CALGARY, AB - Quebec City has withdrawn its bid to host the 2003 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, the Canadian Hockey Association announced on Thursday.

There now remains eight bid groups looking to host the 2003 World Juniors: Calgary, AB, Halifax, NS, Hamilton/Kitchener, ON, London, ON, Mississauga, ON, Ottawa, ON, Saskatoon, SK, Winnipeg, MB. Montreal withdrew its bid on November 13, 2000.

Bid applicants must submit written presentations to the Canadian Hockey Association no later than December 1, 2000. Based on the information contained in the written presentation, not more than five (5) bid applications will be short-listed and invited to make an in-person presentation. The 2003 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship Site Selection Committee will make a final decision by December 31, 2000.

The site will be subject to final approval by the International Ice Hockey Federation at it's meeting next May, during the Men's World Hockey Championship in Hanover, Germany. However, the IIHF council has informed the CHA that it will give it's support to the Canadian site, should the bid be of the quality of past Canadian bids.

The 2003 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship would take place late December 2002 to January 2003.

Canada has hosted the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship five times: 1999 (Winnipeg, MB), 1995 (Red Deer, AB), 1991 (Saskatoon, SK), 1986 (Hamilton, ON), 1978 (Montreal, QC).