OAKVILLE, Ont. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League, announced Wednesday the 22 players that will represent Canada East at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge, Nov. 4-10 in Yarmouth. N.S.

The roster was chosen by Canada East head coach Ian MacInnis (Cornwall, CCHL), along with assistant coaches Mario Cicchillo (Toronto, OJHL), Peter Goulet (Nepean, CCHL) and Marc Lafleur (Kirkland Lake, NOJHL), and team manager Derek Blais (Hockey Canada) following a four-day selection camp at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville.

Players named to the Canada East roster were selected from the CJHL’s five eastern Junior A leagues: the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec (LHJAAAQ) and Maritime Hockey League (MHL).

“It has been an exciting four days in Oakville, and as we expected there were some tough decisions to get down to 22 players,” said MacInnis. “As a coaching staff we’re confident we’ve assembled the best roster, and we’re looking forward to getting to Yarmouth and getting started.”

“I am sure that each player would tell you that it is an honour to wear the Team Canada sweater and these players have certainly earned the opportunity to represent their country,” said Kirk Lamb, president of the CJHL.

The Canada East roster includes:

• two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards;
• 10 players from the OJHL, eight players from the CCHL, three players from the MHL, and one player from the LHJAAAQ;
• three players returning from the 2011 World Junior A Challenge (Evans, Quince, Soucier).

Canada East will play in Group A during the 2013 World Junior A Challenge, joined by Russia and the United States, while Canada West, the Czech Republic and Switzerland will comprise Group B.

Preliminary round play will run until Wednesday, Nov. 6, with both semifinals taking place Friday, Nov. 8. The gold medal game, which will be shown nationally on TSN/RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, is set for Sunday, Nov. 10 (check your local listings). All preliminary round games, quarter-finals, semifinals and the bronze medal game can be seen live via webcast through www.hockeycanada.ca.

Fans can now purchase a three-game ticket package that includes both of Canada East’s preliminary round games, against Russia on Nov. 4 and the U.S. on Nov. 6, as well as the gold medal game on Nov. 10, for $99 (plus applicable fees). Full-tournament packages, including all 13 games at the Mariners Centre, are available for $199 (plus applicable fees).

Canada East has appeared in four of the seven gold medal games at the World Junior A Challenges, taking silver in 2006 in Yorkton, Sask., 2007 in Trail, B.C., 2010 in Penticton, B.C., and 2011 in Langley, B.C. It won bronze in 2008 in Camrose, Alta., and finished fourth in 2009 in Summerside, P.E.I., and last year in Yarmouth.

For more information on the 2013 World Junior A Challenge, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/wjac, and follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/wjrac or www.twitter.com/hc_wjac.