The countdown is on – slightly more than 10 months remain until the first puck drops at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship – and the preliminary round pools for Regina and Saskatoon have been set.

REGINA POOL

Austria

Czech Republic

Finland

Russia

Sweden

SASKATOON POOL

Canada

Latvia

Slovakia

Switzerland

United States

“It is going to be extremely competitive, especially the Regina pool” says Al Ford, assistant general manager of the 2010 WJC host organizing committee. “At least four of the teams in that pool are legitimate contenders for a medal.”

“The Americans and Canadians have become such great rivals over recent years, hockey fans in Saskatoon are in for a treat with those two in the same pool,” says Jack Brodsky, president of the 2010 WJC host organizing committee. “And with all those top European teams playing in Regina hockey fans in that city are going to see some incredible games.”

After the round robin the bottom two teams in each pool will play in the relegation round and the top three teams in each pool will play in the medal round – both will be hosted in Saskatoon.

The 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship will take place from to at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon and the Brandt Centre in Regina. The game schedule will consist of 31 games.

Tickets for the 2010 World Juniors are now on sale through Ticketmaster, either at ticketmaster.ca, 1-800-970-SEAT, or any Ticketmaster outlet. Saskatoon’s 21-game package includes round-robin games featuring Canada’s National Junior Team, the relegation round and all medal round games from $758 to $1178 per seat plus applicable service charges.

Regina’s 12-game package, including two pre-competition games featuring Canada’s National Junior Team and 10 round-robin games, is priced from $383 to $443 per seat plus service charges. There is also an optional ticket package with limited availability that includes the Regina 12-game package and the relegation and medal round in Saskatoon for a total of 23 games at $1092 plus applicable service charges.