CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), announced Monday the 22 players that will represent Canada East at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge, November 8-14 in Penticton, B.C.

Canada East has medaled in three of four appearances at the World Junior A Challenge, winning silver in Yorkton, Sask. in 2006, and Trail, B.C. in 2007, before settling for bronze in Camrose, Alta. in 2008. It finished fourth last year in Summerside, P.E.I.

The Canada East roster is comprised of players from the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), Central Hockey League (CHL), Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec (LHJAAAQ) and the Maritime Hockey League (MHL).

“We are very pleased with the players we have chosen to represent Canada East in Penticton,” said Canada East head coach Todd Gill (Brockville, CHL). “This tournament always brings strong competition and our goal remains the same, to win the gold medal.”

The selection process for Canada East involved extensive scouting by Gill, general manager Troy Ryan (Metro, MHL) and assistant coaches Pat Bosch (Kahnawake, LHJAAAQ), Paul Gagne (Abitibi, NOJHL) and Curtis Hodgins (Whitby, OJHL). It also included an evaluation camp featuring 40 hopefuls in Whitby, Ont. in late September.

Canada East’s roster for the 2010 World Junior A Challenge includes:

• Two (2) goaltenders, seven (7) defencemen and 13 forwards
• Two (2) players currently leading or co-leading their teams in scoring (Scott Wilson – Georgetown, Zach Hyman – Hamilton)
• Two (2) player returning from the 2009 World Junior A Challenge (Nick Huard, Jordan Ruby)
• One (1) player named to Canada East in 2009, but was unable to play due to injury (Tyson Wilson)
• One (1) player selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft (Zach Hyman – Florida, 5th round, 123rd overall)
• Eleven (11) players from the OJHL, eight (8) players from the CHL, one (1) player from the NOJHL, one (1) player from the LHJAAAQ and one (1) player from the MHL

Canada East will play in Group A at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge, joined by Sweden and the United States, while Canada West, Russia and Switzerland will comprise Group B. Round-robin play will run until Wednesday, November 10, with both semifinals taking place on Saturday, November 13. The gold medal game, which will be shown nationally on TSN/RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, is set for Sunday, November 14 (check your local listings for broadcast times).

All preliminary round games, quarter-finals, semifinals and the bronze medal game can be seen live via webcast through FASTHockey at hockeycanada.fasthockey.com for $6.95 per game.

Tickets for the event are available at the South Okanagan Events Centre Box Office or at the Wine Country Visitors Centre in Penticton. You can also purchase tickets online at www.valleyfirsttix.com or via phone at 1-877-763-2849. More information on ticket packages can be found here.