World Junior A Challenge

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World Junior A Challenge
Most recent season or competition:
2024 World Junior A Challenge
SportIce hockey
First season2006
Most recent
champion(s)		 United States
Most titles United States (10)
Broadcaster(s)TSN
Sponsor(s)Hockey Canada
Canadian Junior Hockey League
International Ice Hockey Federation
Related
competitions		CJHL Prospects Game
Royal Bank Cup
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
Official websiteWorld Junior A Challenge

The World Junior A Challenge (WJAC) is an annual under-20 international ice hockey tournament sponsored by Hockey Canada, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The tournament showcases Junior A level players and is modeled after the IIHF World U20 Championships, which displays the best of all junior-aged hockey players. It has been hosted by Canadian cities every year in CJAHL markets.

The tournament has seen teams from Canada, the United States, Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Belarus, Denmark, Slovakia, Germany, and Latvia. Canada is represented by two regional squads; Canada West consists of players from the British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Superior International Junior Hockey Leagues, while Canada East features players from the Northern Ontario, Ontario, Central, Quebec, and Maritime Junior Hockey Leagues. American players are chosen from the United States Hockey League. Canada West captured the first two gold medals in tournament history, while the United States won the next three. Also, Russia, who has been with the tournament since the beginning, generally sends their Under-18 Team in place of a general select squad.[1][2][3]

History

Canada West's Justin Gvora with the first ever awarded WJAC Championship Trophy and Medallion (2006)

The tournament was created in 2006 through a proposal by the Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJHL prior to 2008) to Hockey Canada. The idea behind the tournament was to showcase players from Canadian Junior "A" to Canadian Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and National Hockey League scouts, while also exposing them to an international level and style of play.

The inaugural 2006 tournament was hosted in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and featured six teams – Canada West, Canada East, Russia, Slovakia, Germany and Belarus. Both Canadian teams met in the final with Canada West defeating Slovakia 7-1 and Canada East defeating Russia 5-1 in their respective semifinals. Led by Kyle Turris, Canada West ran up a 4-0 tally against Canada East early in the game and held on for a 4-3 victory to win the first-ever WJAC championship.

The 2007 tournament was held in Trail, British Columbia. The United States joined the tournament for the first time, replacing Slovakia.[4] For the second straight year, Canada West defeated the East in the final.

Beginning in 2008, the United States began a string of dominance at the tournament. They defeated Canada West in the 2008 (Camrose, Alberta) and 2009 (Summerside, Prince Edward Island) finals before winning their third consecutive title against Canada East in 2010 (Penticton, British Columbia). The 2009 tournament featured newcomers Sweden, who sent a team in place of Germany. That year also marked the first time in tournament history that Canada East failed to medal. At the 2010 WJAC, Switzerland competed in place of Belarus.

The 2013 tournament was won by the United States, 4-1, over Russia. This instance marked the first time in tournament history that both Canada East and Canada West were shut out of the gold medal game.

In 2014, the tournament started being played in December as opposed to it usually taking place in early November. The 2014 tournament marked the first time in tournament history that neither Canadian team earned a medal, with Canada East losing the bronze to Russia.

In 2025, the tournament will be hosted in Trois-Rivières, the first time in the province of Quebec.[5]

Champions

Year 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze MVP Host city (cities)
2006 Canada Canada West Canada Canada East Russia Russia Canada West (Kyle Turris) Saskatchewan Yorkton, Humboldt & Canora[6]
2007 Canada Canada West Canada Canada East United States United States Canada West (Mike Connolly) British Columbia Trail & Nelson[7]
2008 United States United States Canada Canada West Canada Canada East United States (Mike Cichy) Alberta Camrose[8]
2009 United States United States Canada Canada West Russia Russia Canada West (Sean Bonar) Prince Edward Island Summerside[9]
2010 United States United States Canada Canada East Switzerland Switzerland United States (Scott Mayfield) British Columbia Penticton[10]
2011 Canada Canada West Canada Canada East United States United States Canada East (Devin Shore) British Columbia Langley[11]
2012 United States United States Canada Canada West Switzerland Switzerland United States (Vincent Hinostroza) Nova Scotia Yarmouth[12]
2013  United States  Russia Canada Canada West United States (Nick Schmaltz) Nova Scotia Yarmouth & Liverpool[13]
2014  United States  Denmark  Russia Denmark (Nikolaj Ehlers) Saskatchewan Kindersley[14]
2015 Canada Canada West  Russia  United States Canada West (Tyson Jost) Ontario Cobourg & Whibty[15]
2016  United States Canada Canada East  Russia Russia (Andrei Svechnikov) Alberta Bonnyville[16]
2017 Canada Canada West  United States  Czech Republic Canada West (Zach Rose) Nova Scotia Truro[17]
2018  United States Russia Russia Canada Canada West United States (Bobby Brink) Alberta Bonnyville[18]
2019 Russia Russia Canada Canada East  United States Canada East (Devon Levi) British Columbia Dawson Creek[19]
2020 Tournament cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic. [20] Ontario Cornwall[21]
2021 Tournament cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic. [22] Ontario Cornwall[23]
2022  United States Canada Canada East  Sweden United States (Cole Knuble) Ontario Cornwall[24]
2023 Canada Canada West Canada Canada East  United States Canada East (Trevor Hoskin) Nova Scotia Truro[25]
2024  United States  Sweden Canada Canada West Alberta Camrose[26]
2025 Quebec Trois-Rivières[27][5]

All-time team records

Current as of 2023 Tournament [28]

Team GP W OTW OTL L GF GA Medals
 United States 74 53 6 4 11 348 167 9 G, 1 S, 5 B
Canada Canada West 75 37 7 6 25 282 214 6 G, 3 S, 2 B
 Russia 63 29 6 4 24 217 194 1 G, 3 S, 4 B
Canada Canada East 75 28 4 7 36 232 280 0 G, 8 S, 1 B
 Denmark 4 3 0 1 0 14 8 0 G, 1 S, 2 B
  Switzerland 30 6 3 2 19 91 124 0 G, 0 S, 2 B
 Czech Republic 37 10 3 3 21 88 139 0 G, 0 S, 1 B
 Sweden 24 7 1 3 13 64 88 0 G, 0 S, 1 B
 Belarus 17 3 1 1 12 54 108 0 G, 0 S, 0 B
 Slovakia 9 2 0 1 6 22 42 0 G, 0 S, 0 B
 Germany 12 2 0 0 10 34 62 0 G, 0 S, 0 B
 Latvia 4 0 1 0 3 4 24 0 G, 0 S, 0 B

Particpation

Current as of 2024 Tournament [28]

Country 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Total Appearances First Last
 United States 10 1 5 16 16 2007 2024
 Canada West
 Canada East
 Canada Total  		6
0
6 		3
8
11 		3
1
4 		12
9
21 		17 2006 2024
 Russia 1 3 4 8 14 2006 2019
 Sweden 0 1 1 2 6 2009 2024
 Denmark 0 1 0 1 1 2014 2014
  Switzerland 0 0 2 2 7 2010 2017
 Czech Republic 0 0 1 1 8 2011 2019
 Slovakia 0 0 0 0 2 2006 2023
 Belarus 0 0 0 0 4 2006 2009
 Germany 0 0 0 0 3 2006 2008
 Latvia 0 0 0 0 1 2022 2022

See also

References

  1. ^ "Мировой Кубок Вызова 2009/2010 - Юниорская сборная до 18 лет (webcitation.org)" (in Russian). FHR. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Мировой Кубок Вызова 2010/11 - Юниорская сборная до 18 лет (webcitation.org)" (in Russian). FHR. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Мировой Кубок Вызова 2011/12 - Юниорская сборная до 18 лет (webcitation.org)" (in Russian). FHR. Archived from the original on January 5, 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  4. ^ News
  5. ^ a b "Three host communities announced for fall 2025 events". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  6. ^ "2006 World Junior A Challenge - Schedule, Results & Rosters". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  7. ^ "2007 World Junior A Challenge - Schedule, Results & Rosters". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  8. ^ "2008 World Junior A Challenge - Schedule, Results & Rosters". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  9. ^ "2009 World Junior A Challenge - Schedule, Results & Rosters". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  10. ^ "2010 World Junior A Challenge - Schedule, Results & Rosters". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  11. ^ "2011 World Junior A Challenge - Schedule, Results & Rosters". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  12. ^ "2012 World Junior A Challenge - Schedule, Results & Rosters". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  13. ^ "2013 World Junior A Challenge Schedule". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Schedule and Scores - 2014 World Junior A Challenge". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  15. ^ "Schedule and Scores - 2015 World Junior A Challenge". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  16. ^ "Schedule and Scores - 2016 World Junior A Challenge". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  17. ^ "Schedule and Scores - 2017 World Junior A Challenge". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  18. ^ "Schedule and Scores - 2018 World Junior A Challenge". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  19. ^ "Schedule and Scores - 2019 World Junior A Challenge". Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  20. ^ "Hockey Canada statement announcing Fall 2020 event rescheduling". Hockey Canada.
  21. ^ "World Junior A Challenge heads to Cornwall in 2020". Hockey Canada.
  22. ^ "Hockey Canada statement announcing Fall event cancellations". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  23. ^ "Hockey Canada statement announcing Fall 2020 event rescheduling". Hockey Canada.
  24. ^ "Schedule and Scores - 2022 World Junior A Challenge". Hockey Canada. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  25. ^ "Schedule and Scores - 2023 World Junior A Challenge". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  26. ^ "Schedule and Scores - 2024 Junior A World Challenge". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  27. ^ "2025 Junior A World Challenge". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  28. ^ a b "2024 GUIDE & RECORD BOOK" (PDF). Hockey Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2025.