The top international Junior A hockey players will be descending upon Bonnyville this December as the town has officially been named the host site of the 2016 World Junior A Challenge.
The top international Junior A hockey players will be descending upon Bonnyville this December as the town has officially been named the host site of the 2016 World Junior A Challenge.
"Our group is excited about the opportunity to bring an elite level of hockey to the area, and about the economic spinoff," said Robb Hunter, co-chair of the local host committee.
"Bonnyville has a strong history of supporting junior and senior hockey, and that passion and support will make for a tremendous host community for the event."
Hunter announced Bonnyville's successful bid via a video presentation from Hockey Canada on Feb. 3 before the team's home game against the Lloydminster Bobcats. He went on to explain how the committee saw the event as a way to give back to the community noting the size and attention the event promises to bring .
"In terms of exposure this is the largest event, hockey or otherwise, ever to come to Bonnyville," said Hunter. "In these challenging economic times our group and the Pontiacs organization saw the World Jr. A Challenge as a way to give back to the community, help fill hotel rooms, help fill restaurants and bring people to our region."
The World Jr A. Challenge is an international hockey tournament that features six teams of players under the age of 20. Last year's event, held in Cobourg and Whitby, ON saw squads from Russia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the United States and both Eastern and Western Canada compete for the prestigious title.
In 2015 current Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs Brinson Pasichnuk and Bobby McMann were on the Canada West squad, which defeated Russia 2-1 to capture the gold medal.
Since its inception back in 2006, the competition has featured over 230 players that have gone on to be drafted into the National Hockey League. One of those players is none other than local hockey hero Justin Fontaine - a former Pontiac who now plays for the NHL's Minnesota Wild.
Fontaine, along with the Town of Bonnyville and MD of Bonnyville provided a letter of support backing the Pontiacs bid for the event, a process which began in June of 2015.
As keen hockey enthusiast Bonnyville Mayor Gene Sobolewski was overjoyed about town hosting a tournament of this magnitude.
"We are ecstatic to be hosting the World Junior A Challenge," said Sobolewski. "We are a community that is very proud of our commitment to Junior A hockey and celebrate our decades of hockey history. Our region is ready to host the world."
While the Centennial Centre will host the main tournament, with games being played in the RJ Lalonde Arena, Hunter has hinted at the possibility of scheduling exhibition games to be played in Cold Lake and St. Paul.
The 13-game tournament will run from Dec. 11 through 17.
