World Junior A Challenge

Last updated
World Junior A Challenge
Most recent season or competition:
2024 World Junior A Challenge
World Jr A Logo.png
Sport Ice hockey
First season2006
Most recent
champion(s)
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Most titlesFlag of the United States.svg  United States (10)
TV partner(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 website World 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.

Contents

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) WJAC Canada West with Trophy.jpg
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

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

All-time team records

Current as of 2023 Tournament [28]

TeamGPWOTWOTLLGFGAMedals
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 745364113481679 G, 1 S, 5 B
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada West 753776252822146 G, 3 S, 2 B
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 632964242171941 G, 3 S, 4 B
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada East 752847362322800 G, 8 S, 1 B
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 430101480 G, 1 S, 2 B
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 3063219911240 G, 0 S, 2 B
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 37103321881390 G, 0 S, 1 B
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 247131364880 G, 0 S, 1 B
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 1731112541080 G, 0 S, 0 B
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 9201622420 G, 0 S, 0 B
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 122001034620 G, 0 S, 0 B
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 401034240 G, 0 S, 0 B

Particpation

Current as of 2024 Tournament [28]

CountryGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgTotalAppearancesFirstLast
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1015161620072024
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada West
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada East
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Total 
6
0
6
3
8
11
3
1
4
12
9
21
1720062024
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 13481420062019
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 0112620092024
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0101120142014
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 0022720102017
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 0011820112019
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 0000220062023
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 0000420062009
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 0000320062008
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 0000120222022

See also

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