The eyes of the hockey world will pivot to Lloydminster for the Esso Cup 2025, starting Sunday, April, 20 with games at the Centennial Civic Centre.
Six regional female champions including the Lloydminster U18 Steelers will seek to etch their names in hockey glory by lifting the trophy when the final goes down on April 26.
The Alberta government is putting in $32,500 for the event. It estimates that the week-long tournament will spin over $350,000 into the local economy from visitors activity at local businesses, hotel bookings, and attract more than 120,000 additional viewers through nationwide broadcasts.
“Alberta’s government is proud to support the Esso Cup’s return to our province. Hockey runs deep in Alberta, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have the nation’s best U18 women’s hockey players compete here,” says Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport.
The teams include two Alberta teams. The hosts Lloydminster Steelers will be joined by the Edmonton Junior Oilers. The other four regional champs are Ontario’s North York Storm, Quebec’s Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière, Atlantic’s Eastern Stars, and Saskatoon Stars (SK).
Lloydminster Steelers have all their games in the preliminary schedule starting at 7:00 pm:
- April 20 – Eastern Stars
- April 21 – Edmonton Jr. Oilers
- April 22 – North York Storm
- April 23 – Saskatoon Stars
- April 24 – Étoiles de Laurentides-Lanaudière
- April 25 – Semi-finals (TBD)
- April 26 – Finals (TBD): Bronze medal (1pm), Gold medal (5pm)
The opening game on Sunday, April 20 will see North York Storm versus Saskatoon Stars at 11:00 a.m.
The schedule in the preliminary stage is available with more information online.
Garth Rowswell, MLA for Vermillion-Lloydminster-Wainwright notes the platform that the Esso Cup provides as players skate to the next level in their hockey careers including wearing the Maple Leaf.
“Lloydminster is excited and proud to host the 2025 Esso Cup. We are welcoming five elite teams from across Canada alongside our hometown U18 AAA PWM Steelers. From April 20 to 26, our community will celebrate an exciting time for female hockey – showcasing top talent, inspiring young athletes and helping shape the bright future of women’s hockey in Canada,” says the MLA.
This is the fifth time Alberta has hosted the tournament since its inception in 2009. Lloydminster joins previous host cities Calgary (2009), St. Albert (2011), Red Deer (2015) and Okotoks (2022).
