis 3-2 in overtime April 27 in the gold-medal game in Chilliwack, B.C. Forward Maddox Schultz scored the winner 28 seconds into overtime.
Defenceman Boston Tait of Estevan and forward Nathan Gardiner both contributed to the championship. Gardiner scored once and added three assists in seven games. Tait had three assists, also in seven games. Both players were in their first year of eligibility at the U18 level.
Tait, who played all of his minor hockey in Estevan prior to this season, was a first-round pick of the Wenatchee Wild in the 2024 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft, while Gardiner, who spent several seasons in the Estevan minor hockey system, was picked in the sixth round by the Calgary Hitmen.
Schultz, meanwhile, is expected to be the top player selected in this year's WHL Prospects Draft. He was the top scorer in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) this season, even though he was still eligible to play U15 hockey. He was named the MVP of the Telus Cup.
Regina finished first in the regular season in the SMAAAHL during the regular season, and won the league championship, losing just once in 10 postseason contests. They dominated the west regional tournament, winning all four games.
At nationals, they went 4-1in the round robin, with their lone loss coming in the last preliminary game against the Chevaliers. Regina defeated Ontario's Elgin Middlesex Canucks in the semifinal.
Regina's previous national title came in 1999. Saskatchewan teams have now won nine national U18 AAA championships since 2002.
