CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced the format and schedule for the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which will be hosted in Langley and Delta, B.C., from Nov. 3-12. It will be the first time the tournament has been hosted since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seven teams will compete in this year’s tournament: Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red, Team Canada White, Czechia, Finland, Sweden and the United States. Each team will play six preliminary-round games between Nov. 3 and 11, with the top four teams in the standings advancing to the medal round.

The bronze and gold medal games will take place on Nov. 12 at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. PT, respectively.  

“Since this event began in 1986, more than 1,600 National Hockey League draft picks have played in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge,” said Breanne Ferris, manager of events and properties for Hockey Canada. “We cannot wait to celebrate the tournament’s return with the great hockey fans in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley and watch the top young players in the world compete for gold this fall.”

The Langley Events Centre will host 16 games, including three all-Canadian matchups and both medal round games on Nov. 12.

Seven games will be played at Delta’s Sungod Arena, beginning with Team Canada White facing Sweden on Nov. 3.

Tickets are on sale now, with packages beginning at $109 in Delta and $209 in Langley.    

Each team will play at least one game in Langley and Delta, ensuring that fans in both communities can watch some of hockey’s brightest young stars.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, will provide coverage of the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Broadcast schedules will be announced in the fall.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

From Shane Wright to Dyllan Gill, the 2022 NHL Draft was all about Canadian hockey.

In total, more than one-third of the players who had their names called in Montreal – 90 of 225 – hail from the true north strong and free.

Those players include representation from 11 Members, and 28 who have worn the Maple Leaf in international competition – including four gold medallists from the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship.

The red-and-white run started early, with Shane Wright going No. 4 to the Seattle Kraken. The Burlington, Ont., native captained Canada Black at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the gold medal-winning U18 team in 2021, and played for Canada’s National Junior Team at the cancelled 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship last winter.

Put that jersey on, Shane! @SeattleKraken pic.twitter.com/iumkvkTZdB

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) July 8, 2022

Wright was the first of nine Canadians selected in the first round, including three from Manitoba – Conor Geekie (No. 11 to Arizona), Denton Mateychuk (No. 12 to Columbus) and Owen Pickering (No. 21 to Pittsburgh).

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) was well represented among the Canadian contingent; 71 of the 90 players selected – including all nine of the first-round picks – were products of CHL programs, from 36 different teams. The Ontario Hockey League led the way with 29 picks, followed by the Western Hockey League with 27 and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 15.

The North Bay Battalion (Arnsby, DiVincentiis, Jackson, Mathurin, Nelson) and Swift Current Broncos (Davies, Dyck, Filmon, Hvidston, Pickering) paced all club teams with five players selected, while the Guelph Storm (Buchinger, Karabela, Poitras, Zhilkin), Kamloops Blazers (Kuefler, Lindgren, Minten, Seminoff) and Seattle Thunderbirds (Davidson, Gustafson, Korchinski, Schaefer) had four apiece.

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY MEMBER

Ontario Hockey Federation (30) – Liam Arnsby, Owen Beck, Michael Buchinger, Nolan Collins, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Domenic DiVincentiis, Lucas Edmonds, Jackson Edward, George Fegaras, Isaiah George, David Gucciardi, Hunter Haight, Stephen Halliday, Jake Karabela, Christian Kyrou, Amadeus Lombardi, Paul Ludwinski, Matthew Maggio, Tnias Mathurin, Bryce McConnell-Barker, Owen Mehlenbacher, Nick Moldenhauer, Matthew Morden, Ty Nelson, Cole O’Hara, Matthew Poitras, Tucker Robertson, Jack Sparkes, Shane Wright, Danny Zhilkin

BC Hockey (12) – Mason Beaupit, Parker Bell, Tyson Dyck, Tyson Jugnauth, Ben King, Mats Lindgren, Brandon Lisowsky, Michael Milne, Fraser Minten, Matthew Seminoff, Graham Sward, Abram Wiebe

Hockey Alberta (12) – Emmett Croteau, Jared Davidson, Josh Davies, Jagger Firkus, Jordan Gustafson, Ben Hemmerling, Dylan James, Daylan Kuefler, Rieger Lorenz, Matthew Savoie, Reid Schaefer, Ty Young

Hockey Quebec (11) – Angus Booth, Frédéric Brunet, Jordan Dumais, Nathan Gaucher, Alexis Gendron, Patrick Guay, Maveric Lamoureux, Jérémy Langlois, Tristan Luneau, Miguël Tourigny, Noah Warren

Hockey Manitoba (8) – Tyler Brennan, Reid Dyck, Josh Filmon, Conor Geekie, Ryan Hofer, Adam Ingram, Denton Mateychuk, Owen Pickering

Hockey Eastern Ontario (7) – Jorian Donovan, David Goyette, Cedrick Guindon, Kyle Jackson, Kaleb Lawrence, Gavin White, Cameron Whitehead

Hockey New Brunswick (4) – Eli Barnett, Marc-Andre Gaudet, Dyllan Gill, Samuel Savoie

Hockey Nova Scotia (2) – Jake Furlong, Landon Sim

Hockey Saskatchewan (2) – Connor Hvidston, Kevin Korchinski

Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador (1) – Ryan Greene

Hockey Northwestern Ontario (1) – Daimon Gardner

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE EXPERIENCE

2022 National Men’s Under-18 Team
Nolan Collins, Josh Davies, Reid Dyck, Josh Filmon, David Goyette, Connor Hvidston, Rieger Lorenz, Nick Moldenhauer, Matthew Morden, Owen Pickering

2022 National Junior Team
Shane Wright

2021 National Men’s Under-18 Team
Tyler Brennan, Denton Mateychuk, Shane Wright, Danny Zhilkin

2020 Youth Olympic Games
Cedrick Guindon, Mats Lindgren, Paul Ludwinski, Tristan Luneau, Denton Mateychuk, Ty Nelson, Matthew Savoie, Noah Warren

2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
Black: Jérémy Langlois, Kaleb Lawrence, Shane Wright, Danny Zhilkin

Red: Nathan Gaucher

White: Liam Arnsby, Tyler Brennan, Matthew Savoie, Graham Sward

2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
Red: Stephan Halliday, Matthew Maggio

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada will lean on 20 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) coaches to guide Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, as well as Canada’s national under-17 program for the 2022-23 season.

On the under-18 side, Stéphane Julien (Shawinigan, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) will take the reins as head coach, joined by assistant coaches Alan Letang (Renfrew, Ont./Sarnia, OHL) and Kris Mallette (Kelowna, B.C./Kelowna, WHL), as well as goaltending coach Kelly Guard (Prince Albert, Sask./Prince Albert, WHL) and video coach Raphaël-Pier Richer (Gatineau, Que./Gatineau, QMJHL).

“We are excited to announce the coaching and support staff that will lead our National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team through selection camp and at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup,” said Tyler Dietrich (West Vancouver, B.C.), senior manager of hockey operations with Hockey Canada. “We know this group will use its CHL experience to help build and a lead a team that will represent Canada with pride and give us the best chance to win gold on home ice in Red Deer in August.”

Julien has been the head coach and general manager of the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the past two seasons. He has been the head coach since 2016 and was an assistant from 2012-16. Julien was also an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2017 IIHF U18 World Championship and head coach of Team Canada Black at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

Letang recently completed his first season as head coach of the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Prior to joining the Sting, he spent five seasons with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack as an assistant coach (2016-19) and head coach (2019-20). Letang also won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Mallette has served as head coach of the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for two seasons (2020-22) after serving six seasons (2014-20) as an assistant. He was named an assistant coach of Team Canada Black for the 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which was cancelled due to COVID-19, and was the head coach of Team Canada Red at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

For a full list of Staff for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, please click here

Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will gather in Calgary for selection camp from July 20-23 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park ahead of the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, presented by RAM. The Hlinka Gretzky Cup will make its return to Canada, with Red Deer, Alta., hosting the top under-18 players in the world at the Peavey Mart Centrium, July 31-Aug. 6.

On the under-17 side, Mark O’Leary (Owen Sound, Ont./Moose Jaw, WHL), Bruce Richardson (Montréal, Que./Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL) and Greg Walters (Toronto, Ont./Owen Sound, OHL) will serve as head coaches of the three under-17 teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White – with coaching staffs being finalized in the coming months.

Joining the three head coaches will be assistant coaches Carl Mallette (Montréal, Que./Victoriaville, QMJHL), Devan Praught (Summerside, P.E.I./Swift Current, WHL), Jordan Smith (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), Ryan Smith (Headingley, Man./Spokane, WHL), Rick Steadman (Oil Springs, Ont./London, OHL), and Chad Wiseman (Burlington, Ont./Guelph, OHL). Goaltending coaches Steve Mongrain (Proulxville, Que./Shawinigan, QMJHL), Franky Palazzese (Mississauga, Ont./Sarnia, OHL) and Byron Spriggs (Winnipeg, Man./Winnipeg, WHL), and video coaches Nick Biamonte (Bolton, Ont./Guelph, OHL), and Andrew Boucher (South Porcupine, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) will round out the coaching staff.

“The under-17 program is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, and we are excited to welcome 15 coaches from across the CHL to help introduce the country’s top young players to our program,” said Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel with Hockey Canada. “All 15 coaches bring a unique skill set, combining international and junior hockey experience, and we look forward to the coaching staff helping deliver a world-class camp for all participants.”

O’Leary has held various coaching roles with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors since 2012, most recently serving as head coach for parts of the last three seasons (2019-22). He has represented Canada once as a coach, serving as an assistant with Team Canada Red at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Richardson has served as head coach of the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada for the past four seasons (2018-22) and was previously the head coach of the Victoriaville Tigres from 2014-16. He was also an assistant coach with Team Canada Black at the November 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Walters recently completed his first season as head coach of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack after serving as head coach of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals for three seasons (2018-21). Internationally, he won a silver medal as an assistant coach with Team Canada East at the 2011 World Junior A Challenge and was head coach of Team Canada East at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge.

Mallette has been the head coach of the Victoriaville Tigres for the past two seasons (2020-22) and was an assistant coach with the team for three seasons (2017-20) prior to becoming head coach. He also served as an assistant coach with Team Canada Red at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

Praught was named head coach of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos on March 7 after serving as an assistant coach with the team during the 2021-22 season. He was also an assistant coach with Team Saskatchewan at the 2019 Canada Winter Games and is set to make his international debut behind the bench.

Jordan Smith has spent the past four seasons (2018-22) as an associate coach with the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and was an associate with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves during the 2017-18 season. He also served as an assistant coach with Team Canada Black at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

Ryan Smith was named interim head coach of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs on Feb. 10 after serving as an associate coach for the past two seasons (2020-22). He was previously an assistant with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos (2015-18) and Medicine Hat Tigers (2018-20), and served as an assistant coach with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in 2012 and 2013, winning silver and bronze, respectively.

Steadman recently completed his sixth season as an assistant coach with the OHL’s London Knights, serving in the position since 2014-15. He is set to make his international coaching debut.

Wiseman has served as an associate coach with the OHL’s Guelph Storm for the past three seasons (2019-22) and was an assistant coach with the team during the 2018-19 season. He was named an assistant coach with Team Canada White for the 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which was cancelled due to COVID-19, and served as an assistant with Team Canada White at the 2021 Capital City Challenge.

For a list of staff for Canada’s National Under-17 Program, please click here

The coaching staff will oversee and lead 100 players at Canada’s national under-17 development camp, set for July 10-16 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. The staffs will also lead Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Langley and Delta, B.C., Nov. 5-12.

For more information on Hockey Canada, Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team and Canada’s national under-17 program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has invited 100 players to participate in Canada’s national under-17 development camp, set to take place July 10-16 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

For the duration of the week-long camp, the players – 10 goaltenders, 30 defencemen and 60 forwards - will be split into five teams for on- and off-ice training, fitness testing, practices, intrasquad games and classroom sessions.

Alan Millar, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada, led the player selection process, with assistance from U17 head scout Byron Bonora and regional scouts Rob Simpson (Ontario), Pierre Cholette (Quebec), Darren Sutherland (Atlantic) and Darrell Woodley (Ontario), as well as Member representatives.

“The national under-17 development camp is the first stage in introducing these athletes to the Program of Excellence, and it is a great opportunity for them to develop as players and learn what it takes to wear the Maple Leaf,” said Millar. “We look forward to enhancing these young players’ ongoing development during this camp and starting the process of building our three national U17 teams for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this fall.”

Following the camp, players will continue to be evaluated through the early portion of the 2022-23 season before 66 are named to one of three Canadian national teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White – that will compete at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, scheduled for Nov 5-12 in Langley and Delta, B.C.

So far, 77 of the 100 players have been drafted by Canadian Hockey League teams, including 40 from the Ontario Hockey League and 37 from the Western Hockey League, while the remaining 23 are prospects for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft, to be held July 4-5.

The full camp schedule will be available at a later date.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced the dates and host communities for six events taking place during the 2022-23 season, including the return of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup and World Junior A Challenge for the first time since 2019.

The communities of Langley and Delta, B.C., will host the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge from Nov. 5-12, bringing some of the top young players in the world to Metro Vancouver.

The 2022 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup will run from Nov. 27-Dec. 3 in Bridgewater, N.S., marking the first time that the event has been held in the Maritimes since 2016.

A showcase of Canadian and international Junior A talent, the 2022 World Junior A Challenge will take place in Cornwall, Ont., from Dec. 11-18.

Two of Hockey Canada’s national championships will return to their typical April schedule in 2023, with the puck dropping at the Esso Cup in Prince Albert, Sask., on April 23 and the TELUS Cup beginning April 24 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.

The Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, will be hosted in Portage la Prairie, Man., in May 2023, bringing Canada’s National Junior A Championship to Manitoba for a fourth time.

“We are excited to announce the host communities for six events taking place in 2022-23, and we cannot wait to bring some of the top hockey events in the world to fans across Canada,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties for Hockey Canada. “Hosting events of this magnitude would not be possible without our incredible local partners, and we are very grateful for their support as we count down to puck drop.”

Tickets are available now for the 2022 World Junior A Challenge in Cornwall, Ont., at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, while on-sale dates for the remaining events will be announced at a later date.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, become a Hockey Canada Insider, or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

OTTAWA, Ont. – Team Canada Black has been crowned champions at the 2021 Capital City Challenge after downing Team Canada Red 5-4 in an overtime thriller in the tournament final on Wednesday night.

Team Canada Black jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period after goals by Ty Halaburda (Victoria, B.C./Vancouver, WHL) and Alex Pharand (Sudbury, Ont./Hamilton, OHL), but Matthew Wood (Nanaimo, B.C./Victoria, BCHL) and Natan Éthier (Rosemère, Que./Saint-Eustache, LHM18AAAQ) responded with goals for Team Canada Red to even the score at 2-2. The teams traded goals in the second as Halaburda notched his second goal of the game and Owen Outwater (Orleans, Ont./North Bay, OHL) scored just over two minutes later to tie the game again.

The final minute of the third period was a wild one. Riley Heidt (Saskatoon, Sask./Prince George, WHL) fired home a rebound with 29 seconds to go to put Red ahead, but Zach Benson (Chilliwack, B.C./Winnipeg, WHL) netted his tournament-leading seventh goal on a shot off the face-off with 0.4 seconds left to send the game to overtime. Calum Ritchie (Oakville, Ont./Oshawa, OHL) was the extra-time hero, beating Team Canada Red goaltender Jackson Unger (Calgary, Alta./Edge School, CSSHL) on a breakaway in the extra frame.

“It was a little bit of a blur. I saw the puck bounce off the boards and I had the opportunity to get a breakaway, so I just skated as hard as I could,” Ritchie said. “Muscle memory from practice took over, and to be honest I do not really remember [scoring], but it was such a great feeling to get the game-winner.”

Team Canada Black netminder Mason Vaccari (Mississauga, Ont./Cobourg, OJHL) stopped 30 shots, while Unger made 35 saves.

Team Canada White defeats National Women’s Team in third-place game

In the third-place game earlier on Wednesday, five different skaters found the back of the net for Team Canada White as it defeated Canada’s National Women’s Team 5-1.

Carey Terrance (Akwesasne, N.Y./Erie, OHL) kick-started the offence for Canada White, opening the scoring less than three minutes into the game. Tyler Peddle (Antigonish, N.S./Drummondville, QMJHL) added a goal and an assist, and Ethan Gauthier (Drummondville, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) chipped in with a pair of helpers.

Goaltender Scott Ratzlaff (Irma, Alta./Seattle, WHL) made 12 saves in the win.

“Our players were a little bit disappointed after yesterday’s result, but overall I am proud of the way they finished the tournament,” said Canada White head coach Rob Wilson (Toronto/Peterborough, Ont.). “We had such a great group of players and staff, and it was a pleasure to be a part of this team. I am looking forward to watching our players flourish as they continue on in their careers.”

Emma Maltais (Burlington, Ont./Ohio State University, WCHA) scored the lone goal for Canada’s National Women’s Team, while goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta./PWHPA) turned in a 38-save performance.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2021 Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack. 

OTTAWA, Ont. – Team Canada Red and Team Canada Black punched their tickets to the 2021 Capital City Challenge final after semifinal wins on Tuesday night, while Team Canada White will take on Canada's National Women’s Team in the third-place game tomorrow afternoon.

TEAM CANADA RED 6, TEAM CANADA WHITE 2
Brayden Yager (Saskatoon, Sask./Moose Jaw, WHL) and Bradley Nadeau (Saint-François, N.B./Penticton, BCHL) lead the offence for Canada Red, with Yager scoring a shorthanded goal and adding an assist as well as Nadeau chipping in with a pair of helpers. Kalan Lind (Shaunavon, Sask./Red Deer, WHL) scored both goals for Canada White, and Andrew Cristall (Vancouver, B.C./Kelowna, WHL) contributed two helpers.

“From day one, we have been talking about staying connected as a team. I thought we were great on the forecheck tonight and we were responsible in the defensive zone, which helped us a lot. We played well as five-man units, got some good bounces and scored a few good goals, and we competed hard right to the end of the game.”
- Canada Red forward Riley Heidt (Saskatoon, Sask./Prince George, WHL) on the team’s performance

“I thought I competed hard, and I thought my linemates made a lot of good plays. All over the ice, we had some good chemistry, and obviously Andrew [Cristall] made some great passes to me that I was able to bury in the net. I wanted to keep competing, throw my body around and do everything I could to help the team. I blocked some shots in the third period and wanted to help us even up the game, but unfortunately we did not get the result we wanted.”
- Lind on his performance

TEAM CANADA BLACK 4, NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM 3 (OT)
Zach Benson (Chilliwack, B.C./Winnipeg, WHL) scored 11 seconds into three-on-three overtime to lift Canada Black to a 4-3 win over Canada's National Women’s Team, securing a spot in the final. The National Women’s Team scored three goals in less than four minutes in the second period to erase a three-goal deficit, but it could not complete the comeback and will play in the third-place game.

“It was three-on-three hockey and there was a lot of open ice. It was a big face-off win by [Calum] Ritchie, and then Tanner [Molendyk] made a great pass to Ritchie. He made a great saucer pass to me, and I was able to find the back of the net on a great play all around.”
- Benson on his overtime winner

“We were not happy with our first 10 minutes of the game. We were chasing from that point on, but ever since the world championship in August, there has been so much belief amongst our group, even when we get behind a couple goals. We know if we stick to our game plan, play our way and focus on the things that make us successful, we can fight back. I think we proved that again today. We have done it in the past and it shows a lot of resiliency, and that we are able to stick to our plan and not get off course when things are not going our way.”
- National Women’s Team defenceman Renata Fast (Burlington, Ont./PWHPA) on coming back from a three-goal deficit

NEXT GAMES (DEC. 1)
National Women’s Team vs. Team Canada White (2:30 p.m. ET) - STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM
Team Canada Red vs. Team Canada Black (7 p.m. ET) - STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM

LEADING SCORERS
Zach Benson (Black) - 6G 5A 11P
Calum Ritchie (Black) - 4G 3A 7P
Ethan Gauthier (White) - 1G 6A 7P
Matthew Wood (Red) - 3G 3A 6P
Mathieu Cataford (White) - 2G 3A 5P

LEADING GOALTENDERS
Jackson Unger (Red) - 3-0 / 1.33 GAA / .952 SV%
Ann-Renée Desbiens (NWT) - 0-2 / 4.00 GAA / .925 SV%
Joseph Costanzo (Black) - 2-0 / 2.00 GAA / .886 SV%
Scott Ratzlaff (White) - 0-2 / 4.03 GAA / .879 SV%
Mason Vaccari (Black) - 2-0 / 3.50 GAA / .873 SV%

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2021 Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.

OTTAWA, Ont. – Preliminary-round action wrapped up at the 2021 Capital City Challenge on Monday night, and Team Canada Black secured its spot atop the standings with a 10-5 win over Team Canada White.

TEAM CANADA BLACK 10, TEAM CANADA WHITE 5
It was an offensive affair in the final game of the preliminary round, with Zach Benson (Chilliwack, B.C./Winnipeg, WHL) and Calum Ritchie (Oakville, Ont./Oshawa, OHL) leading the charge for Canada Black. Benson finished the night with a hat trick and four assists, while Ritchie posted a hat trick and a pair of helpers. Despite the loss, Ethan Gauthier (Drummondville, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) had a three-point night (one goal, two assists) and Matthew Soto (Oakville, Ont./Kingston, OHL) chipped in with a goal and an assist for Canada White.

“Our line has been moving the puck well. We have a lot of speed and have been using that to our advantage. Playing with Calum [Ritchie] is great, he is a great guy off the ice and a very skilled player with a lot of hockey IQ on the ice, so he is fun to play with. You add in Ty [Halaburda], who is so fast and physical. He works hard, never takes a shift off and wins puck battles, and they are both great linemates.”
- Benson on playing with Ritchie and Ty Halaburda (Victoria, B.C./Vancouver, WHL)

“I like the way we start games. We were strong on the puck and got some good pressure today, and we were able to generate a lot of offence. Our transition game is very quick, and that is because our defence are moving the puck up quickly. We have a lot of speed and have been taking advantage of the power play, and I like the commitment of our team. From our first day here, we have focused on building chemistry and our team is buying into that. Our players deserve what they have worked for, and I am very happy for them.”
- Canada Black head coach Stéphane Julien (Shawinigan, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) on his team’s success

“We took eight minor penalties, and that is just too many and it is really hurting us. We have to stop taking those penalties, even going back to our game against [Canada Red], we had two five-on-three penalty kills. If we do that tomorrow, we will unfortunately be on the losing end. We have played well at five-on-five, but we found ourselves having to fight back, and we cannot do that in tomorrow’s game.”
- Canada White head coach Rob Wilson (Toronto/Peterborough, Ont.) on limiting penalties

NEXT GAMES (NOV. 30 - SEMIFINALS)
Team Canada White vs. Team Canada Red (2:30 p.m. ET) - STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM
National Women’s Team vs. Team Canada Black (7 p.m. ET) - STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM

STANDINGS
Team Canada Black 3-0-0-0 | 21GF 8GA | 9 points
Team Canada Red 2-0-0-1 | 13GF 9GA | 6 points
Team Canada White 1-0-0-2 | 14GF 17GA | 3 points
National Women’s Team 0-0-0-3 | 4GF 18GA | 0 points

LEADING SCORERS
Zach Benson (Black) 5G 4A 9P
Calum Ritchie (Black) 4G 3A 7P
Ethan Gauthier (White) 1G 6A 7P
Matthew Wood (Red) 3G 3A 6P
Mathieu Cataford (White) 2G 3A 5P

LEADING GOALTENDERS
Jackson Unger (Red) 1-0 / 1.00 GAA / .960 SV%
Joseph Costanzo (Black) 1-0 / 1.00 GAA / .933 SV%
Ann-Renée Desbiens (NWT) 0-1 / 4.00 GAA / .929 SV%
Scott Ratzlaff (White) 0-1 / 3.00 GAA / 0.893 SV%
Mason Vaccari (Black) 1-0 / 3.50 GAA / .873 SV%

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2021 Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.

OTTAWA, Ont. – Day three is in the books at the 2021 Capital City Challenge; Team Canada Red picked up its second-consecutive win and Team Canada Black moved into top spot in the standings heading into the final day of preliminary-round action.

TEAM CANADA RED 4, TEAM CANADA WHITE 2
A second-straight three-point performance from Matthew Wood (Nanaimo, B.C./Victoria, BCHL) and 26 saves by Jackson Unger (Calgary, Alta./Edge School, CSSHL) led Canada Red to its second win. Tyler Peddle (Antigonish, N.S./Drummondville, QMJHL) and Andrew Cristall (Vancouver, B.C./Kelowna, WHL) added goals in the third period for Canada White, but it fell short of completing the comeback.

“I was not really expecting to be named captain. It is great news for me, and I have always tried to be a leader on any team I have played for. I think I am doing a great job of being a leader in this short tournament, but it is definitely an amazing feeling. I am a friendly guy, and in the room I like to talk to everyone and make new friends. I think it is part of my responsibility to connect with everyone on our team.”
- Canada Red forward Émile Perron (Gatineau, Que./Cape Breton, QMJHL) on being named captain

“It feels amazing [to wear the Maple Leaf]. As a child, I always watched all the guys that played for Team Canada, so this is a really special opportunity for me. I have been enjoying the experience so far, and it is a definitely a nice feeling to put on the Canada jersey.”
- Canada White forward Chris Barlas (Ottawa, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) on wearing the Maple Leaf

TEAM CANADA BLACK 4, NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM 1
Four different forwards found the back of the net and 10 different skaters recorded at least one point for Canada Black as it downed the National Women’s Team in the evening match-up. Ty Halaburda (Victoria, B.C./Vancouver, WHL) netted the eventual game-winner for Canada Black, while Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que./PWHPA) made 52 saves for the National Women’s Team.

“It was an honour to be able to play against [the National Women’s Team]. We did not really know what to expect, but I definitely gained a lot of respect for the players on that team. They use their sticks so well. There is less body contact, but they are so skilled and are able to strip the puck off you pretty well. This experience is going to make watching the Olympics that much better.”
- Canada Black captain Cameron Allen (Toronto, Ont./Guelph, OHL) on playing the National Women’s Team

“Every game we play is very different, but any time you have the opportunity to play against a high-level competition you just try your best and try to give your team an opportunity to win. I think that is what I did today. I would not necessarily say it was the best performance of my career, but I had a lot of fun out there and it was a big challenge.”
- Desbiens on her 52-save performance

STANDINGS
Team Canada Black 2-0-0-0 | 11GF 3GA | 6 points
Team Canada Red 2-0-0-1 | 13GF 9GA | 6 points
Team Canada White 1-0-0-1 | 9GF 7GA | 3 points
National Women’s Team 0-0-0-3 | 4GF 18GA | 0 points

LEADING SCORERS
Matthew Wood (Red) 3G 3A 6P
Brayden Yager (Red) 3G 1A 4P
Mathieu Cataford (White) 1G 3A 4P
Étienne Morin (Red) 0G 4A 4P
Ethan Gauthier (White) 0G 4A 4P

LEADING GOALTENDERS
Jackson Unger (Red) 1-0 / 1.00 GAA / .960 SV%
Joseph Costanzo (Black) 1-0 / 1.00 GAA / .933 SV%
Mason Vaccari (Black) 1-0 / 2.00 GAA / .933 SV%
Ann-Renée Desbiens (NWT) 0-1 / 4.00 GAA / .929 SV%
Scott Ratzlaff (White) 0-1 / 3.00 GAA / .893 SV%

NEXT GAME (NOV. 29)
Team Canada Black vs. Team Canada White (7 p.m. ET) - STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2021 Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.

After playing the game his whole life, it’s no surprise that Caden Price loves hockey. So, when an opportunity came up to spend more time at the rink as a referee, he jumped at it.

“I would have been 13 years old [when I started refereeing],” says the 16-year-old, who is a defenceman with Team Canada Black at the Capital City Challenge in Ottawa. “A couple of my buddies thought it would be a good idea.

“I think a huge part was just giving back and I enjoy the sport so much playing myself. Just to go out there and watch and ref tournaments, I think it was a great experience.”

Price is not the only player who began refereeing because he loves the game. His Team Canada Black teammate, Cameron Allen, took a step into the world of officiating last year with two of his friends to ref an outdoor league for players under nine years old.

“I like being on the ice, I like watching hockey,” Allen, 16, says. “I just like getting involved and learning it from another side. Even though it’s young kids, [it’s fun] to see the game from a different angle and to be out there with the players and to see the way the game is when you’re not playing.”

That passion for being on the ice turned into an excellent first job for both players.

“I guess it’s a story forever,” Allen says. “You know, when you get older, your kids ask you [what your first job was and] it was refereeing. Just being involved in the sport in other ways is great, and having that as my first job, it’s even better.”

The financial aspect also had an additional benefit for Price.

“I wanted data really bad on my phone,” he says. “But [my mom] said the only way I was getting it is if I pay for it. So, I thought what better way to get out in the community and give back.”


Caden Price

It can be a tricky balancing act for players who take on officiating on top of their busy team schedule. Since Allen was refereeing younger players, the timing worked out that he could ref earlier in the evening and then head to his practices afterwards. Price says he once officiated 19 games in one month in addition to the time he was spending at the rink with his team.

“It was definitely busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Price says. “I just love the rink, I love what I was doing and I love playing hockey.”

For many experienced players, refereeing is a great avenue to invest in the future of the game they are passionate about, whether it’s a long-term or a short-term commitment. Team Canada White defenceman Kaden Hammell, 16, was happy to help one of his coaches by refereeing a few games one weekend.

“It was nothing too serious, but it was definitely fun,” he says. “It was definitely a cool experience to see [the game] from a reffing standpoint.”

The opportunity to participate in the game as a referee at a young age also opens a potential career path for players to consider.

“I think a referee job would be super cool for sure, no matter what league you’re in,” Hammell says. “Obviously we all love hockey, so I think it’d be cool to be around all the guys. I mean, you even see in the NHL… all the [players] talking to the refs, just chatting them up. I think it’d definitely be cool.”

At the very least, participating on both sides of the ice can certainly benefit a player in their game play. That unique perspective also provides an added level of compassion for officials.

“It gives me a good understanding of what the referees are going through in those situations,” Price says. “Just knowing that they are doing their best and they’re taking time out their day to do this.”

“Being a referee is a hard job, no doubt about it,” Hammell adds.

And for those who love the game as much as Price, Hammell and Allen do, there’s a clear consensus to encourage others to get involved.

“If you love the game, it’s a really good job to get into and just helping the next generation,” Allen says. “You’ve got to be patient, you just got to try to make the best call and never be biased at all.

“Especially for the younger ages, it’s not as hard, so just building your way up, not thinking you’re bigger than the game. Just go out there, not trying to be a hero, and call the game fairly and be genuine with it.”