CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 60 players from the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) who have earned invitations to Canada East and Canada West selection camp in advance of the 2024 Junior A World Challenge.

Beginning Dec.3, the invitees will gather in Calgary to participate in practices and play a pair of intrasquad games as part of the final evaluation process by management and coaching staffs.

The final East and West rosters will be named Dec. 5 in advance of the tournament, which runs from Dec. 9-15 in Camrose, Alberta.

The Canada East roster will be selected from the CJHL’s five eastern 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). Canada West will include players from the four western leagues: the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).

“This is the first time since 2022 we are taking the opportunity to hold a camp before naming our teams for the Junior A World Challenge,” said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. “In partnership with the CJHL, we have identified the top 60 Junior A players in the country. We expect a competitive three days before we narrow our rosters down to the two teams that will proudly represent Canada in Camrose.”

Ahead of the tournament, the Canadian teams will play a pair of pre-tournament games on Dec. 7. Canada East will face off against Sweden at the Drumheller Memorial Arena at 3 p.m. MT, while Canada West will play the United States at 4:30 p.m. MT at Co-Op Place in Wetaskiwin.

The puck drops on the tournament Dec. 9 when Canada East, the 2023 silver medallist, opens against the United States at 3 p.m. MT, followed by Canada West, the defending gold medallist, facing Sweden at 7:30 p.m. MT.

Of the 16 gold medal games at the Junior A World Challenge, 13 have featured at least one Canadian team. Canada East will look to earn its first gold medal, having won silver eight times (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023) and bronze once (2008), while Canada West has won gold six times (2006, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2023), silver three times (2008, 2009, 2012) and bronze twice (2013, 2018).

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 Junior A World Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca/WJAC, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

QUISPAMSIS, New Brunswick – Ontario Red has won its seventh consecutive gold medal at the U18 Women’s National Championship, defeating Quebec 1-0 at the qPlex on Saturday night.

Ontario Red has captured gold in 14 of the 15 national championships since the inaugural tournament in 2001, while Quebec earned its ninth silver medal and third since 2016.

Dorothy Copetti (Toronto, ON/Durham West, OWHA U22 Elite) broke the deadlock, redirecting a point shot from Alex Therien (Greely, ON/Nepean, OWHA U22 Elite) to give Ontario Red the only goal it would need, and the Ontarians held on for the one goal shutout.

“That is the biggest goal of my life,” Copetti said . “Hockey doesn’t last forever in life—it’s only going to be a small part of my life—but this memory, scoring that goal, winning this tournament with this team is something that I will think about with so much pride for the rest of my life.”

Amelia Wilkinson (Holland Landing, ON/Barrie, OWHA U22 Elite) won the goaltending dual with a 35-save performance for the shutout, while Quebec netminder Marilou Grenier (Quebec, QC/Limoilou, RSEQ) turned in another fantastic performance, making 22 saves.

“We showed a ton of resilience tonight,” said Ontario Red captain Maxine Cimoroni (Toronto, ON/Mississauga, OWHA U22 Elite). “ I don’t think the first two periods were our best, but when we got that first goal, we knew we could lock it down. We blocked a lot of shots and really gutted out the win.”

British Columbia takes down Saskatchewan 4-2 to win bronze

Earlier in the day, London McDavid (Maple Ridge, BC/Delta Hockey Academy, CSSHL) scored the game-winning goal on the power play with just over five minutes to go in regulation time to lift British Columbia to its second-straight bronze medal.

Maisie Cope (Victoria, BC/Delta Hockey Academy, CSSHL) made 27 saves for the victory.

“This feels pretty good,” McDavid said. “We battled right until the end, stuck together and got the job done. It’s special… for a lot of us, this is our last chance to play together, so to go out with a bronze medal is an amazing feeling.”

It’s the fifth bronze medal for British Columbia since the tournament’s inception in 2001.

Following the gold medal game, the tournament awards were announced:

Most Valuable Player: Maxine Cimoroni (Toronto, ON/Mississauga, OWHA U22 Elite)
Top Forward: Stryker Zablocki (Prince Albert, SK/Bishop Kearney Academy, USHS)
Top Defence: Danica Maynard (Lake Country, BC/RHA Kelowna, CSSHL)
Top Goalie: Marilou Grenier (Québec, QC/Limoilou, RSEQ)
Most Sportsmanlike: Kate Manness (La Salle, MB/Burlington, OWHA U22 Elite)

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 U18 Women’s National Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca , or follow along through social media on Facebook , X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada, in consultation with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), has announced the eight coaches tasked to lead Canada East and Canada West at the 2024 Junior A World Challenge, Dec. 9-15 in Camrose, Alberta.

Bruce Richardson (Montreal, QC/Valleyfield, LHJAAAQ) will lead Canada East as head coach, alongside assistants Andrew Campoli (Toronto, ON/Collingwood, OJHL) and Brandon Perry (Timmins, ON/Timmins, NOJHL), and video coach Mike Stinziani (Lorraine, QC/Montreal, LHJAAAQ). Mike Reagan (Flin Flon, MB/Flin Flon, SJHL) will retake the reins of Canada West, working with assistants Éric Labrosse (Wawa, ON/Northern Manitoba/MJHL) and Shawn Martin (Wainwright, AB/Whitecourt, AJHL), and video coach Carter Hansen (Craven, SK/Humboldt, SJHL).

Richardson assumed the role of general manager with the Valleyfield Braves in August, having served as head coach since January. He previously served as head coach of the Victoriaville Tigres (2014-16) and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (2018-23) of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Internationally, he won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship and added a bronze medal in 2023. He was also an assistant coach at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Richardson was head coach of Canada White at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and served as an assistant coach with Canada Black at the tournament in November 2014.

Reagan is in his 19th season behind the bench as head coach for the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), winning SJHL and CJHL coach of the year honours in 2023-24. Since 2013, he has also served as general manager. This will be Reagan’s fourth time representing Canada West at the Junior A World Challenge (2015, 2016, 2017), having won a gold medal as video coach in 2015 and head coach in 2017.

Hockey Canada also announced that Marc Gagnon (Powassan, ON/Espanola, NOJHL) will serve as director of operations for Canada East, while Nigel Dube (Lampman, SK/Lloydminster, AJHL) will return to the role for Canada West after helping win a gold medal in 2023.

“We are thrilled with the coaches that will lead our Canadian teams at the 2024 Junior A World Challenge,” said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. “Each of them is highly skilled and bring their own experience to their roles. We look forward to watching them put two competitive teams on the ice in Camrose in December.”

“We congratulate the coaches on their selections to the respective staffs of Canada East and Canada West,” said CJHL president Andy Harkness. “The opportunity to represent your country at a prestigious international hockey event such as the Junior A World Challenge is something they will truly relish.”

Fans looking to secure their seat to watch the Junior A World Challenge can choose from a variety of ticket options at HockeyCanada.ca/WJAC, with full-event ticket packages starting at $140, including fees. Mini-packages for the preliminary round and medal round are also available.

The tournament features a four-team format, with Sweden and the United States joining the Canadian entries.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the bronze and gold medal games; check local listings for details.

Of the 16 gold medal games at the Junior A World Challenge, 13 have featured at least one Canadian team. Canada East will look to earn its first gold medal, having won silver eight times (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023) and bronze once (2008), while Canada West has won gold six times (2006, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2023), silver three times (2008, 2009, 2012) and bronze twice (2013, 2018).

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 Junior A World Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

For Kendall Doiron, hockey isn’t just about scoring goals and adding to her point totals.

She’s exceptional at doing just that—16 points in 12 games with U.S. prep powerhouse Shattuck-St. Mary’s this season—but for Dorion, it’s more about the friendships she has built from being a part of the game.

“The biggest part of my joy for hockey is the friendships. The people in the hockey community are really like no other,” Dorion says. “I've made my closest friends playing hockey. You build such strong bonds being at the rink every day with these people.”

As great of a scorer Dorion is, she believes her calling is to orchestrate plays on the ice.

“I found from an early age, I was more of a playmaker. I am able to see the ice very well and make plays rather than just being a scorer,” Dorion explains. “I think my playmaking, my hockey vision and my IQ is my strongest part of my game.”

The 16-year-old forward from Boylston, Nova Scotia is representing Team Atlantic for the first time this week at the 2024 U18 Women’s National Championship in Quispamsis, New Brunswick. With the tournament hosted in Atlantic Canada for the first time, she’s elated to have the opportunity to play in front of East Coast fans.

“It is exciting to come home and have family watch me in real life,” Dorion says.

Dorion is looked upon as a leader for the Atlantic entry, even though she’s one of the younger players. Leadership is something she has been focusing on as she builds out her skillset as a new recruit at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minnesota.

“Even though it is my first year, I do have to step up and be one of the leaders,” Doiron says. “I know I have more experiences than some of the girls on my team and I think going to these tournaments helps me to know how to deal with it all when I get back.”

Kendall Doiron receiving the player of the game award on Day 2 of U18 Nationals.

As a first-year student at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, U16 girls head coach Ellie Williams Doherty has been impressed with what she has seen from Dorion. This year’s team has 16 newcomers with only four returning, and the coaches are looking for Dorion to grow into a larger role.

“It is hard to be a leader at Shattuck as a new player, but she has proven to be a kid that people are going to follow because she is a very genuine kid,” Williams Doherty says. “She genuinely cares about the good of the team and she is one of the most unselfish players I’ve coached. She's very humble.”

Dorion started in the game at a young age. Her parents, Fabian and Shauna, put enrolled her in a program at four years old. She’s grateful her parents gave her the opportunity to pursue and fall in love with hockey.

“My parents have done everything they can for me to be able to play hockey. It if wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have these opportunities,” she says. “It is a blessing to be able to play hockey in general and I’m super grateful and thankful for my family for encouraging me along the way.”

As Dorion continues to grow and develop on and off the ice, an important piece to her staying genuinely herself is being silly. She prides herself on being happy and making her teammates laugh.

“I love making people laugh and 95 per cent of the time, I have a smile on my face,” Dorion says. “I’m always trying to get people to laugh. Once I get comfortable on a team—which did take me a little longer coming to Shattuck—but once everyone got to know me, I really was able to be myself.”

Williams Doherty is still getting to know Dorion, but she shared the same description of the young forward, adding that she has adapted well to her new environment.

“Kendall is a fast, intelligent player that plays the game effortlessly and she has exceptional athletic maturity for her age,” Williams Doherty says. “On and off the ice, she’s kind of goofy and doesn’t take herself too seriously.”

Before joining Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Dorion played the last two seasons with the Northern Selects in the Maritime Major Female Hockey League (MMFHL), winning a pair of Nova Scotia provincial titles and representing the Atlantic Region twice at the Esso Cup, Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship. Dorion hopes her experience there will help her during U18 Women’s Nationals.

“I think the biggest thing I learned at that tournament is taking care of your body,” she says. “Making sure you’re stretching before games, cooling down after and eating the right food. There are so many games in a few days, and it takes a toll on your body, and you will feel worn out.”

As for Williams Doherty, she hopes Dorion enjoys this experience and brings back some added confidence to Shattuck-St. Mary’s for the rest of the season.

“I think any time you get a chance to perform on a bigger stage, it’s an opportunity to work under pressure. At Shattuck, we say that pressure is a privilege. There are some people that want the pressure. Kendall is a type of kid that doesn’t change who she is. She just tries hard every time,” Williams Doherty says. “I hope she comes back with more confidence in her abilities and experience with those pressure situations.”

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada and Bauer Hockey have announced a partnership expansion that will see the official equipment provider of Hockey Canada add the title of official team apparel partner, effective Nov. 1.

As part of the expansion, Bauer Hockey will outfit Canada’s national team athletes with branded team apparel, provide fans with a new lifestyle apparel lineup and launch official replica jerseys in fall 2025.

“Hockey Canada is thrilled to expand our partnership with Bauer Hockey, which will benefit Canada’s national men’s, women’s and para hockey teams throughout the next three years with Bauer as our official team apparel partner,” said Katherine Henderson, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “We are equally as excited for our fans, who will have access to more apparel options to wear as they cheer on Team Canada, including during the upcoming 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa.”

“For more than 20 years, we’ve been the official equipment partner to Hockey Canada, providing the best and most innovative product to help the athletes perform their best on the ice,” said Darryl Hughes, senior director of marketing partnerships for Bauer Hockey. “With the expanded partnership, we see opportunities to elevate the experience for fans with new branded lifestyle apparel and replica jerseys and for athletes with their apparel needs off the ice.”

During the three-year agreement, Bauer Hockey will also continue to provide Canada’s national men’s, women’s and para hockey teams with helmets, visors, face masks, neck guards and gloves at all International Ice Hockey Federation events, as well as the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Fans can purchase the new apparel today at HockeyCanada.ca, Bauer.com and authorized Bauer Hockey retail partners across the country and at tournaments hosted by Hockey Canada, including in Ottawa at the 2025 World Juniors.

“Expanding our agreement advances more than our support for the athletes on the ice,” said Mary-Kay Messier, vice-president of global marketing for Bauer Hockey. “We’re continuing to invest into and develop initiatives with Hockey Canada to grow the game and help make it even more accessible to families and kids across the country. Hockey continues to be part of the fabric of our Canadian culture, and we believe providing fan apparel helps inspire a connection to hockey in Canada and opens the door to bring new families into the hockey community.”

To learn more about Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CAMROSE, Alberta – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), Hockey Alberta, NHL Central Scouting and the local organizing committee, has announced the tournament format and schedule for the 2024 Junior A World Challenge.

The tournament, set for Dec. 9-15 at Encana Arena in Camrose, Alberta, will feature a four-team format this season. Canada East, Canada West, Sweden and the United States will each play three preliminary-round games over the first four days of tournament action to determine seeding for the semifinals on Dec. 14, while the bronze medal and gold medal games are set for at 1 p.m. MT and 5 p.m. MT, respectively, on Dec. 15.

Canada East, which claimed silver in 2023, will kick off the tournament against the United States on Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. MT, followed by last year’s gold medalist, Canada West, matching up against Sweden to close out opening day at 7:30 p.m. MT.

In addition, two Alberta communities will welcome pre-tournament games ahead of the 2024 Junior A World Challenge, with Drumheller and Wetaskiwin set to play host on Dec. 7. Canada East will face off against Sweden at the Drumheller Memorial Arena at 3 p.m. MT, while Canada West will play the United States at 4:30 p.m. MT at Co-Op Place in Wetaskiwin.

“Top talent from Canada, Sweden and the United States is set to descend on Camrose in December, and we are thrilled to unveil the schedule for the Junior A World Challenge and continue to generate excitement among hockey fans, volunteers, partners and the community alike,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact with Hockey Canada. “We look forward to leaving a lasting legacy in Camrose, Drumheller and Wetaskiwin, and we know fans in those three communities are going to be treated to exciting, high-quality hockey in just over two months.”

Canada East will consist of players from the five eastern leagues in the CJHL - 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) – while Canada West will be comprised of players from the four western leagues – the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).

Fans looking to secure their seat for the 2024 Junior A World Challenge can purchase a full-event ticket packages for $140, including fees, at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets. The package includes one ticket to all six preliminary-round games, both semifinals and the medal games.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the gold medal game on Dec. 15; please check local listings for details.

Of the 16 gold medal games at the Junior A World Challenge, 13 have featured at least one Canadian team. Canada East will look to earn its first gold medal, having won silver eight times (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023) and bronze once (2008), while Canada West has won gold six times (2006, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2023), silver three times (2008, 2009, 2012) and bronze twice (2013, 2018).

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 Junior A World Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca/WJAC, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has unveiled the schedules and ticket package details for the 2024 editions of the U17 World Challenge, U18 Women’s National Championship and Para Cup.

In addition, Hockey Canada has also announced that tickets are now on sale for the 2024 Junior A World Challenge, which is set to take place at Encana Arena in Camrose, Alberta, from Dec. 9-15, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and National Hockey League (NHL). The schedule and format for this year’s event will be announced at a later date.

“The unveiling of the schedules and ticket packages for our fall events is an exciting milestone, as the anticipation for the puck to drop continues to build while allowing fans and community members to plan their involvement in world-class events across the country,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact for Hockey Canada. “Hosting major events is not possible without the commitment and passion of these great communities, and we are grateful for the community leaders, volunteers, partners and our Members who make these events possible.”

The U17 World Challenge returns as a six-team format for the second-straight year, with Sarnia, Ontario, hosting at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena from Nov. 3-9. The teams — Canada Red, Canada White, Czechia, Finland, Sweden and the United States — will be split into two groups and will each play two preliminary-round games before the medal round. The event will also feature pre-tournament games in Sarnia, Petrolia and Forest on Nov. 1.

For the first time in the tournament’s history, the U18 Women’s National Championship will be held in Atlantic Canada. Eight teams consisting of the top under-18 players in Canada — Alberta, Atlantic, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario Blue, Ontario Red, Québec and Saskatchewan —will descend on the qplex in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, from Nov. 3-9.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of ParaSport and Recreation PEI, the Para Cup returns to the East Coast for the second straight year (2023 in Quispamsis, New Brunswick), with Canada’s National Para Hockey Team looking to secure its second-straight gold medal in international competition at the Bell Aliant Centre in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Canada will compete against China, Czechia and the United States from Dec. 8-14.

Full-event ticket packages for the U17 World Challenge, U18 Women’s National Championship, Para Cup and Junior A World Challenge are on sale now and can be purchased at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

Fans that purchase a full-event ticket package to any fall event before Sept. 20 will be entered into a contest to win a 2025 World Juniors prize package. The prize package includes two tickets to both semifinals and the medal games, at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, as well as hotel accommodations for two nights and two $100 Hockey Canada merchandise vouchers.

Hockey Canada and the local organizing committees of its fall events are currently looking to fill several volunteer positions for all four events. Individuals that are interested in creating a world-class experience for players and fans alike are encouraged to CLICK HERE to learn more about Hockey Canada’s volunteer program or visit the individual event pages to apply now.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, will air select tournament games, with broadcast details to be announced at a later date.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) have announced that the 2025 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, will be played in Calgary for the first time in the 54-year history of the tournament.

The Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) – who reached the semifinals of the 2024 tournament as AJHL champions – will welcome nine champions from across the CJHL from May 8-18, 2025 at the Max Bell Centre.

“We are ecstatic to bring Canada’s National Junior A Championship to Calgary next spring,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact for Hockey Canada. “The Centennial Cup has a storied history and the City of Calgary has deep hockey roots, both at the professional and junior levels. We cannot wait to bring the top Junior A players in the country to Alberta to compete for a national championship.”

The 10-team field for the Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, includes the host Canucks, along with champions from the AJHL, Central Canada Hockey League, Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Maritime Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and Superior International Junior Hockey League.

“The CJHL is thrilled that the Calgary Canucks have been named hosts of the 2025 Centennial Cup,” said Andy Harkness, president of the CJHL. “The Canucks and the Alberta Junior Hockey League have put a significant number of resources towards bidding for the right to host the event, and we know our member clubs will be treated to a week of excellent hockey and western hospitality.”

It is the eighth time Alberta will host the Centennial Cup since the tournament began in 1971, with Calgary joining Edmonton (1975), Olds (1994), Fort McMurray (2000), Grande Prairie (2004), Camrose (2011), Lloydminster (2016) and Brooks (2019).

“Calgary is thrilled to be welcoming the Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, for the first time in 2025,” says Carson Ackroyd, vice-president of sales with Tourism Calgary. “This prestigious event, hosted by the Calgary Canucks, highlights our city’s rich hockey heritage, and offers an exciting opportunity to showcase Calgary’s vibrant community and renowned hospitality. We look forward to welcoming teams and fans from across Canada to the Max Bell Centre for an unforgettable tournament.”

Details regarding schedules, ticket packages and broadcast information for the 2025 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, will be announced at a later date. Fans can sign up now to receive ticket information or become a Hockey Canada Insider and receive advanced access to tickets and other promotions.

To learn more about Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

CAMROSE, Alberta – The Junior A World Challenge, an international showcase of some of the best young hockey talent from around the world, will return to Camrose for the first time since 2008 when Encana Arena plays host from Dec. 9-15.

The 2024 Junior A World Challenge represents a partnership between Hockey Canada, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), Hockey Alberta, NHL Central Scouting and the local organizing committee. 

“Hosting a prestigious tournament like the Junior A World Challenge fosters a sense of pride and accomplishment. We know our community will come together, support the event and create an exciting atmosphere for fans and teams,” said tournament co-chair Boris Rybalka, who coached Canada West when Camrose hosted in 2008, and won gold at the first two editions of the tournament in 2006 and 2007.

“We are grateful to the volunteers, fans, scouts and sponsors for supporting the tournament and are grateful to Hockey Canada for entrusting us to host this event,” added co-chair Ken Duggan.

The Junior A World Challenge has historically had an economic impact of over $3 million to host communities.

“Communities across Alberta have proven to be excellent hosts for multiple Hockey Canada events and we know Camrose will carry on that tradition with the 2024 Junior A World Challenge,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact with Hockey Canada. “We look forward to welcoming teams and fans in our return to Camrose, and leaving a lasting legacy while also fostering the growth and support of hockey in the region.” 

Since the event’s inception in 2006, more than 300 NHL draft picks have played in the tournament, including 45 first-round selections – a list that includes Brock Boeser, Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, Dylan Holloway, Elias Lindholm, David Pastrnak, Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko and Andrei Vasilevski.

The official tournament schedule and ticket information will be announced at a later date.

For more information on the Junior A World Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook or X and Instagram.

It was a full circle moment for Shakita Jensen when she stepped on the bench as head coach of Team Northwest Territories at the 2024 Arctic Winter Games.

In 2014, she played in the tournament in Alaska. A decade later, she returned to Alaska to coach.

“I felt a lot of emotions,” says Jensen, the national BFL CANADA Women in Coaching Award winner in the Competitive category.

Jensen, from the Tahltan First Nation, started as an on-ice volunteer with the Yellowknife Minor Hockey Association in 2014. Since then, her passion for giving back has driven her to continue her coaching journey.

“The hockey community has given me so much that I felt an obligation to want to give back to the hockey community in any way I could,” Jensen says. “When I got back from school, I was like, ‘I should probably try coaching, see if I like it.’ And of course I liked it right away.”

In addition to giving back, a few impactful women who coached Jensen growing up opened her eyes to her own potential journey.

“Having my first female head coach was super cool, and that made me want to get into coaching,” she says. “Growing up, being sometimes the only girl on my hockey teams, not really many women coaching, and then having my first few female coaches thinking, ‘Wow they’re so cool, I want to be like them one day.’”

The position of being a role model and a leader for youth in her community was also a driving factor in wanting to become a coach.

“I’ve had so many influential coaches in my own playing career. [There are] everlasting impacts they can have on their players, not only on the ice, but off the ice as people as well, what you can teach your players as a coach. I felt that I had lots to offer [as a head coach] and I wanted to be there for kids.”

 Jensen was in the right place at the right time to get her first head coaching position. There was a shortage of coaches in her association, so they asked Jensen—who initially applied to be an on-ice helper—if she wanted to be a head coach.

“It was a lot of quick learning and kind of being thrown into it, but I felt confident in myself the whole time,” the 26-year-old explains. “I just tried to network with past coaches as much as I could to have a successful season, which I think I did.”

Early in her career, Jensen decided to apply to be a part of the 2023 Canada Winter Games coaching staff for Team NWT, but she wasn’t selected. However, one of the coaches recommended she apply for the Aboriginal Apprentice Coach program with the Aboriginal Sports Circle.

“They chose one woman and one man from the territory, and it could be from any sport, so I knew that it was a bit of a long shot, but when I heard I got in for hockey, I was super excited.”

Through the apprenticeship program, Jensen was able to attend last year’s Canada Winter Games on Prince Edward Island and work with Team NWT leading up to the event. Afterwards, she became an assistant coach for Team NWT for the 2023 Arctic Winter Games before being promoted to head coach for the 2024 tournament.

“I think that definitely opened a lot of doors,” she says. “It was cool to see the progression and to allow me to gain all the tools and resources that I needed to prepare my team.”

As head coach of Team NWT, the location of each player’s hometowns can often be difficult to navigate—sometimes resulting in very few full team practices before an event.

“It was definitely a challenge wanting to build your team culture and work on your strategies and trying to prepare for a high-performance, short-term competition when your team is scattered all over the territories, in some places that are fly in/fly out or just a lot of money barriers,” she explains. “I think one thing that was super helpful was our ability to connect online leading up to the Games.”

Another huge opportunity for Jensen’s team this year was February’s One For All event in Yellowknife. With more than 300 participants over four days, the event celebrated women’s and girls’ hockey with Try Hockey events, on-ice skills, coaching clinics and more.

Team Northwest Territories and Team Nunavut gathered to practice and face off in an exhibition game.

“It was an overwhelming successful weekend—players putting on their hockey gear for the first time and then other players who were about to be graduating minor hockey,” says Jensen, who volunteered with the event. “It felt super to contribute to that program, give back and hopefully keep that program on a yearly basis here.”

When Jensen found out she was the BFL CANADA Women in Coaching Award winner for Hockey North in the Competitive category, she was shocked.

“I was so surprised, kind of caught off guard. I felt so much pride and gratitude.”

Jensen was unsure if she would be able to compete with the great provincial and territorial candidates across the country. But when she saw Cassie Campbell-Pascall on a video call congratulating her for winning the national award, she was in disbelief all over again.

“There are really no words,” she says of winning the national award. “There are so many influential coaches who go unrecognized sometimes for all the work they do. [I’m] really feeling proud of myself, but also feeling proud of everyone else across Canada who’s doing so much for the women’s game.”