Music: {allcanada} World Under-17 hockey tournament shifts to Windsor

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

{allcanada} World Under-17 hockey tournament shifts to Windsor

Windsor, Ont., will score big as a result of the Winnipeg Jets' hockey club return.

A world-class hockey tournament that had been planned for Winnipeg, Man., is moving to Windsor instead.

Plans for Winnipeg to host the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this winter were derailed with news the NHL was returning to town.

The club's presence made scheduling the December tournament a problem, so Hockey Canada has turned to the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre to host the 25-year-old event.

The official announcement was made at the WFCU Centre on Wednesday morning.

Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis said, "The city of Windsor would also like to congratulate Winnipeg in being awarded their new NHL team which has afforded the city of Windsor the opportunity to host this event."

Some exhibition games will be played at the new recreation centre in neighbouring Amherstburg. Preliminary games in the tournament are planned for the Vollmer Centre in LaSalle and the Tecumseh arena.

The region's mayors are all pleased, because it means a boost for the economy during the Christmas season. The tournament is scheduled for Dec. 29 to Jan. 4.

NHL superstars in the making

The event attracts 10 national and international teams, and Bob Nicholson, President of Hockey Canada, said the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge is their second biggest event, only behind the World Junior Tournament.

Canada will enter teams representing the Atlantic region, Ontario, Quebec, the Pacific, and the West. There will be five other international teams including Russia and the United States.

Hockey Canada said the next generation of NHL superstars plays in the tournament, including first overall NHL draft picks Taylor Hall and John Tavares.

It's the sixth time in 26 years the tournament has been held in Ontario.