MEDICINE HAT, Alta., & SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. – The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge - an international showcase of the best young hockey talent in the world – will kick off with two primetime match-ups on opening day when it heads to Alberta and Saskatchewan in November. Medicine Hat and Swift Current will co-host the tournament, Nov. 2-9, 2019.

The official tournament schedule will see Team Canada Red will take on Russia on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. MT at the Innovation Credit Union iPlex in Swift Current, while Team Canada Black will face off against Team Canada White at 7 p.m. MT at the Canalta Centre in Medicine Hat.

“Kicking off the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with a Canada-Russia rivalry game, as well as an all-Canadian match-up, is an exciting way for fans to enjoy the start of the tournament,” said Terry Bartman, chair of the local host committee in Medicine Hat. “This is an exciting step in our preparation for November, and we look forward to welcoming the teams and players to the communities of Medicine Hat and Swift Current.”

Teams will wrap up the preliminary round on Tuesday, Nov. 5 before advancing to the quarter-finals. The tournament will conclude with the bronze and gold medal games at the Canalta Centre on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. MT and 7 p.m. MT, respectively.

The 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge represents a partnership between Hockey Canada, Hockey Alberta, the Saskatchewan Hockey Association and the Canadian Hockey League, as well as the cities of Medicine Hat and Swift Current, and the Medicine Hat Tigers and Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League.

“We are very fortunate to welcome this great international event back to the City of Swift Current, and to work alongside the City of Medicine Hat to ensure the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge is a memorable experience for players, teams, volunteers and fans,” said Liam Choo-Foo, co-chair of the host organizing committee in Swift Current. “It’s an exciting time for our communities as it allows hockey fans to begin planning their trip to Alberta and Saskatchewan to watch some of the top young hockey talent in the world.”

Prior to the start of play, the teams will play pre-tournament games on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. MT, with Medicine Hat and Swift Current confirmed as two of the four locations.

Early-bird full-event ticket packages for the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge are available for purchase for Medicine Hat Tigers and Swift Current Broncos season-ticket holders, as well as minor hockey teams in the surrounding communities. Early-bird pricing will be available to the general public from May 15-June 18 at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, with ticket packages increasing to full price on June 19. Fans can subscribe to the Hockey Canada fan list at HockeyCanada.ca/FanList to receive news and updates about the event.

“The host committees in Medicine Hat and Swift Current have been working tirelessly to ensure the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge is a world-class event, and the announcement of the event schedule is certainly a testament to that,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties for Hockey Canada. “Not only will hockey fans in Medicine Hat and Swift Current be treated to an excellent event, they will also be able to watch some of the brightest young hockey stars in the world.”

Swift Current last hosted the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 1998 when Saskatchewan won gold, while Medicine Hat will welcome the event for the first time. 

Recent editions of the event have resulted in a local economic boost to the host regions of up to $6 million.

For more information on the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook or Twitter.