World Junior A Challenge Recap – December 11

The final time the World Junior A Challenge (WJAC) was performed, in December
of 2019, a younger goaltender stole the present, incomes Most Valuable Player
honours and backstopping Canada East to inside an extra time aim of its
first gold medal.

A 12 months later, Devon Levi was starring on the largest stage in junior
hockey, handing over among the finest netminding performances in IIHF World
Junior Championship historical past contained in the Edmonton bubble.

Levi is simply one of many many success tales which have come out of the
WJAC, which returns after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus when Cornwall, Ont.,
welcomes Canada East, Canada West, Latvia, Sweden and the United States
starting Dec. 11.

Founded in 2006 to provide extra publicity to gamers from throughout the Canadian
Junior Hockey League, there have been no scarcity of memorable moments and
historic performances over time.

At the primary WJAC in Yorkton and Humboldt, Sask., within the first-ever recreation,
Kyle Turris recorded what it nonetheless the one four-goal effort in event
historical past, main Canada West to a win over Russia en path to gold and MVP
honours.

In Langley, B.C., in 2011, Canada West grew to become the primary crew to lose each
of its preliminary-round video games (below the outdated format) and nonetheless win gold,
capped by an exhilarating 4-2 win over Canada East in the newest
all-Canadian last.

That recreation included 9 gamers who’ve appeared in an NHL recreation – 4
with West (Alex Kerfoot, Jujhar Khaira, Colton Parayko, Troy Stecher) and
5 with East (Drake Caggiula, Justin Danforth, Ben Hutton, Devin Shore,
MacKenzie Weegar).

Four years later, a Canada West roster that included 4 first-round NHL
draft picks Tyson Jost (tenth to Colorado in 2016), Dante Fabbro (seventeenth,
Nashville, 2016), Dennis Cholowski (twentieth, Detroit, 2016) and Cale Makar
(4th, Colorado, 2017) – received gold in Cobourg and Whitby, Ont.

That event is maybe greatest remembered for the wild East vs. West
semifinal; tied 2-2 coming into the third interval, Jost tied a
tournament-record with 4 factors (1-3—3) and the groups mixed for a
file 9 targets, with West pulling away for an 8-5 win.

Makar, after all, is now maybe the best-known WJAC alumni – an all-star
in 2015, he returned to captain West in 2016, once more making the all-star
crew, earlier than embarking on a professional profession that has already included a Calder
Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup championship in Colorado.

But it’s not simply Canadians who’ve left their mark. The listing of
worldwide alumni is simply as spectacular, together with Boston Bruins
celebrity David Pastrnak (Czech Republic, 2012), Calgary Flames standout
Elias Lindholm (Sweden, 2011) and a trio of Americans – New York Islanders
defenceman Scott Mayfield (2010), Buffalo Sabres ahead Vince Hinostroza
(2012) and Arizona Coyotes point-getter Nick Schmaltz (2013) – who have been
event MVPs.

As was Winnipeg Jets sniper Nikolaj Ehlers, who took dwelling the award in 2014
after posting 9 factors (6-3—9) in 4 video games and serving to Denmark attain
the gold medal recreation in Kindersley, Sask.

That 12 months, the Danes entered the WJAC as preparation for the IIHF World
Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal. This 12 months, it’ll be Latvia
doing the identical because it will get prepared for the World Juniors in Halifax and
Moncton.

So … will you be a part of the festivities in Cornwall? Tickets at the moment are on
sale, and there’s one thing for everybody.

Only out there to take a look at the evening video games? There’s a package deal for that
(six video games for $87).
Only wish to see the motion on opening day, that includes
East and West in motion? There’s a package deal for that (two video games for $32).
Only wish to watch the medal spherical on the ultimate weekend? There’s a package deal
for that (4 video games for $76).

Tickets are on sale now at HockeyCanada.ca/WJAC.