October 23, 2023, Mississauga, ON – …. From NHL scouts to school children, and service clubs to hometown volunteers, the 2023 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge is important to many individuals and organizations. The event will be played at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens in Trenton, Ont., Nov. 13-15
The Challenge is one of the premier Jr. A hockey events in the country and provides tremendous exposure for the top prospects of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL) and the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL).
“The ECC organizing committee, as a group of volunteers that support our Trenton Golden Hawks, are excited to share their community with the players and scouts travelling here for this amazing showcase,” said spokesperson Tracey Legault-Davis. “As a smaller community, we appreciate the efforts of all the junior hockey teams as they offer a platform for our young players and a place for our communities to come together.”
Two all star teams from each of the five leagues will play in front of scouts from all over the hockey world – including the NHL, NCAA, CHL and U SPORTS.
“It’s a great example of a community coming together to support an event,” said Rick Morocco, Vice-President of Business Operations for the OJHL. “From the Golden Hawks organization and the Trenton Kinsmen Club, to all the sponsors and volunteers involved in putting the Eastern Canada Cup Challenge on, Quinte West and Trenton are behind this event solidly.”
Play begins Nov. 13 when the OJHL Oates team plays MHL South at 9 a.m. NOJHL West faces off against OJHL Hawerchuk at 10:40 a.m.
Each day starts with games at 9:00 a.m. The final games on Nov. 13 and 14 begin at 8:40 p.m. Nov. 15’s schedule includes semifinals at 3:40 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. and the championship game at 7 p.m.
With this year’s Eastern Canada Cup, not all of the action takes place on the ice.
The tournament boasts implementing a school program which includes a visit with students by a Golden Hawk player to discuss the tournament during classes held at the arena.
Officials with a local French school asked if their school could team up with the Quebec Junior Hockey League entry during the tournament. QJHL officials jumped at the chance and will make players available to visit the school.
“We look forward to sharing the championships with local schools, having them adopt a team and cheering them on will be exciting for the schools and the players visiting our community,” said Legault-Davis. “This type of community engagement offers students a positive and fun experience — it can also inspire young athletes to keep dreaming.”
Discounted tickets have been made available to school groups and youth hockey players.
A total of 23 games will be played using a modified two-period format in round-robin, quarter-final, semifinal and championship games.
Teams will be awarded three points for a win in regulation time, two points for an overtime victory and one point for an overtime or shootout loss.
The tournament serves as a player identification event for the coaching staff for Team Canada East in player selection for the team’s annual training camp and subsequent entry into the World Junior A Challenge, Dec. 10-17 in Truro, N.S.
“Anytime you get a chance to represent your country at an International event is an honour,” said Chris Vanstone, Team Canada East’s Director of Operations. “The ECC has become the event to evaluate players that are competing for spots on Team Canada East”.
It’s the third time as the director of operations for Team Canada East for Vanstone, the Vice-President of Hockey Operations for the OJHL. The East team won silver at last year’s World Junior A Challenge.
“The staff will be evaluating and meeting with players to get to know them better over the three days in Trenton,” he said.
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), in partnership with the Trenton Golden Hawks, are presenting the 2023 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge. The Bay of Quinte Tourism and City of Quinte West have both stepped up in a big way to support the event financially and through their marketing departments.
“”We look forward to packing ‘The Hangar’ to both experience great hockey and cheer on future hockey stars,” said John McDonald, a Golden Hawks representative on the organizing committee. “Quinte West is a true hockey town and the businesses, volunteers and spectators are looking forward to hosting our Eastern Regional guests.”
Tickets are $10 per day or $25 for a three-day pass. ‘Late day’ passes are $5 after 5 p.m.
Tickets are available online via: tickets.trentongoldenhawks.ca
For all the ECC action, including scores, standings and top scorers, go to ojhl.ca or download the new OJHL app at the Apple Store or Google Play.
The event was last held in 2018 in Trenton.
The rosters for the 2023 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge will be announced during the next two weeks along with other event details including up to date sponsors as well as the coaching and support staffs.
All games in the Challenge will be broadcast on FloHockey. Go to: https://www.flohockey.tv/
About the Venue
The Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens is the home of the Trenton Golden Hawks of the OJHL and has played host to the OJHL Winter Showcase, ECC Challenge and Dudley-Hewitt Cup.
About the OJHL – “ League of Choice”
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is the largest Junior ‘A’ league operating under the auspices of the Canadian Junior Hockey League with 24 member clubs. A proud member of the CJHL and Ontario Hockey Association, the OJHL was originally named the Ontario Provincial Junior ‘A’ Hockey League and it was formed out of the Central Junior ‘B’ Hockey League in 1993-94. With a long and storied history of developing players for the next level, including U SPORTS, the NCAA, CHL, minor pro ranks and the NHL, the OJHL has had more than 35 NCAA Division I scholarship commitments this season already.
