ST. PAUL – While the St. Paul Canadiens may be out of the North Eastern Alberta Jr. B Hockey League (NEAJBHL) playoffs, the team will continue to hit the ice as players prepare to host the 2025 Central Canada Cup Junior 'B' Championship from April 16 to 20 at the Clancy Richard Arena.
A total of five teams - one from Ontario, one from Manitoba, one from Saskatchewan and two from Alberta - will be taking part in the tournament. The Canadiens, are the reigning champions of the tournament, winning in Flin Flon, Manitoba, last year.
Derrick Germain, president of the St. Paul Canadiens, said the tournament will be an opportunity to showcase the high level of talent that plays in the NEAJBHL.
"We worked so hard this year for the tournament," he said. He acknowledged there have been some challenges while preparing for the tournament, including fitting everything into the budget. "Our budget was tight this year [and] we were afraid," said Germain.
"But the community stepped up," providing sponsorship and donations to help with the event, he added.
"We've gone from afraid . . . to absolutely 100 per cent pumped up for this event," he said, expressing his excitement, and inviting the Lakeland community to come out and watch.
"It's going to be one of the best shows St. Paul has ever seen."
The tournament also ties into the 70th anniversary of the St. Paul Canadiens organization, which he said is not only a celebration of the team, but a celebration for St. Paul as a whole. The community has never stopped supporting the team throughout those 70 years.
