By Brendon Crossman
Photo by Matthew Murnaghan / Hockey Canada Images

The Toronto Young Nationals became just the second team in GTHL/MTHL history to make consecutive appearances at the national midget championship and also the second ever to take home a gold medal.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2010 – The last year a GTHL club qualified for the tournament, before the Young Nationals’ back-to-back appearances. The Mississauga Reps won a silver medal in 2010, backstopped by Boston Bruins first-round pick Malcolm Subban.

108 – Combined point total of call-ups Lucas Breault (46-19—65) and Nate Mueller (19-24—43) in 57 games played with the Young Nationals Minor Midget AAA team in 2014-15. Each call-up scored one goal at the TELUS Cup.

82 – Positive goal differential posted by the Young Nationals during the regular season (124 GF, 42 GA). They scored an average of 3.76 goals per game and allowed only 1.27 goals against per game.

25 – Points earned by the Young Nationals in the postseason, as the club outscored opponents 61-25 in 17 games en route to their second straight Scotiabank GTHL Playoffs crown.

19 – Consecutive games with at least one point by the Young Nationals from Oct. 12 to Dec. 20, 2014 (17-0-2). They finished the regular season with a 25-3-5 record to capture their third consecutive Kraft Cup title.

9 – Points by Young Nationals leading scorer Justin Herman (2-7—9). The Richmond Hill, Ont., native notched one assist at the tournament in 2014.

7 – Players that also suited up for the Young Nationals at the 2014 TELUS Cup in Moose Jaw, Sask. Forwards Max Routledge, Mack Graham, Dean Rayner and Justin Herman and defencemen James Guest, Bryce Patterson and Nik Kalpouzos were on the squad that finished in fourth place.

6 – Goals by Young Nationals leading goal-scorer Ryan Bonsteel, including two goals in the gold medal game.

4 – Number of appearances by the Young Nationals at the national midget championship, tied with the Don Mills Flyers for the most in GTHL/MTHL history.

3 – Medals won by the Young Nationals at the national midget championship. They also won silver in 1976 and bronze in 2001.

2 – GTHL/MTHL teams to win gold at the national midget championship. The Don Mills Flyers won the Wrigley Cup in 1977.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Since its inception in 1974, the tournament has been known as the Wrigley Cup (1974-78), Air Canada Cup (1979-2003), National Midget Championship (2004) and since 2005, the TELUS Cup. The event now features five regional champions and one host team, but from 1974 to 1983 welcomed the country’s top 12 teams.

GTHL AND MTHL TEAMS AT THE NATIONAL MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP

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