Challenge Cup (ice hockey)


The Challenge Cup International AAA Championship Showcase 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 to Midget Major for both girls and boys and the tournament is traditionally held on the weekend of the Canadian holiday Victoria Day.
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. 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 – GA Total goal differential GF-GA/GF 7) Team with the fewest penalty minutes

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, the tournament has grown to over 250 expected teams in 2010, another increase from previous years. In 2008 and 2009, the tournament hosted 186 teams, and 220 teams respectively. Among the divisions with the most teams are Bantam Minor, Pee-Wee minor, and Atom Major. In 2007, there were even fewer teams, at 161. The opening ceremonies are always kicked off with a speech from the Challenge Cup's celebrity guest Walter Gretzky.

Walter Gretzky's appearances

, 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.

Other celebrity guest appearances

There have not been many other celebrity guests that have made their appearances to the tournament in the past years, except Walter Gretzky, of course. In the past few years, there have been two appearances by Garry Unger in 2008, and returned again in 2009. 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.

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 LevelWinner LocaleRunner Up LocaleFinal Score
Midget MajorOkanagan Coyote SelectsNew Western Bruins5-2
Midget MinorInformation Not AvailableN/AInformation Not AvailableN/AN/A
Bantam MajorVancouver MillionairesPursuit of Excellence2-1 OT
Bantam MinorCalgary Jr. Flames and Red Deer Rustlers Saskatoon Junior Blades and Southern Alberta Selects and 4-3 OT and 3-0
Peewee MajorInformation Not AvailableN/AInformation Not AvailableN/AN/A
Peewee MinorVancouver SelectsVancouver Millionaires4-3 OT
Atom MajorCan West Vipers and Colorado Thunderbirds and Vancouver Selects and Steveston Sharks 6-2 and 2-1 OT
Atom MinorInformation Not AvailableN/AInformation Not AvailableN/AN/A
Novice MajorBC Bears and Wolverine X-MEN and Edmonton Jr. Oilers and Colorado Thunderbirds and 6-4 and 9-0
Novice MinorKelowna All-StarsBC Bears2-1
Midget GirlsCalgary Rocky Mountain FuryFraser Valley Phantoms6-3
Bantam GirlsPacific StormIsland Stars4-2
Peewee GirlsWest Coast FlyersBC Rockets2-0

2010 scoring leaders

Age LevelPlayer NameTeam NamePointsGoalsAssists
Midget Major Madison Dias Okanagan Coyote Selects1239
Midget MinorInformation Not AvailableN/AN/AN/AN/A
Bantam Major Adam Erne Vancouver Millionaires1587
Bantam Minor Tyler Coulter Central Alberta Rage1376
Peewee Major Tyler Welsh Ice Dogs1495
Peewee Minor Kyle Uy Vancouver Junior Giants862
Atom Major Brendon Marfleat Young Guns1266
Atom Minor Cam Lamberton Pacific Titans981
Novice Major Dylan Wilson Tri-City Penguins1266
Novice Minor Ozzy Wiesblatt Kelowna All-Stars1174
Peewee Girls Meghan Kraus and Elizabeth "Libby" Riedl Vancouver Island Stars and Westcoast Flyers4 13
Bantam Girls Rachel Piitz Calgary Rocky Mountain Storm761
Midget Girls S. Laurin Calgary Rocky Mountain Fury963

2009 champions

Age LevelWinner LocaleRunner Up LocaleFinal Score
Midget MajorU18 Alberta WolverinesU18 Peace Country Selects6-0
Midget MinorWestern Alberta WolverinesSouth Surrey Junior Eagles6-5 OT
Bantam MajorWestern 94 SabersWest Coast Wings United States4-1
Bantam MinorAlberta PredatorsVancouver Selects3-0
Peewee MajorVancouver SelectsBC Bruins5-1
Peewee MinorCalgary Jr. DinosSeattle Starz Washington3-2 2OT
Atom MajorVancouver SelectsAlberta Wolverines2-0
Atom MinorPrince George Ice SharksVancouver Selects2-1
Novice MajorEdge MountaneersYoung Guns5-4 OT
Novice MinorVancouver BulldogsCan West Vipers8-3
Midget GirlsPursuit Of ExcellenceFraser Valley Falcons2-1 OT
Bantam GirlsPacific StormIsland Heat3-0
Peewee GirlsBC RocketsNAA PeeWee Girls AAA3-2 OT

2009 scoring leaders

Age LevelPlayer NameTeam NamePointsGoalsAssists
Midget Major Madison Dias Okanagan Desert Dogs1368
Midget MinorInformation Not AvailableN/AN/AN/AN/A
Bantam Major Anthony Olguin Pikes Peak Miners1394
Bantam Minor Morgan Klimchuk Calgary Jr. Flames1587
Peewee Major Tanner MacMaster Calgary Jr. Flames21714
Peewee Minor Mathew Barzal Valley Eagles1798
Atom Major Jake Kryski 98 Vancouver Selects1495
Atom Minor Ocean WiesblattCougar Selects18711
Novice Major Bradley Braich Abbotsford Bulldogs18126
Novice Minor Henrik Rybinski Vancouver Bulldogs20713

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. 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.

Fastest skater

Players skate two laps, one forward and one backward. A 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 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.