# Challenge Cup (ice hockey)

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.
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: three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, one point for an overtime loss, and zero 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 (goals For) – GA (goals Against); 6) 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 (24 teams), Pee-Wee minor (24 teams), and Atom Major (26 teams). 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

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.

### 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 Level | Winner (Team Name) | Locale | Runner Up (Team Name) | Locale | Final score |
| Midget Major | Okanagan Coyote Selects | British Columbia | New Western Bruins | Canada | 5-2 |
| Midget Minor | Information Not Available | N/A | Information Not Available | N/A | N/A |
| Bantam Major | Vancouver Millionaires | British Columbia | Pursuit of Excellence | British Columbia | 2-1 OT |
| Bantam Minor | Calgary Jr. Flames (Division 1) and Red Deer Rustlers (Division 2) | Alberta | Saskatoon Junior Blades (Division 1) and Southern Alberta Selects (Division 2) | Saskatchewan and Alberta | 4-3 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 Columbia | Vancouver Millionaires | British Columbia | 4-3 OT |
| Atom Major | Can West Vipers (Division 1) and Colorado Thunderbirds (Division 2) | British Columbia and Colorado | Vancouver Selects (Division 1) and Steveston Sharks (Division 2) | British Columbia | 6-2 (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 Alberta | Edmonton Jr. Oilers (Division 1) and Colorado Thunderbirds (Division 2) | Alberta and Colorado | 6-4 (Division 1) and 9-0 (Division 2) |
| Novice Minor | Kelowna All-Stars | British Columbia | BC Bears | British Columbia | 2-1 |
| Midget Girls | Calgary Rocky Mountain Fury | Alberta | Fraser Valley Phantoms | British Columbia | 6-3 |
| Bantam Girls | Pacific Storm | British Columbia | Island Stars | British Columbia | 4-2 |
| Peewee Girls | West Coast Flyers | British Columbia | BC Rockets | British Columbia | 2-0 |

### 2010 scoring leaders

| Age Level | Player Name | Team Name | Points | Goals | Assists |
| Midget Major | Madison Dias | Okanagan Coyote Selects | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| Midget Minor | Information Not Available | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bantam Major | Adam Erne | Vancouver Millionaires | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| Bantam Minor | Tyler Coulter | Central Alberta Rage | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| Peewee Major | Tyler Welsh | Ice Dogs | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| Peewee Minor | Kyle Uy | Vancouver Junior Giants | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| Atom Major | Brendon Marfleat | Young Guns | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| Atom Minor | Cam Lamberton | Pacific Titans | 9 | 8 | 1 |
| Novice Major | Dylan Wilson | Tri-City Penguins | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| Novice Minor | Ozzy Wiesblatt | Kelowna All-Stars | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| Peewee Girls | Meghan Kraus and Elizabeth "Libby" Riedl | Vancouver Island Stars and Westcoast Flyers | 4 (Both) | 1 | 3 |
| Bantam Girls | Rachel Piitz | Calgary Rocky Mountain Storm | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Midget Girls | S. Laurin | Calgary Rocky Mountain Fury | 9 | 6 | 3 |

### 2009 champions

| Age Level | Winner (Team Name) | Locale | Runner Up (Team Name) | Locale | Final score |
| Midget Major | U18 Alberta Wolverines | Alberta | U18 Peace Country Selects | British Columbia | 6-0 |
| Midget Minor | Western Alberta Wolverines | Alberta | South Surrey Junior Eagles | British Columbia | 6-5 OT |
| Bantam Major | Western 94 Sabers | Canada | West Coast Wings | United States | 4-1 |
| Bantam Minor | Alberta Predators | Alberta | Vancouver Selects | British Columbia | 3-0 |
| Peewee Major | Vancouver Selects | British Columbia | BC Bruins | British Columbia | 5-1 |
| Peewee Minor | Calgary Jr. Dinos | Alberta | Seattle Starz | Washington | 3-2 2OT |
| Atom Major | Vancouver Selects | British Columbia | Alberta Wolverines | Alberta | 2-0 |
| Atom Minor | Prince George Ice Sharks | British Columbia | Vancouver Selects | British Columbia | 2-1 |
| Novice Major | Edge Mountaneers | British Columbia | Young Guns | Alberta | 5-4 OT |
| Novice Minor | Vancouver Bulldogs | British Columbia | Can West Vipers | British Columbia | 8-3 |
| Midget Girls | Pursuit Of Excellence | British Columbia | Fraser Valley Falcons | British Columbia | 2-1 OT |
| Bantam Girls | Pacific Storm | British Columbia | Island Heat | British Columbia | 3-0 |
| Peewee Girls | BC Rockets | British Columbia | NAA PeeWee Girls AAA | Alberta | 3-2 OT |

### 2009 scoring leaders

| Age Level | Player Name | Team Name | Points | Goals | Assists |
| Midget Major | Madison Dias | Okanagan Desert Dogs | 13 | 6 | 8 |
| Midget Minor | Information Not Available | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bantam Major | Anthony Olguin | Pikes Peak Miners | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| Bantam Minor | Morgan Klimchuk | Calgary Jr. Flames | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| Peewee Major | Tanner MacMaster | Calgary Jr. Flames | 21 | 7 | 14 |
| Peewee Minor | Mathew Barzal | Valley Eagles | 17 | 9 | 8 |
| Atom Major | Jake Kryski | 98 Vancouver Selects | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| Atom Minor | Ocean Wiesblatt | Cougar Selects | 18 | 7 | 11 |
| Novice Major | Bradley Braich | Abbotsford Bulldogs | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| Novice Minor | Henrik Rybinski | Vancouver Bulldogs | 20 | 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. 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 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.