Cornwall to host International World Junior A Showcase in 2020

CORNWALL — Some of the best Junior A level hockey players in the world will descend on Cornwall December 13-19, 2020 as that city will host the 15th Annual World Junior A Challenge.nnThe Challenge is a showcase of international and Junior A hockey players, and is a partnership between Hockey Canada, the Canadian Junior Hockey League, Hockey Eastern Ontario, The Ontario Hockey Federation, NHL Central Scouting, and the local host committee.nn“It is an exciting time for the city and fans of Cornwall,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties with Hockey Canada in a media release. “We know the local host committee is already hard at work to ensure they deliver a world-class event for all participants and fans.”nnSince the inaugural event in 2006, more than 300 NHL draft picks have competed in the tournament including 42 first-round selections such as Kyle Turris, Brock Boeser, Ilya Samsonov, Elias Lindholm, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Andrei Vasilevski, Kyle Connor, Beau Bennett, and David Pastr?ák.nn“Cornwall is proud to host the World Junior A Challenge,” said Bernadette Clement, mayor of Cornwall. “I am confident our world-class facilities and hockey superfans will make our community an ideal location for this tournament.”nnThis is the second time that Hockey Canada has picked a city in Ontario to host this event. The 2018 Challenge, hosted in Bonnyville, AB, saw the United States take home their eighth gold medal. The 2019 Challenge will take place in Dawson Creek, BC.nnCanada has won five gold medals since 2006, the last in 2017.nn“We have no doubt that the 2020 World Junior A Challenge will be a success in Cornwall given the large Junior A fan base that is present in that part of the country,” said CJHL president Brent Ladds.nnMore information on the tournament will be available closer to the tournament date next year.