The 2013 Western Canadian Championships

With the inaugural Western Canadian Junior A championships coming to Nanaimo in April 2013, it's already starting to show a lot of excitement throughout the Western Jnr A leagues.

 With the BCHL, AJHL, SJHL and MJHL league winner all taking part and the two finalists of the Westerns going onto the RBC cup afterwards, it should make for a great tourney.

On paper the four Western leagues should make for a higher calibre of play, even above the RBC cup contested by the all the Junior A leagues throughout Canada.

With the Westerns so close to home, it should give not only the host Nanaimo Clippers(who qualify automatically), but, certainly a golden opportunity for the Grizzlies and the rest of the Island teams to try and qualify.
With a lot of good, experienced BCHL players through trades heading to the Grizzlies for the 2012/13 season as well as a very good core of players coming back, from last season, this should be an even bigger incentive for the Grizzlies to make it to the Westerns.
The tournament itself really puts the Nanaimo Clippers back on the Junior hockey map and should be an ecominic boost for the team on and off the ice.
Whoever qualify's for the new Western Championship, it should be well worth heading up to Nanaimo between April 26 and May 5, 2013.