Thursday, October 21, 2010

Team Canada to visit Ontario before 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship

Press Release

ALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Wednesday that four Ontario cities will host pre-competition games this December prior to the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., including three featuring Canada’s National Junior Team.

Canada is scheduled to play Switzerland in Oshawa on December 20, Sweden in Toronto on December 21 and Finland in Kitchener on December 23. A fourth pre-competition game between Sweden and Switzerland will take place in St. Catharines, also on December 23.

Game time for the Canada-Switzerland game December 20 in Oshawa and Sweden-Switzerland game December 23 in St. Catharines is 7 p.m. ET. The Canada-Sweden game December 21 in Toronto and Canada-Finland game December 23 in Kitchener both start at 7:30 p.m. ET.

“We’re pleased to work with the Canadian Hockey League to hold international games in four fantastic junior hockey communities leading up to this year’s World Junior Championship,” said Brad Pascall, vice-president of hockey operations/national teams for Hockey Canada. “The three additional games for our National Junior Team will give Canadian players a great chance to mesh on the ice, and face off against top calibre opponents, before heading to Buffalo.”

“On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League and our member teams, we are honoured to host Team Canada and a series of pre-competition games in our markets that will provide our fans with another opportunity to watch world class hockey in advance of the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship,” said CHL president David Branch. “Our partnership with Hockey Canada is outstanding and provides our players and coaches with the chance to represent our country as they play against the best competition in the world.”

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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