Okotoks will be a hub for hockey this week.

The ESSO and Telus Cups are being hosted in town, with Canada's top men and women's U-18 teams facing off all week starting today (May 16) and ending this Sunday.

Hockey Canada has been working closely with the Town of Okotoks as well as the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association to facilitate the events, with local volunteers rallying to make the event happen.

Manager of events & properties with Hockey Canada, Corinne Ethier, says it's a great opportunity to see Canada's rising hockey stars in action.

"These are clubs from across Canada that have worked their way through their regional championships, so it's quite the competition and achievement just to make it to this point... With that, it's also a very highly-scouted event from our national programming in order to pick out our talented players to see who can advance, but again, with so many across every single team there's a lot to look at for sure."

After a few years of heavy restrictions on sports, everyone involved is feeling the hype.

"With COVID-19 over the past couple of years, we've had to cancel these championships and are beyond excited to finally be getting them off the ground, and are super thankful for the Town of Okotoks and the entire community for working with Hockey Canada in order to deliver these. I know the teams are beyond excited," says Ethier.

The Pason will see six games a day from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with three games played at the Scott Seaman Sports Rink on May 18 and 19.

Games for the final rounds will see later puck drops, with the final games to be played at 3:00 and 7:30 p.m.

Individual game tickets, as well as full event packages, are currently on sale.

The full schedule can be seen on the Hockey Canada website, and tickets are available on the Okotoks Oilers' website.