NR - U16 Challenge Cup Comes to Calgary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17th, 2012



2012 WESTERN CANADA U16 CHALLENGE CUP COMES TO CALGARY
Team Alberta and Team B.C. Announce Tournament Rosters
 
Calgary, AB – The four Western Provincial Hockey Associations – Hockey Alberta, BC Hockey, Hockey Manitoba and the Saskatchewan Hockey Association – in partnership with the Western Hockey League (WHL) are pleased to announce that 2012 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup will take place November 1 – 4, 2012 at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary, Alberta.
 
At a media conference today the Team Alberta and British Columbia U16 rosters were announced for the event.
 
TEAM ALBERTA, BC, MANITOBA & SASKATCHEWAN ROSTERS  
 
The Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup will feature the highest rated players in the Under 16 age category representing the four Western Provinces of Alberta, BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The four team round robin tournament format, which will open Thursday, November 1 and conclude on Sunday, November 4, 2012, is the first step in the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence and assists the four Western Provincial Hockey Associations in evaluating these top prospects in this age group for future high performance programs.  The Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup is made possible through financial support provided by the WHL.  The majority of the players participating in the event were selected in the WHL Bantam Draft in June 2012 and many of these top young prospects will play major roles on WHL Clubs in the seasons ahead.
 
The first ever Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup was held in Blackfalds, Alberta in 2009 and featured four of the top eight players selected in the 2012 NHL Draft; Matt Dumba (Red Deer Rebels), Derek Pouliot (Portland Winterhawks), Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton Oil Kings) and Morgan Reilly (Moose Jaw Warriors).  Last year the WHL, along with the Moose Jaw Warriors and Saskatchewan Hockey Association, hosted the 2011 event at Mosaic Place in downtown Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.  The event featured many future stars who are now entering their rookie season in the WHL including 2011 WHL Bantam Draft first round picks; Jake Virtanen (1st overall, Calgary Hitmen), Brycen Martin (2nd overall, Swift Current Broncos), Ryan Pilon (3rd overall, Lethbridge Hurricanes), Jordan Thomson (4th overall, Kamloops Blazers) and Reid Duke (5th overall, Lethbridge Hurricanes).    

GAME SCHEDULE:
*all games will take place at Father David Bauer Arena (Calgary, Alberta)

Thursday, November 1
3:30pm - Saskatchewan @ Manitoba
7:00pm - British Columbia @ Alberta

Friday, November 2
11:30am - British Columbia @ Saskatchewan
3:00pm - Alberta @ Manitoba

Saturday, November 3
11:30am - Saskatchewan @ Alberta
7:00pm - Manitoba @ British Columbia

Sunday, November 4
9:30am - BRONZE MEDAL GAME (3rd Place vs 4th Place)
1:00pm - GOLD MEDAL GAME (1st Place vs 2nd Place)
 
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tournament Passes:                       

Day Pass:
Adult- $30                                           

Adult- $10
Senior (65+) - $25                              

Senior (65+) - $8                          

Youth (13 to 17) - $15                        

Youth (13 to 17) - $5 


 
Please find attached the official Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup tournament logo for use.
 
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For further information, please contact:                     WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Cory Flett, Director, Communications                         2424 University Drive NW,                   
email: flettc@whl.ca                                                    Calgary Alberta, Canada, T2N 3Y9
direct T.   403-693-3040                                              T. 403-693-3030   F. 403-693-3031
cellular T. 403-462-2820                                              www.whl.ca