2018 World Junior A Challenge

The 2018 World Junior A Challenge is an international Junior "A" ice hockey tournament organized by Hockey Canada. It is being hosted in Bonnyville, Alberta from December 9–16, 2018, at the R. J. Lalonde Arena
. This is the 13th edition of the tournament.
The format of the tournament has been changed from a six team two pool round robin to a five team single pool round robin with teams playing each other once.
==Teams==
* Canada East (13th Appearance, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze)
* Canada West (14th Appearance, 5 championships, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze)
* Russia (13th Appearance, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze)
* United States (12th Appearance, 7 championships, 1 silver, 3 Bronze)
* Czech Republic (7th Appearance, 1 bronze)
==Background==
*Canada East, Canada West, Czech Republic, Russia, and United States all return
*Switzerland is not participating due to the reduction in the number of teams.
==Exhibition Games==
*Russia vs Canada West
*United States defeated Canada East 3-1
*Czech Republic vs Bonnyville Pontiacs
==Tournament Games==
===December 9th===
*Russia defeated Canada East 5-3
*Canada West defeated United States 2-1 (SO)
===December 10th===
*Russia defeated Czech Republic 4-2
*Canada West defeated Canada East 6-1
===December 11th===
*United States defeated Czech Republic 4-2
===December 12th===
*United States defeated Canada East 7-3
*Russia defeated Canada West 3-0
===December 13th===
*Czech Republic defeated Canada West 5-4 (SO)
===December 14th===
*Russia defeated United States 4-3
*Czech Republic defeated Canada East 4-2
==Standings==
The top four teams in the standings advance to the semifinals
Team 	GP	W	OW	OL	L	GF	GA	Pts
Russia 	4 	4	0 	0 	0	16	8 	12
United States 	4 	2	0 	1 	1	15	11	7
Canada West 	4 	1	1 	1 	1	12	10	6
Czech Republic	4 	1	1 	0 	2	13	14	5
Canada East 	4 	0	0 	0 	4	9 	22	0
==Playoff Rounds==
===Semifinals===
* Russia defeated Czech Republic 4-1
* United States defeated Canada West 3-2 (OT)
===Bronze Medal Game===
*Canada West defeated Czech Republic 3-1
===Gold Medal Game===
*United States defeated Russia 2-0
Category:2018 in hockey
Category:World Junior A Challenge