CALGARY, Alta. – The 2009 Fred Page Cup begins today and Hockey Canada has taken this opportunity to respond to questions concerning why the tournament will be played in its entirety in Moncton, N.B.

Recent news reports have suggested that Hockey Canada is responsible for denying a request to move two games of the event from Moncton to Summerside, P.E.I.

Hockey Canada oversees inter-branch competition, including the Fred Page Cup.

An agreement – signed by Hockey Canada and the five branches involved (Hockey New Brunswick, Hockey Nova Scotia, Hockey PEI, Ottawa District Hockey Association, and Hockey Quebec) – assigned hosting and staging rights for the 2009 Fred Page Cup to the branches, with terms and conditions. The agreement was signed on and included terms and conditions that have been in place for several years. Subsequently, Hockey New Brunswick awarded the Fred Page Cup to the Dieppe Gagnon Commandos of the MJAHL.

The schedule was then created and received approval by the five branches. Under terms of the agreement, any changes made to the schedule have to be approved by the five branches.

On April 16, Hockey Canada became aware of a plan to move two games of the 2009 Fred Page Cup to Summerside, P.E.I. Hockey Canada made it clear to the City of Summerside, Hockey New Brunswick and the Maritime Junior A Hockey League that any such change would need approval by each of the five branches, as per the agreement. The five branches did not offer unanimous support for this change.

“As per the agreement, the proposed change was not approved by the branches involved and, therefore, the original schedule remains,” says Scott Smith, Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer. “Hockey Canada’s role is to ensure each championship operates with a schedule that is approved by the branches. We wish the host committee success with the 2009 Fred Page Cup.”

The Fred Page Cup, the Eastern Canadian Junior A Championship, starts this afternoon in Moncton at the J-Louis Levesque Arena. Four teams – the Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL), Sherbrooke Cougars (QJAAAHL), Summerside Western Capitals (MJAHL) and Dieppe Gagnon Commandos (MJAHL) – will compete for the championship. The winner of the tournament moves on to the RBC Cup, Canada’s National Junior A Championship, which will be held in Victoria, B.C., from May 2-10.