Learn more about the annual Junior A showcase before players from four countries descend on Truro, Nova Scotia
The World Junior A Hockey Challenge returns to Truro, Nova Scotia, for the
first time since 2017 this fall. Not only does the event bring international
hockey back to town, but it will also showcase the next crop of hockey stars
and standouts.
This year’s tournament will feature Canada East, Canada West, Slovakia,
Sweden and the United States, beginning Dec. 10 at the Rath Eastlink
Community Centre.
Founded in 2006 to give more exposure to players from across the Canadian
Junior Hockey League, there have been no shortage of memorable moments and
historic performances over the years.
Check out the full list of notable World Junior A Challenge alumni
The last time a Canadian team struck gold at the tournament came back in
2017 in Truro, when NHL first-round picks Dylan Holloway (Edmonton) and
Jacob Bernard-Docker (Ottawa) helped West to
a 5-1 win over the U.S. in the final
.
Turning back the clock to the first WJAC in Yorkton and Humboldt,
Saskatchewan, in the first-ever game, Kyle Turris scored four times to lead
Canada West to a win over Russia en route to gold and MVP honours. That
stood as the only four-goal effort until last year, when Ty Daneault lit the
lamp four times in a 10-0 West win over Latvia.
In Langley, B.C., in 2011, Canada West became the first team to lose both of
its preliminary-round games (under the old format) and still win gold,
capped by a thrilling 4-2 win over Canada East in the most recent
all-Canadian final
.
That game included nine players who have appeared in an NHL game – four with
West (Alex Kerfoot, Jujhar Khaira, Colton Parayko, Troy Stecher) and five
with East (Drake Caggiula, Justin Danforth, Ben Hutton, Devin Shore,
MacKenzie Weegar).
Four years later, a Canada West roster that included four first-round NHL
draft picks — Tyson Jost (10th to Colorado in 2016), Dante Fabbro (17th,
Nashville, 2016), Dennis Cholowski (20th, Detroit, 2016) and Cale Makar
(4th, Colorado, 2017) — won gold in Cobourg and Whitby, Ontario.
That tournament is perhaps best remembered for the wild East vs. West
semifinal; tied 2-2 entering the third period, Jost tied a tournament-record
with four points (1-3—3) and the teams combined for a record nine goals,
with
West pulling away for an 8-5 win
.
Makar, of course, is now perhaps the best-known WJAC alumni – an all-star in
2015, he returned to captain West in 2016, again making the all-star team,
before embarking on a pro career that has already included a Calder Trophy,
Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup championship in Colorado.
And in 2019, a young goaltender stole the show, earning Most Valuable Player
honours and backstopping Canada East to within an overtime goal of its first
gold medal. A year later,
Devon Levi was starring on the biggest stage in junior hockey
, turning in one of the best netminding performances in IIHF World Junior
Championship history inside the Edmonton bubble.
But it’s not just Canadians who have left their mark. The list of
international alumni is just as impressive, including Boston Bruins
superstar David Pastrnak (Czech Republic, 2012), Calgary Flames standout
Elias Lindholm (Sweden, 2011) and a trio of Americans — New York Islanders
defenceman Scott Mayfield (2010), Pittsburgh Penguins forward Vince
Hinostroza (2012) and Arizona Coyotes point-getter Nick Schmaltz (2013) —
who were tournament MVPs.
As was Winnipeg Jets sniper Nikolaj Ehlers, who took home the award in 2014
after posting nine points (6-3—9) in four games and helping Denmark reach
the gold medal game in Kindersley, Saskatchewan.
So where do these players come from? The World Junior A Hockey Challenge
gathers some of the top 18-and-under prospects from around the world. This
year, the five teams will feature players born in 2005 and 2006, with a
maximum of five 2004-born players allowed on each team.
Canada East and Canada West showcase talent from coast to coast, selected
from the nine leagues that comprise the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
Canada West selects players from the AJHL, SJHL, MJHL and SIJHL, while
Canada East pulls its players from the NOJHL, OJHL, CCHL, LHJAAAQ and MHL.
So … will you be part of the festivities in Truro? Tickets are now on sale
at
HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets
, including early-bird packages, and there’s something for everyone!