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NR.125

September 28, 2007
NR.125

EXHIBITION GAME SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR 2007 WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE

CALGARY – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL), announced on Friday an exhibition game schedule consisting of six games, in preparation of the 2007 World Junior A Challenge (WJAC), which will be held November 5-11, 2007 in Trail and Nelson, BC.

The six exhibition games will be held in host communities Trail and Nelson, BC, along with Castlegar, BC and Okotoks, AB. In addition, both Canadian teams will hold community skates on Sunday, November 4th. The community skates (Canada West in Trail; Canada East in Nelson) are open to all participants with tickets being sold on-site.

“The announcement of the exhibition schedule will only help us build the excitement that will surround the World Jr A Challenge in Trail/Nelson,” said Bruce LeRose, chairman of the Trail/Nelson World Junior A Challenge Committee. “Hockey fans in the area will get a great look at teams taking part in the Challenge, as well as seeing their hometown teams in action.”

Canada West and Canada East captured the gold and silver medals, respectively, at the 2006 World Junior A Challenge in Yorkton, SK. Fourteen players who took part in the 2006 event were selected during the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, including three first-round selections: Kyle Turris (Phoenix, 3rd overall), Riley Nash (Edmonton, 21st) and Brendan Smith (Detroit, 27th).

» List of 2006 WJAC players selected in 2007 NHL draft

Both Canadian teams at the 2007 World Junior A Challenge, Canada West and Canada East, along with USA, Russia and Germany, will be 18-and-under teams (players born in 1989 or earlier), with a maximum of five 19-year-old players (born in 1988). The Belarus entry will be its National Under-20 Team (born in 1988 or earlier).

WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE EXHIBITION GAME SCHEDULE

Thursday, November 1st
7:30 pm Canada West vs. Trail (BCHL) Cominco Arena (Trail, BC)
7:30 pm Canada East vs. KIJHL All-Stars Nelson (BC) Civic Centre

Friday, November 2nd
7:30 pm Canada West vs. Russia Nelson (BC) Civic Centre
7:00 pm Germany vs. Okotoks (AJHL) Foothills Centennial (Okotoks, AB)

Saturday, November 3rd
7:30 pm Belarus vs. Germany Castlegar & District (BC) Recreation Centre
7:30 pm Russia vs. Canada East Cominco Arena (Trail, BC)

Sunday, November 4th
7:00 pm Community skate - Canada West Cominco Arena (Trail, BC)
7:00 pm Community skate - Canada East Nelson (BC) Civic Centre

TICKET INFORMATION FOR EXHIBITION GAMES:

Tickets are available at the door for all exhibition games.
Prices for the exhibition games are as follows:
Trail/Nelson/Castlegar: Adults - $10; Seniors/students - $8
Okotoks: Adults - $12; Seniors/students - $10; Children under 6 years old - $5
www.okotoksoilers.com

The World Junior A Challenge is in its second year, and matches Canada’s best Junior A players against top junior-aged players from around the world. The 2007 WJAC begins on November 5th with Canada East facing Belarus in Trail and Russia taking on Germany in Nelson. Defending champion Canada West opens up on Tuesday, November 6th against Germany in Trail.

Tickets for the World Junior A Challenge in Trail and Nelson are available by calling (250) 364-0808. The gold medal game at the 2007 WJAC will be broadcast live from Trail, BC on TSN/RDS.

» 2007 World Junior A Challenge
» 2007 WJAC Event and Exhibition Schedule

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 

André Brin
Director, Communications
Hockey Canada
403-777-4557
abrin@hockeycanada.ca

 

Francis Dupont
Manager, Media Relations/Communications
Hockey Canada
403-777-4564
fdupont@hockeycanada.ca

 

Jason LaRose
Coordinator, Content Services
Hockey Canada
403-777-4553
jlarose@hockeycanada.ca

 

Kristen Lipscombe
Coordinator, Communications
Hockey Canada
403-284-6427
klipscombe@hockeycanada.ca

 
Keegan Goodrich
Coordinator, Media
Hockey Canada
403-284-6484
kgoodrich@hockeycanada.ca
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