HEADLINE

SITE SELECTION FOR 2010 & 2011 WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE BEGINS

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Site Selection for 2010 & 2011 World Junior A Challenge Begins

On August 19th, 2009 Hockey Canada officially opened the application process for all communities interested in hosting the 2010 and 2011 World Junior A Challenge. The tournament is an Invitational International Hockey Canada Event, hosted in partnership with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).

Canada's Junior A leagues continue to develop world-class players, and the World Junior A Challenge continues to be a terrific showcase for the talent to perform. Through the tournament's first three years, 50 players have been drafted after playing in the World Junior A Challenge, including eight first-round selections. The tournament has become one of the must-sees on the international calendar.

Hockey Canada and the CJHL recently announced a partnership with the NHL, which is aimed at growing the Junior A game across the country through its trademark events such as the World Junior A Challenge, as well as investing in the development of players, coaches and officials involved with Junior A hockey across the country.

Created to showcase the talent in Canada's 10 Junior A leagues, the World Junior A Challenge debuted in Yorkton and Humboldt, SK in 2006. Summerside, PEI will host the 2009 World Junior A Challenge from November 1-8, 2009, the first time in the four-year history of the tournament that it will be held east of Saskatchewan. Summerside joins Yorkton, SK (2006), Trail, BC (2007) and Camrose, AB (2008) as host cities for the World Junior A Challenge.

The World Junior A Challenge will continue to follow the same format as previous years - two Canadian entries will be joined by four international teams, split into two groups of three teams. The group winners will receive an automatic bye to the semi-finals, while the second and third place teams will crossover for the quarter-finals. Team Canada West and Team Canada East are the only teams to medal at all three World Junior A Challenges.

Interested host communities must submit a letter of interest to Hockey Canada by September 16, 2009. From September 17 to October 14 Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League will follow up with interested host communities to assist the Site Selection Committee with ultimate decision as to who will host in 2010 and 2011. In mid-October the Site Selection Committee will forward its recommendation to Junior Council for approval.