Excitement is building as the 2025 Hockey Manitoba U13 AA and A1 Provincials come to the Access Event Centre in Morden from March 7-9. With 12 teams competing for the provincial title, the weekend promises to be packed with high-energy hockey action.
Two championships under one roof
The unique format of this year’s provincials will see two tournaments taking place simultaneously at the Access Event Centre. “They'll split us up,” explained Porter Rutledge, an 11-year-old player for the Morden Minor Hawks. “There’s four teams in our AA pool and eight in the A1 pool, so we’ll each play within our own division to determine the champions.”
This setup means fans will get to watch top-tier U13 talent from across Manitoba, as teams from Virden, Thompson, Mitchell, Warren, McDonald, Springfield, Dauphin, Brandon, and Niverville travel to Morden to compete.
Why this tournament matters
For the young players, the provincial tournament represents the pinnacle of their season. “We want to win,” said Connor Plett, a 13-year-old member of the Morden Minor Hockey U13 A1 team. “We can show all the other teams that we’re better than them and that we deserve to be provincial champions.”
Aside from the competitive edge, the players are looking forward to facing teams they haven’t played before. “We’ve played McDonald five times, but we’ve never faced Niverville,” said Levi Lulashnyk, a defenseman for the U13 AA Morden Hawks. “So, you never really know what to expect.”
The love of the game
Hockey is more than just a sport to these young athletes—it’s a passion that fuels their drive. “I love being able to score and have fun with my teammates,” said Rutledge. Falk echoed that sentiment, adding, “I like stopping people from scoring—it’s fun.”
Lulashnyk also thrives on the high-intensity moments. “When it’s a really intense game and everyone is nervous, scoring that big goal just feels amazing.”
A community that loves hockey
Morden has a rich hockey culture, and it shows in the dedication of its young athletes. “Morden’s just a hockey town,” said Plett. “Everyone here loves the game, and that means we work hard on the ice.”
That hard work is guided by a dedicated group of coaches, including Justin Catlin, Brian Rutledge, Wade Sandbrook, and others. “Our coaches push us,” said Lulashnyk. “They’re tough, but they also make sure we have fun.”
What fans can expect
With the best U13 teams in the province coming together, the weekend is set to be a thrilling showcase of young talent. “We’ve got gold medal games on Sunday, probably in the late afternoon,” said Rutledge. Fans can also look forward to a 50/50 draw, silent auctions, and the ever-popular toonie stick raffle.
As the Morden Hawks prepare to hit the ice, they encourage the community to come out and support them. “People should come watch so they can see how good Morden is at playing the sport we all love,” said Plett.
Don’t miss the action at the Access Event Centre this weekend as Morden hosts the 2025 Hockey Manitoba U13 AA and A1 Provincials. Come cheer on the future stars of Manitoba hockey! Find the schedule, scores and stats at hockeymanitobastats.ca