By TERRY PUGH
The rinks may not have ice in July, but that won’t stop Western Canada’s top hockey players from competing for a western Canadian championship trophy.
The Western Challenge Cup is slated to run July 9-13 at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex (WHCC), the Martensville Recreation Centre (MRC) and Saskatoon’s Merlis Belsher Place.
The Western Challenge Cup is one of Canada’s longest-running junior ball hockey events, attracting over 50 teams in four age divisions from across the western provinces. Teams will compete in U11, U13, U15 and U17 categories.
The tournament offers players an opportunity to get scouted for Team Canada Junior Teams for the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) events. Canada has a strong record in those international competitions, including world championships in the U16 and U18 divisions.
The Western Challenge Cup was established in 1999 by minor ball hockey associations in British Columbia and Alberta.