CALGARY – Hockey Canada announced on Friday that the first-ever World Adult Recreation Challenge will take place in conjunction with the 2008 IIHF World Championship in May 2008, in Quebec City, QC and Halifax, NS.

The 2008 World Adult Recreation Challenge is the first of a series of special events that Hockey Canada will operate during the 2008 IIHF World Championship in May 2008 to celebrate the game of hockey.

To that end, the inaugural World Adult Recreation Challenge will give recreational hockey players from around the world the chance to play in an international hockey tournament in Quebec City and Halifax during the IIHF World Championship. Teams interesting in taking part in the World Adult Recreation Challenge can register at www.hockeycanada.ca.

The World Adult Recreation Challenge will include two tournaments, one in Quebec City and one in Halifax. Teams can enter in one of four age categories: 19-35, 36-45, 46-55 and 56-plus. The entry fee, per team, is $1,200. That fee includes a minimum of four games (maximum of six), one ticket per player to a game at the IIHF World Championship, an opening dinner and social, a team gift package and transportation throughout the event.

2008 IIHF World Championship - May 1-18, 2008 - Halifax, NS/ Quebec City, QC

The 2008 IIHF World Championship will mark the first time that Canada acts as host for this event. The game’s brightest stars from the top 16 hockey countries in the world will be in Quebec City, QC and Halifax, NS for the tournament, which runs from May 1st-18th, 2008. Canada will be both host and returning champion in 2008, after capturing the 2007 IIHF World Championship on May 13th in Moscow, Russia.

The 2008 IIHF World Championship will mark the 100th anniversary of the IIHF and 400th anniversary of Quebec City. Hockey Canada is proud that the event is coming to Canada and wants all hockey players to contribute to making the championship a success. Ticket packages are already on sale for both venues.