CALGARY, Alta. – Two winners have been announced in the Bauer Design-A-Mask contest, which for the ninth year in a row will allow the winners to see their designs worn by Canada’s National Junior Team goaltenders during the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. to Jan. in Calgary and Edmonton, Alta.

In the 12-and-under category, Curtis Abernethy of Cambridge, Ont., was chosen as the best design, while Justin Ross of Lucan, Ont., is the winner in the 13-to-18 category. Close to 1,000 entries were received for the Bauer Design-A-Mask contest.

Apart from the thrill of having their designs chosen by the hockey industry’s top goaltender aficionados and worn by Canada’s netminders, Curtis and Justin will also receive their very own duplicate, custom-painted Bauer mask, which will be autographed by members of Canada’s 2012 National Junior Team.

“I’d like to congratulate Curtis and Justin on being chosen as this year’s winners of the Bauer Design-A-Mask contest,” said Brad Pascall, vice-president of hockey operations/national teams for Hockey Canada. “This contest gives young Canadians – whether they are players, fans or aspiring artists – the chance to be a part of Canada’s National Junior Team.”

Past winners have seen their masks worn by the likes of NHL first-overall selection Marc-André Fleury and gold-medal-winning netminders Jeff Glass, Justin Pogge, Steve Mason and Dustin Tokarski.

For more information on the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit www.HockeyCanada.ca/2012juniors, or follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/worldjuniors and www.twitter.com/hc_wjc.