- Challenge Cup (ice hockey)
-
1992 - Present Challenge Cup AAA International Showcase Tournament details Host country 
CanadaDates May 21–24, 2010 Teams 250[1] Venue(s) Burnaby 8Rinks
Burnaby Winter Club
Ice Sports North Shore
UBC Thunderbird Arena
Richmond Ice Center
Great Pacific Forum, and
Langley Twin Rinks
(in Burnaby
Vancouver
North Vancouver
Richmond
Delta
Langley
host cities)Tournament statistics Attendance 1,250 (Per Game) The Challenge Cup International AAA Championship Showcase (colloquially known as the Challenge Cup or simply The Cup) is an international ice hockey tournament held annually in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia for ice hockey teams from around the world. Ages range from Novice Minor (age 9) to Midget Major (age 18) for both girls and boys and the tournament is traditionally held on the weekend of the Canadian holiday Victoria Day.[2]
Within each age level, teams are divided into three divisions: A, B, and C. During the exhibition round and round-robin play, teams play games with opponents within their own division. Upon completion of round-robin play, teams enter the elimination round. Teams play compete within their own divisions and later play teams in other divisions. Teams with the most wins are considered tournament winners. Points are distributed in the following order: 3 points for a regulation win, 2 points for an overtime win, 1 point for an overtime loss, and 0 points for a regulation loss.[3] Ties are decided in this order: 1) Most points 2) Team with the greatest number of wins 3) Games against team with equal record 4) Penalty minute differential 5) Basic goal differential GF (Goals For) – GA (Goals Against) 6) Total goal differential GF-GA/GF 7) Team with fewest penalty minutes[3]
Contents
History
First held in 1992 as a relatively obscure tournament, the Challenge Cup has grown in prestige, particularly in the local community, particularly the Lower Mainland where the tournament ranks as one of the most significant events on the hockey calendar. Since its opening ceremonies on May 22, 1992, and the first finals on May 24, 1992,[4] the tournament has grown to over 250 expected teams in 2010,[5] another increase from previous years. In 2008 and 2009, the tournament hosted 186 teams, and 220 teams respectively.[6] Among the divisions with the most teams are Bantam Minor (24 teams), Pee-Wee minor (24 teams), and Atom Major (26 teams). In 2007, there were even fewer teams, at 161.[7] The opening ceremonies are always kicked off with a speech from the Challenge Cup's celebrity guest Walter Gretzky.
Walter Gretzky's appearances
Walter Gretzky, the prestigious father of NHL superstar Wayne Gretzky, makes an annual appearance at the tournament. He is involved in the opening ceremonies each year, to give the opening speech to all teams and participants involved, followed by an autograph session held in the upper lobby. Walter also actively participates in helping some of the younger players, in making pre-game appearances to the teams.[8]
Other celebrity guest appearances
There have not been many other celebrity guests that have made their appearances to the tournament in the past years, with the exception of Walter Gretzky, of course. In the past few years, there have been two appearances by Garry Unger in 2008, and returned again in 2009.[9] Gary played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1967 until 1983. Unger holds the second longest consecutive games streak in NHL history, with 914 consecutive games played during the regular season between February 24, 1968 and December 21, 1979. Doug Jarvis holds the current record at 964 consecutive games. Unger ended up playing 1105 career NHL games, scoring 413 goals and 391 assists for 804 points, and he also registered 1075 career penalty minutes.[10]
Tournament statistics
2010 champions
Note that as a result of the large number of teams in the 2010 tournament, some age levels played in two different divisions. A higher numbered division does not represent a more skilled team.
Age Level Winner (Team Name) Locale Runner Up (Team Name) Locale Final Score Midget Major Okanagan Coyote Selects 
British ColumbiaNew Western Bruins Canada5-2 Midget Minor Information Not Available N/A Information Not Available N/A N/A Bantam Major Vancouver Millionaires British ColumbiaPursuit of Excellence British Columbia2-1 OT Bantam Minor Calgary Jr. Flames (Division 1) and Red Deer Rustlers (Division 2) 
AlbertaSaskatoon Junior Blades (Division 1) and Southern Alberta Selects (Division 2) 
Saskatchewan and Alberta4-3 OT (Division 1) and 3-0 (Division 2) Peewee Major Information Not Available N/A Information Not Available N/A N/A Peewee Minor Vancouver Selects British ColumbiaVancouver Millionaires British Columbia4-3 OT Atom Major Can West Vipers (Division 1) and Colorado Thunderbirds (Division 2) British Columbia and 
ColoradoVancouver Selects (Division 1) and Steveston Sharks (Division 2) British Columbia6-2 (Division 1) and 2-1 OT (Division 2) Atom Minor Information Not Available N/A Information Not Available N/A N/A Novice Major BC Bears(Division 1) and Wolverine X-MEN (Division 2) British Columbia and AlbertaEdmonton Jr. Oilers (Division 1) and Colorado Thunderbirds (Division 2) Alberta and Colorado6-4 (Division 1) and 9-0 (Division 2) Novice Minor Kelowna All-Stars British ColumbiaBC Bears British Columbia2-1 Midget Girls Calgary Rocky Mountain Fury AlbertaFraser Valley Phantoms British Columbia6-3 Bantam Girls Pacific Storm British ColumbiaIsland Stars British Columbia4-2 Peewee Girls West Coast Flyers British ColumbiaBC Rockets British Columbia2-0 2010 scoring leaders
Age Level Player Name Team Name Points Goals Assists Midget Major Madison Dias Okanagan Coyote Selects12 3 9 Midget Minor Information Not Available N/A N/A N/A N/A Bantam Major Adam Erne Vancouver Millionaires15 8 7 Bantam Minor Tyler Coulter Central Alberta Rage13 7 6 Peewee Major Tyler Welsh Ice Dogs14 9 5 Peewee Minor Kyle Uy Vancouver Junior Giants8 6 2 Atom Major Brendon Marfleat Young Guns12 6 6 Atom Minor Cam Lamberton Pacific Titans9 8 1 Novice Major Dylan Wilson Tri-City Penguins12 6 6 Novice Minor Ozzy Wiesblatt Kelowna All-Stars11 7 4 Peewee Girls Meghan Kraus and Elizabeth "Libby" Riedl Vancouver Island Stars and Westcoast Flyers4 (Both) 1 3 Bantam Girls Rachel Piitz Calgary Rocky Mountain Storm7 6 1 Midget Girls S. Laurin Calgary Rocky Mountain Fury9 6 3 2009 champions
Age Level Winner (Team Name) Locale Runner Up (Team Name) Locale Final Score Midget Major U18 Alberta Wolverines AlbertaU18 Peace Country Selects British Columbia6-0 Midget Minor Western Alberta Wolverines AlbertaSouth Surrey Junior Eagles British Columbia6-5 OT Bantam Major Western 94 Sabers CanadaWest Coast Wings 
USA4-1 Bantam Minor Alberta Predators AlbertaVancouver Selects British Columbia3-0 Peewee Major Vancouver Selects British ColumbiaBC Bruins British Columbia5-1 Peewee Minor Calgary Jr. Dinos AlbertaSeattle Starz 
Washington3-2 2OT Atom Major Vancouver Selects British ColumbiaAlberta Wolverines Alberta2-0 Atom Minor Prince George Ice Sharks British ColumbiaVancouver Selects British Columbia2-1 Novice Major Edge Mountaneers British ColumbiaYoung Guns Alberta5-4 OT Novice Minor Vancouver Bulldogs British ColumbiaCan West Vipers British Columbia8-3 Midget Girls Pursuit Of Excellence British ColumbiaFraser Valley Falcons British Columbia2-1 OT Bantam Girls Pacific Storm British ColumbiaIsland Heat British Columbia3-0 Peewee Girls BC Rockets British ColumbiaNAA PeeWee Girls AAA Alberta3-2 OT 2009 scoring leaders
Age Level Player Name Team Name Points Goals Assists Midget Major Madison Dias Okanagan Desert Dogs13 6 8 Midget Minor Information Not Available N/A N/A N/A N/A Bantam Major Anthony Olguin Pikes Peak Miners13 9 4 Bantam Minor Morgan Klimchuk Calgary Jr. Flames15 8 7 Peewee Major Tanner MacMaster Calgary Jr. Flames21 7 14 Peewee Minor Mathew Barzal Valley Eagles17 9 8 Atom Major Jake Kryski 98 Vancouver Selects14 9 5 Atom Minor Ocean WiesblattCougar Selects 18 7 11 Novice Major Bradley Braich Abbotsford Bulldogs18 12 6 Novice Minor Henrik Rybinski Vancouver Bulldogs20 7 13 Skills competition
Winners are chosen and based on four categories. These events seem to serve at least two purposes: the first is to establish bragging rights between athletes for possessing a particular skill needed to succeed in the game, and the second is to increase revenue for those that sponsor the event.[11] Skills contests are often held during an All-star break, but in this tournament, they are held as a part of a mid-tournament break, usually during the second day of competition, and usually the players get the entire afternoon off.[12][13]
Fastest skater
Players skate two laps, one forward and one backward. A pivot is made between center ice and the blue line after finishing one lap. The player with the fastest recorded time wins.
Hardest shot
The speed of the player's shot (players take two shots) on net is recorded with a radar gun. The shot must hit the net to count. The fastest shot wins. If there is a radar gun malfunction, or if a radar gun is unavailable, a Most Accurate Shot competition will take place in lieu of the Hardest Shot. Players will be required to hit indicated targets in a limited amount of time.
Best puck handler
Players will skate with a puck through an indicated route, most likely marked with cones. Players must complete the entire course with the puck, and having not lost any control whatsoever during their routine. The player with the fastest recorded time wins.
Showdown
A player is required to take three breakaways in less than thirty seconds. Distances to the goal will vary between age groups. Saves and goals are recorded for each shooter and goalie. The goalie with the most saves wins, and the shooter with the most goals scored in the fastest recorded time wins. If necessary, goalies will perform a series of timed movement exercises to determine which goalie advances to the final round if their saves count is equal after the Round-Robin series.
Notes
- ^ http://www.challengecup.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?leagueID=0&clientID=435&stype=1&page=31505
- ^ http://www.challengecup.com/
- ^ a b http://www.challengecup.com/leagues/rules.cfm?leagueID=2982&clientID=435
- ^ http://www.mediaontap.com/sports/banff_hockey_academy.php
- ^ http://www.challengecup.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientid=435&leagueid=0&page=31505
- ^ http://www.challengecup.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?leagueID=0&clientID=435&stype=1&page=24873
- ^ http://www.challengecup.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?leagueID=0&clientID=435&stype=1&page=17540
- ^ http://www.challengecup.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientid=435&leagueid=0&page=44576
- ^ http://www.challengecup.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?leagueID=0&clientID=435&stype=1&page=26612
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garry_Unger
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skills_competitions
- ^ http://www.challengecup.com/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=0&clientID=435&pageID=794
- ^ http://www.challengecup.com/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=8003&clientID=435&pageID=794
References
- "Challenge Cup". http://www.challengecup.com. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
External links
Preceded by
2010 Challenge Cup2011 Challenge Cup
19th AnnualSucceeded by
2012 Challenge CupCategories:- Ice hockey tournaments in Canada
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