The Provincial U16 AAA Championships get underway today at the Trinity Placentia Stadium in Whitbourne.

This is the first year that Hockey NL moved from an U18 AA to an U16 AAA program.

Hockey NL says the new age division was modeled after other Atlantic provinces to provide first year U18 players with a competitive program while developing a potential U18 AAA program.

The five participating teams will compete in a round-robin followed by a championship game on Sunday.

The Central Impact, East Coast Fog Devils, Eastern Privateers, Tri-Pen Osprey and Western Crushers are all vying for the cup.

Meanwhile, U13 AAA Provincials are on the go this weekend at the Corner Brook Civic Centre. The champions will then go on to represent the province at the Atlantic Regional Championships in Dieppe, New Brunswick April 18 to April 21.

The complete schedule can be found online.