World Junior A Challenge

World Junior A Challenge
Most recent season or competition:
2023 World Junior A Challenge
SportIce hockey
First season2006
Most recent
champion(s)
Canada Canada West
Most titles United States (9)
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 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 features six teams per year and has seen teams from Canada, the United States, Russia, Sweden, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland and Belarus. 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]

  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)