The South Island Royals will open the 2015 Mac鈥檚 Major Midget hockey tournament at 10 a.m. on Boxing Day in Calgary against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Max Bell Arena.
The schedule was announced Wednesday.
The Royals will continue pool play Dec. 27 at 9 a.m. against the Regina Pat Canadians and Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. against the Calgary Royals, both at Max Bell Arena. Pool play concludes for the Royals on Dec. 30 against the Eastman Selects at the Flames Community Arena.
The Mac鈥檚 is the biggest Midget hockey tournament in the world and entry is by invitation only. That was granted this year to the Royals, who are 10-8-5 in the sa国际传媒 Major Midget League.
The tournament has become a tradition and has run annually since 1978 from Boxing Day to New Year鈥檚 Day. The championship game is played in the Scotiabank Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames of the NHL. The tournament鈥檚 alumni includes the likes of Sidney Crosby, Jordan Eberle, Jarome Iginla, Rod Brind鈥橝mour, Wendel Clark, Cliff Ronning and Trevor Linden.
The defending champions are the Cariboo Cougars, who were led by 2014 Mac鈥檚 tournament MVP goaltender Griffen Outhouse, who is now a WHL rookie with the Victoria Royals.
The South Island Royals are coached by Trent Brandvold and managed by Ron Lindsay.
Jordan Guiney leads the Royals in scoring with seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points. Fellow-forward Lach Hadley, a WHL Royals prospect, has 11 goals and eight assist for 19 points.
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