World under-17 men’s hockey challenge returns after pandemic hiatus

CALGARY – The world men’s under-17 hockey challenge returns after a pandemic hiatus with Langley and Delta, B.C., hosting the international tournament in November.

Three Canadian teams, Finland, Czechia (formerly Czech Republic), Sweden and the U.S. will each play six preliminary round games with the top four teams advancing to the medal round in the Nov. 3-12 event, Hockey Canada announced Wednesday.

The medal games Nov. 12 will be played in the Langley Events Centre.

The tournament hasn’t been held since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since this event began in 1986, more than 1,600 National Hockey League draft picks have played in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge,” said Hockey Canada manager of events and properties Breanne Ferris in a statement.

Russia defeated the U.S. 6-2 in the final of the 2019 event held in Medicine Hat, Alta., and Swift Current, Sask.

Canadian rosters that year included Shane Wright, drafted fourth overall in this year’s NHL entry draft by the Seattle Kraken, and Mason McTavish, who captained the national junior men’s team to world gold last month in Edmonton.

Other alumni include Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (2015), Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (2018), Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (2016)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2022.