# World U-17 Hockey Challenge

The World U-17 Hockey Challenge, originally known as the Quebec Esso Cup, is an international ice hockey tournament held annually in Canada. Prior to 2011, the tournament did not operate during years in which the Canada Winter Games were held. As such, the World Under-17 Challenge was held three out of every four years. It is organized by Hockey Canada and is the first major international competition for male hockey players under the age of 17. The tournament is the first step in Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence and is used to identify players moving on to the U18 and National Junior Team.

## Origins

The inaugural World Under-17 Hockey Challenge took place in Quebec as the 1986 Quebec Esso Cup. At the time, it was considered the unofficial world championship of midget hockey. It was also used as a development tool for the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to identify players for further development as well as expose them to their first taste of international competition. The tournament was among ten teams, five regional teams from Canada, Finland, Czechoslovakia, the United States, Sweden, and the Soviet Union. Team Quebec, led by future NHL first overall pick Pierre Turgeon captured gold by defeating the Soviets, who featured the likes of Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Mogilny.
Prior to November 2014, the tournament was held from late December through to early January. Originally, Canada would field five teams, selected on a regional basis.

## Current tournament

The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge has continued to grow over the years to the point where it is perhaps the largest annual event administered under Hockey Canada's own auspices. Although the tournament is not sanctioned by the IIHF, it attracts U17 teams from the United States, Sweden, and Russia on an annual basis and Czech Republic, Finland, and Slovakia on a semi-annual basis.
The tournament is currently held in November of each year.

## Participating teams

Canada enters three teams each year. Prior to November 2014, Canada entered five regional teams
Other participating nations have included:
* United States
* Finland
* Russia
* Sweden
* Slovakia
* Czech Republic
* Germany
* Soviet Union (now defunct)
* Czechoslovakia (now defunct)

## Results

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Host city (cities) |
| 2025 | | | | Truro |
| 2024 | Canada White | Canada Red | Sweden | Sarnia |
| 2023 | Canada White | United States | Sweden | Charlottetown and Summerside |
| 2022 | United States | Canada Red | Finland | Langley and Delta |
| 2021 | Tournament cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic. | Tournament cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic. | Tournament cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic. | Charlottetown and Summerside |
| 2020 | Tournament cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic. | Tournament cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic. | Tournament cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic. | Charlottetown and Summerside |
| 2019 | Russia | United States | Czech Republic | Medicine Hat and Swift Current |
| 2018 | Russia | Finland | Sweden | Saint John and Quispamsis |
| 2017 | United States | Canada Red | Czech Republic | Dawson Creek and Fort St. John |
| 2016 | Sweden | Canada Black | Russia | Sault Ste. Marie |
| 2015 | Canada White | Russia | Sweden | Dawson Creek and Fort St. John |
| 2014 (Nov.) | Russia | United States | Sweden | Sarnia and Lambton Shores |
| 2014 (Jan.) | United States | Canada Pacific | Russia | (Sydney/North Sydney/Port Hawkesbury) |
| 2013 | Sweden | Russia | United States | Drummondville and Victoriaville |
| 2012 | Russia | United States | Canada Ontario | Windsor |
| 2011 | Canada Ontario | United States | Canada Pacific | Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie |
| 2010 | United States | Canada Ontario | Sweden | Timmins / Iroquois Falls / Cochrane / Kapuskasing / Kirkland Lake / New Liskeard |
| 2009 | Canada Ontario | Canada Pacific | United States | Campbell River / Courtenay / Duncan / Nanaimo / Parksville / Port Alberni |
| 2008 | Canada Ontario | United States | Canada West | London / Lucan / St. Thomas / Stratford / Strathroy / Woodstock |
| 2007 | The ice hockey tournament at the 2007 Canada Winter Games was held in place of a 2007 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 2007 Canada Winter Games was held in place of a 2007 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 2007 Canada Winter Games was held in place of a 2007 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 2007 Canada Winter Games was held in place of a 2007 tournament. |
| 2006 | Canada Quebec | United States | Czech Republic | Balgonie / Fort Qu'Appelle / Indian Head / Milestone / Moose Jaw / Regina / Southey / Weyburn |
| 2005 | Canada West | Canada Pacific | Canada Atlantic | Lethbridge |
| 2004 | Canada Ontario | Canada Pacific | Canada Quebec | St. John's |
| 2003 | The ice hockey tournament at the 2003 Canada Games was held in place of a 2003 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 2003 Canada Games was held in place of a 2003 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 2003 Canada Games was held in place of a 2003 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 2003 Canada Games was held in place of a 2003 tournament. |
| 2002 | United States | Canada Pacific | Canada Ontario | Selkirk / Stonewall |
| 2001 | United States | Canada Pacific | Canada Ontario | New Glasgow / Truro |
| 2000 | Russia | Canada Ontario | Canada Pacific | Timmins / Chapleau / Cochrane / Haileybury / Hearst / Kapuskasing / Kirkland Lake / New Liskeard / Smooth Rock Falls / Rouyn-Noranda |
| 1999 | The ice hockey tournament at the 1999 Canada Games was held in place of a 1999 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 1999 Canada Games was held in place of a 1999 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 1999 Canada Games was held in place of a 1999 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 1999 Canada Games was held in place of a 1999 tournament. |
| 1998 II | Canada West | United States | Finland | Swift Current |
| 1998 I | Canada Ontario | Czech Republic | Canada Quebec | Kitchener |
| 1997 | Canada Ontario | Sweden | Canada Quebec | Red Deer |
| 1995 | Canada Ontario | Finland | Canada Quebec | Moncton |
| 1994 | Canada Quebec | United States | Canada Pacific | Amos |
| 1992 | Canada Ontario | Canada Quebec | Czechoslovakia | Sudbury |
| 1991 | The ice hockey tournament at the 1991 Canada Games was held in place of a 1991 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 1991 Canada Games was held in place of a 1991 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 1991 Canada Games was held in place of a 1991 tournament. | The ice hockey tournament at the 1991 Canada Games was held in place of a 1991 tournament. |
| 1990 | Finland | Canada Quebec | Soviet Union | Quebec City |
| 1988 | Soviet Union | Sweden | Canada Quebec | Quebec City |
| 1986 | Canada Quebec | Soviet Union | Canada Pacific | Quebec City |

## Medal table

| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Medals |
| Canada Ontario | 8 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
| United States | 6 | 9 | 2 | 17 |
| Russia Soviet Union | 5 1 6 | 2 1 3 | 2 1 3 | 9 3 12 |
| Canada Quebec | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Canada White | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sweden | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| Canada West | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Finland | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Canada Pacific | 0 | 6 | 4 | 10 |
| Canada Red | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Czech Republic Czechoslovakia | 0 0 0 | 1 0 1 | 3 1 4 | 4 1 5 |
| Canada Black | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Canada Atlantic | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |

## Medals by Nations (1986-2024)

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Canada (CAN) | 16 | 14 | 14 | 44 |
| 2 | United States (USA) | 6 | 9 | 2 | 17 |
| 3 | Russia (RUS) | 6 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| 4 | Sweden (SWE) | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| 5 | Finland (FIN) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 6 | Czech Republic (CZE) | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Totals (6 entries) | Totals (6 entries) | 31 | 31 | 31 | 93 |

## Notable participants

In bold, players selected first overall in the NHL entry draft