Schedule Announced For Pre-Tournament Games At 2009 WJAC:

Schedule announced for Pre-Tournament games at 2009 WJAC

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - Submitted by Hockey Canada

Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League, announced on Wednesday a pre-tournament schedule consisting of five games in preparation for the 2009 World Junior A Challenge, which will be held Nov. 1-8, 2009 in Summerside, P.E.I.

The five games will be held on October 29 and 30 in five communities across two Maritime provinces: Amherst, N.S., Charlottetown, P.E.I., Montague, P.E.I., O’Leary, P.E.I. and Truro, N.S. The games will feature five of the six teams taking part in the 2009 World Junior A Challenge, as well as a team of Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL) all-stars.

“We are very excited to bring the 2009 World Junior A Challenge not only to Summerside and Prince Edward Island, but to the Maritime provinces of Canada,” says JP Desrosiers, chair of the host committee. “We expect five thrilling games as the teams gear up to go for gold beginning Nov. 1.”

2009 WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE PRE-TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:

Thursday, Oct. 29th:

7 PM Atlantic Time – Canada West vs. Belarus – Charlottetown, P.E.I.

7:30 PM Atlantic Time – Canada East vs. MJAHL All-Stars – Truro, N.S.

Friday, Oct. 30th:

7:30 PM Atlantic Time – Belarus vs. MJAHL All-Stars – Amherst, N.S.

7:30 PM Atlantic Time – Canada East vs. Russia – O’Leary, P.E.I.

8 PM Atlantic Time – Canada West vs. United States – Montague, P.E.I.

Also, both Canadian teams have announced additions to their coaching staffs. Troy Ryan of the MJAHL’s Halifax Lions, who was an assistant coach with Canada East in 2006, 2007 and 2008, has joined the Canada East staff as an assistant coach, while Jomar Cruz of the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard has been named the video coach with Canada West.

The 2009 World Junior A Challenge will follow the same format as previous years – two Canadian entries will be joined by four international teams, with two groups of three teams. The group winners will receive an automatic bye to the semifinals, while the second and third place teams will crossover for the quarter-finals.

All 13 games of the 2009 World Junior A Challenge will take place at Credit Union Place, home of the MJAHL’s Summerside Western Capitals.