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.

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 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 has announced the host communities for three of its fall events: the 2024 U17 World Challenge, 2024 U18 Women’s National Championship and 2024 Para Cup.

“These events play a critical role in the development of men’s, women’s and para hockey athletes, coaches, officials and staff, and we are thrilled to be bringing them to communities in Ontario, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island,” said Pat McLaughlin, chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy. “They are an excellent opportunity to create lifelong memories and leave a legacy in each community for years to come.”

The 2024 U17 World Challenge will be played Nov. 1-9 in Sarnia, Ontario. It is the seventh time Ontario will play host to the tournament, and the second time in Sarnia, following 2014.

The 2024 U18 Women’s National Championship will run Nov. 3-9 in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, bringing the event – and the future stars of the women’s game – to Atlantic Canada for the first time.

Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, which won a home-ice gold medal at the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship earlier this month, will compete against three countries at the 2024 Para Cup, which will be held Dec. 8-14 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. It is the fifth time the tournament will be held in the Birthplace of Confederation and coincides with the 50th anniversary of ParaSport & Recreation PEI.

Fans can sign up now to receive ticket information or become a Hockey Canada Insider and receive advanced access to tickets and other promotions.

“These tournaments are often once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for participants, families and fans,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of strategic partnerships and community impact. “I’m confident in the host committees in these three great hockey markets and know we are set up for success with the passionate hockey fans and volunteers in each community.”

In the spring, Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship will be decided at the 2025 Esso Cup, April 20-26 in Lloydminster, Alberta , while the U18 Men’s National Club Championship will be up for grabs April 21-27 at the 2025 TELUS Cup in Chilliwack, B.C.

The host communities for the 2025 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, and 2024 Junior A World Challenge will be announced at a later date.

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

DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia – Ontario Red has won its sixth-consecutive gold medal at the National Women’s Under-18 Championship, defeating Quebec 3-2 in overtime at the Ovintiv Events Centre on Saturday night.

Ontario Red has captured gold in 13 of the 14 national championships since the inaugural tournament in 2001, while Quebec earned its eighth silver medal and first since 2016.

Mackenzie Alexander (Toronto, ON/Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite) scored the golden goal, knocking in a rebound on an Ontario Red power play just 25 seconds into overtime. The goal left her tied for the tournament lead in goals (five) and points (nine).

After a scoreless first period, Rosalie Tremblay (Sherbrooke, QC/Stanstead College, JWHL) struck first for Quebec 4:01 into the second period. Claire Murdoch (Toronto, ON/Burlington, OWHA U22 Elite) and Alexander scored power-play goals at just over two minutes apart in the third period to give Ontario Red its first lead before Victoria Veilleux (Saint-Georges, QC/Champlain-Lennoxville, RSEQ) tied the game for Quebec with 4:18 left to force overtime.

“I was just lucky enough to be right there to tap it in,” Alexander said of her overtime winner. “We are such a tight-knit group, so to win gold with these girls is such an honour. This is an absolute dream come true.”

Marilou Grenier (Québec, QC/Québec, LHEQ U18) made 43 saves in a terrific performance for the silver medallists, while Hannah Clark (Oshawa, ON/Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite) stopped 16 of 18 to record the win for Ontario Red.

“[Heading into overtime] I went in right away and told the girls we are winning this, we have this,” Ontario Red head coach Joe Butkevich said. “[This experience] has been phenomenal, from the host committee to the volunteers. It is a small-town community with a great feel; everyone wanted to put Dawson Creek on the map, and they did that this week.”

British Columbia takes down Alberta to win bronze

Earlier in the day, British Columbia earned its third bronze medal in the last four national championships, downing Alberta 3-1. After Chloe Primerano (North Vancouver, BC/RHA Kelowna, CSSHL) and Hannah Dods (Chilliwack, BC/Fraser Valley, BCEHL) scored for the hosts in the second period, Claire Carruthers (Crossfield, AB/Edmonton, AFHL) pulled Alberta within one on the power play 4:24 into the third. Danica Maynard (Osoyoos, BC/RHA Kelowna, CSSHL) added an insurance marker on the power play in the final five minutes to secure the bronze for B.C. on home ice.

“This has been really fun getting to bond with my new teammates, everyone has been so positive. The little things all added up; we worked together, bonded and came through today,” British Columbia captain Gracie Graham (Kelowna, BC/RHA Kelowna, CSSHL) said. “It was amazing to have all our fans out there watching us, you do not always get that experience. It was a great time.”

It is the fourth bronze medal for B.C. at the national championship and first since 2017.

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

Most valuable player: Sara Manness (La Salle, MB/Burlington, OWHA U22 Elite)
Top forward: Morgan Jackson (Courtenay, BC/Shawnigan Lake, CSSHL)
Top defence: Rosalie Breton (Saint-Bernard, QC/Limoilou, RSEQ)
Top goalie: Hannah Clark
Most sportsmanlike player: Mackenzie Alexander

For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2023 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram, and by using #U18Nationals.

Jessie Olfert and Jane Kish can still remember the roar of the crowd when they stepped on the ice at the Ovintiv Events Centre. Hundreds of students cheering on British Columbia and Saskatchewan as the teams competed at the 2012 National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

“It’s the first time as a player that you’re experiencing a loud barn,” Olfert says. “Dawson Creek definitely showed up to fill the barn and cheer us on, which was pretty amazing.”

Eleven years later, Olfert and Kish are returning to the Peace Region—this time as members of the Alberta coaching staff. Although more than a decade has passed, the memories are still vivid for both ladies.

“I’m from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, originally, and then Dawson Creek had about around the same population,” Kish says. “I remember getting there and I was like, ‘This feels like a nice, close-knit community.’”

The quality of the hockey and the ability to connect with players from other provinces also stand out in their memories.

“It was the fastest hockey that I had played up to that point,” Olfert says. “I remember thinking, ‘This is so much fun. I want to find more ways that I can continue to be involved with this type of high-level game.’”

“The connections that I built and the experience that I had—it was very neat to be a part of,” Kish adds.

With that passion for high-level intensity hockey ignited in Dawson Creek, both Kish and Olfert pursued playing the game in university. Kish finished her career at the University of Regina as the all-time leader in wins (38) and shutouts (15). Olfert played at the University of Alberta for three years before she hung up her skates.

“I called a past coach of mine, who was a really big mentor in my life, and I asked her, ‘After you leave your sport, what do you do with your life?’ And she said, ‘You simply find another way to get involved in it.’”

For both Kish and Olfert, coaching was an excellent way to stay connected to the game they love in a new capacity. When Olfert made the decision not to play a fourth year with the Pandas, her coach Howie Draper helped her find her first coaching position to get her foot in the door.

After completing a kinesiology and education degree, Kish was thinking about balancing substitute teaching and goalie training after university when she was presented with the perfect job opportunity at the South Alberta Hockey Academy in Medicine Hat.

“It was the best of both worlds,” she says. “It’s allowed me to be an assistant coach and have my goalie stuff, but also doing all the fun teaching stuff in school.”

For Kish and Olfert, becoming a coach has been one of the best things that has helped the transition into life after playing high-level hockey.

“Ending the playing career, sometimes an athlete might get lost a little bit,” Olfert says. “It feels like a part of your life has kind of ended, which it has. So, harnessing all that energy into something else, that can be incredibly rewarding.”

“I love it because I’m learning every day,” Kish adds. “Seeing the sport in this light has been very cool for me because I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness, when I was a player, I didn’t even think about this.’ But now I’m seeing all these different things and it’s a different viewpoint. That has been very exciting for me.”

Despite competing against each other at U18 Nationals and in U SPORTS, Kish and Olfert didn’t officially meet until both were brought on to Alberta’s coaching staff ahead of the 2023 tournament. With the experience playing in the tournament themselves, it provides a unique perspective for coaching Alberta’s athletes.

“I remember going in there and being very nervous,” Kish says about playing in the tournament. “You want to do exceptionally well because you have all these expectations riding on you.”

“Sometimes I find your athletes forget that you had a childhood, that you grew up as well and you’ve been through some of these things,” Olfert adds. “They can look to you and be like, ‘What do we do here?’ And you actually have an answer because you know where their feet are, you know what’s going through their heads.”

The return to Dawson Creek for Kish and Olfert is full of nostalgia. It’s a familiar city, a familiar rink and a familiar schedule for what is in store for each team during the week. As two of 1,578 girls who have competed in this tournament since 2001, Kish and Olfert hope Team Alberta can embrace this opportunity and be truly present in this moment.

“This tournament is a reminder of what all these girls have gone through to get here. Now, they get to enjoy it and experience it just like Jessie and I did 11 years ago,” Kish says.

“Life has changed a lot in the last 11 years, but it’s also been a lot of really good changes and a lot of personal growth,” Olfert says. “This is really cool to have a full circle moment of returning back to Dawson Creek and getting to relive it, but in a very different way.”

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada has confirmed the dates and host communities for seven events taking place during the 2023-24 season, including the return of the National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

“Today is an exciting day for Hockey Canada as we announce seven events that play a critical role in the development of men’s, women’s and para hockey athletes, coaches and staff,” said Pat McLaughlin, chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. “We hope that hosting these tournaments will help introduce new fans to the game, create lifelong memories for Canadians and have a positive impact in each community long after the medals have been handed out.”

The 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will be played Nov. 2-11 in Charlottetown and Summerside, PE, marking the first time in the tournament’s 37-year history that it will be hosted in the province.

Featuring some of the best young women’s hockey players in Canada, the 2023 National Women’s Under-18 Championship will run Nov. 5-11 in Dawson Creek, BC, bringing the event back to the Peace Region for the first time since 2012.

Canada’s National Para Hockey Team will compete for gold with three other countries at the 2023 Para Hockey Cup, which will be held Dec. 3-9 in Quispamsis, NB, marking the fourth Hockey Canada event that Quispamsis has hosted.

Top Canadian and international players will be showcased at the 2023 World Junior A Hockey Challenge from Dec. 10-17 in Truro, NS, as the tournament returns to Atlantic Canada for the fourth time and to Truro for the second time.

In the spring, Canada’s Women’s U18 National Club Championship will be decided at the Esso Cup in Vernon, BC from April 21-27, while the Men’s U18 National Club Championship will be played April 22-28 in Membertou, NS.

The best Junior A teams in Canada will take to the ice at the 2024 Centennial Cup in Oakville, ON, with the Oakville Blades hosting the national championship from May 9-19.

“We are thrilled to share the list of communities that will host Hockey Canada events during the 2023-24 season,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of strategic partnerships and community impact. “The support we have received from host committees has been outstanding and we are confident that participants, volunteers, partners and fans will have fantastic experiences at each tournament.”

Ticket information for all seven events can be found here. Tournament schedules will be announced at a later date. 

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

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced the dates and host communities for six events taking place during the 2022-23 season, including the return of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup and World Junior A Challenge for the first time since 2019.

The communities of Langley and Delta, B.C., will host the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge from Nov. 5-12, bringing some of the top young players in the world to Metro Vancouver.

The 2022 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup will run from Nov. 27-Dec. 3 in Bridgewater, N.S., marking the first time that the event has been held in the Maritimes since 2016.

A showcase of Canadian and international Junior A talent, the 2022 World Junior A Challenge will take place in Cornwall, Ont., from Dec. 11-18.

Two of Hockey Canada’s national championships will return to their typical April schedule in 2023, with the puck dropping at the Esso Cup in Prince Albert, Sask., on April 23 and the TELUS Cup beginning April 24 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.

The Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, will be hosted in Portage la Prairie, Man., in May 2023, bringing Canada’s National Junior A Championship to Manitoba for a fourth time.

“We are excited to announce the host communities for six events taking place in 2022-23, and we cannot wait to bring some of the top hockey events in the world to fans across Canada,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties for Hockey Canada. “Hosting events of this magnitude would not be possible without our incredible local partners, and we are very grateful for their support as we count down to puck drop.”

Tickets are available now for the 2022 World Junior A Challenge in Cornwall, Ont., at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, while on-sale dates for the remaining events will be announced at a later date.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, become a Hockey Canada Insider, or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alta. – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the difficult decision has been made to cancel the 2021 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, 2021 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup and 2021 World Junior A Challenge. The following is a statement on behalf of Hockey Canada from Tom Renney, chief executive officer, and Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer:

“Despite a strong desire to work with three great communities to host the top players at various levels across the country this season, the health and safety of all participants and the communities at large continues to be of the utmost importance to Hockey Canada. The ongoing pandemic, in addition to the vaccination status of some international teams, has left us with no other option. We believe the decision to cancel these fall events is the safest decision given the ongoing uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic at a local level, as well as the uncertainty around countries and regions being able to safely compete.

Hockey Canada is grateful for the continued support of local host committees and event partners, including B.C. Hockey, Hockey Eastern Ontario, Hockey Nova Scotia and the Canadian Junior Hockey League, as well as the communities of Bridgewater, N.S., Cornwall, Ont., and Dawson Creek, B.C., and all local and provincial funding partners. Our organization is appreciative of the commitment and support of all stakeholders to host these events and we look forward to showcasing our national events and all participants to fans next year.”

Hockey Canada will continue to work with event stakeholders to host the spring 2022 national championships and to continue to investigate opportunities to prepare Canadian athletes to represent Canada at the Olympic Winter Games, Paralympic Winter Games, IIHF world championships and other international events.

CALGARY, Alta. – Following the cancellation of the 2019-20 hockey season and all national championships in March, Hockey Canada has worked tirelessly with its host organizing committees for 2020 and beyond.

While a tremendous amount of work has gone into planning the fall 2020 events, the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created a position where there is no further option other than to cancel three events, instead planning for their return in 2021 to the following communities:

• 2020 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, Nov. 2-8 in Dawson Creek, B.C.
• 2020 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup, Dec. 6-12 in Bridgewater, N.S.
• 2020 World Junior A Challenge, Dec. 13-20 in Cornwall, Ont.

The following statement is on behalf of Hockey Canada from Tom Renney, chief executive officer, and Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer:

“At various rates, provinces from coast-to-coast-to-coast have started moving ahead with their phased re-opening, but as it has been since the season was cancelled, Hockey Canada’s priority remains the health and safety of all participants and the general public. We believe the decision to cancel these three events is the safest decision given the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic at the local level, as well as the international implications associated with these events.

Hockey Canada is grateful for the continued support of our local host committees and event partners, including BC Hockey, Hockey Nova Scotia, Hockey Eastern Ontario, NHL Central Scouting, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). We appreciate the commitment and support of everyone involved and we look forward to showcasing some incredible hockey to fans next year.”