The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), in partnership with Hockey Canada, has announced the appointment of the general managers for Canada East and Canada West for the 2010 World Junior A Challenge.

Troy Ryan, general manager and head coach of the Halifax Lions of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League, will lead Canada East while Canada West will be under the direction of Rylan Ferster, general manager of the British Columbia Hockey League’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

The international tournament will feature the best 19-and-under Junior A aged players from six competing countries. The World Junior A Challenge tournament will be held in November 2010; the respective dates and location will be announced shortly.

Ryan, who has served as an assistant coach for Canada East since the inaugural World Junior A Challenge in 2006, is honoured and ready for the new challenge of becoming general manager.

"The opportunity to take on a higher role is one I couldn't pass up on,” ha says. “I feel privileged to have been chosen from amongst my peers and to work with Hockey Canada. The selection process is a huge task, as I need to ensure my staff and I meet and see as many players as possible that will best qualify to represent Canada."

Ferster represented Canada West as an assistant coach in 2008, served as head coach in 2009, and now takes the reigns as general manager for the 2010 tournament. He is focused on making the most of his opportunity as general manager.

"To represent Canada is a huge honour,” Ferster says. “I have been a part of the program for a couple of years, and it has been the best hockey experience of my career. Our goal is to win gold; you never win silver!"

Canadian Junior Hockey League chairman Paul Lake believes the experience of the newly appointed general managers will continue to improve the success of the program.

"The general managers selected for the 2010 World Junior A Challenge have both advanced through the system, and gained invaluable experience at the international level from their past roles with Team Canada,” Lake says. “The ability to have this level of knowledge and continuity will only increase the chance of success for both teams. As we enter the fifth year of the tournament, I feel the program has reached our expectations and met our objective, which is ultimately to showcase our talent on an international stage."