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).

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

T7:30 pm Canada West vs. Trail (BCHL) Cominco Arena (Trail, BC)

T7:30 pm Canada East vs. KIJHL All-Stars Nelson (BC) Civic Centre

Friday, November 2nd

T7:30 pm Canada West vs. Russia Nelson (BC) Civic Centre

T7:00 pm Germany vs. Okotoks (AJHL) Foothills Centennial (Okotoks, AB)

Saturday, November 3rd

T7:30 pm Belarus vs. Germany Castlegar & District (BC) Recreation Centre

T7:30 pm Russia vs. Canada East Cominco Arena (Trail, BC)

Sunday, November 4th

T7:00 pm Community skate - Canada West Cominco Arena (Trail, BC)

T7:00 pm Community skate - Canada East Nelson (BC) Civic Centre

TICKET INFORMATION FOR EXHIBITION GAMES:

Tickets are available at the door for all exhibition games.

TPrices for the exhibition games are as follows:

TTrail/Nelson/Castlegar: Adults - $10; Seniors/students - $8

TOkotoks: Adults - $12; Seniors/students - $10; Children under 6 years old - $5

Twww.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