It’s getting closer and closer to “Puck drop” Day! In 10 days, official action will get underway at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Fans are getting excited, local businesses are prepared, volunteers and the committee are ready for the arrival of players, teams and coaches from across Canada and around the world.
For people who are still looking to buy ticket packages, they will be on sale until December 23.
Those who have purchased packages can pick them up Friday and Saturday, December 20 and 21 10am–5pm at the Emera Centre Northside and Centre 200. After these dates they will be available during regular box office hours at the respective facilities. Individual tickets will go on sale December 23. People are encouraged to purchase tickets online to avoid line-ups and for best seat selection. Tickets will also be available at the C200 box office during regular box office hours and the Emera Centre Northside at game times.
“Our sponsors and community partners have shown us tremendous support. Through collaboration on projects like this we are bringing positive attention to the area and that is great news for all involved. The world will be watching Cape Breton and we are excited and proud to showcase our Island. As well, it is a chance for us to bring some of the best hockey in the world to our fans,” says Eric MacRae, tournament Chair.
The 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will be played at venues across Cape Breton Island starting with exhibition contests on Saturday, December 28 and culminating with the gold medal game on Saturday, January 4 at 5pm AT to be broadcast on TSN/RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners.
The 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will bring together the top players in the world born in 1997 or later. The regional under-17 program is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence. Many players who compete at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge go on to represent Canada with the National Men’s Under-18 Team, National Junior Team and National Men’s Team.
Since the first World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (then known as the Quebec Esso Cup) in 1986, more than 1,200 NHL draft picks have played in the tournament, including 10 of the last 13 first-overall selections (Ilya Kovalchuk, 2001; Rick Nash, 2002; Marc-André Fleury, 2003; Alexander Ovechkin, 2004; Erik Johnson, 2006; Patrick Kane, 2007; John Tavares, 2009; Taylor Hall, 2010; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 2011; Nathan MacKinnon, 2013).
For more information about the event and for a complete list of all the team rosters and to purchase tickets, please visit hockeycanada.ca.
