CALGARY – Team Canada will try to reclaim World U20 supremacy dressed in a retro jersey at the 2012 World Juniors in Calgary and Edmonton. Also the U20 pre-championship exhibition schedule was announced.

As the IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship will reach new heights when it will be played in two NHL arenas for the first time (December 26, 2011 – January 5, 2012), the host nation will reminisce the time when the tournament was in its formative years.

Last week, Hockey Canada’s President Bob Nicholson unveiled the retro jersey at a ceremony in Calgary.

The retro jersey takes inspiration from the national junior team jersey first worn by the 1982 World Junior team that won gold in Minnesota, USA and was last worn by the 1994 team that captured gold in Ostrava and Frydek Mistek, Czech Republic.

The design of the crest has been updated – the three leafs on the front crest represent and celebrate Hockey Canada’s Program which encompasses U17, U18 and U20 age groups.



The lower part of the jersey incorporates the IIHF U20 World Championship logos of the 15 championships the Canadian junior team has won since the Program of Excellence began in 1982. The jersey also features the primary Hockey Canada mark on each shoulder of the jersey.

Hockey Canada also announced the exhibition schedule of games played leading up to the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship:

Dec 19 – Canada vs. Finland in Calgary
Dec 20 – Czech R. vs. Latvia in Okotoks
Dec 20 – Sweden vs. Denmark in Olds
Dec 20 – USA vs. Russia in Red Deer
Dec 21 – Finland vs. Slovakia in Winsport
Dec 21 – USA vs Switzerland in Camrose
Dec 22 – Latvia vs Denmark in Brooks
Dec 22 – Russia vs. Czech R. in Lethbridge
Dec 22 – Canada vs. Switzerland in Red Deer
Dec 23 – Canada vs. Sweden in Edmonton
Dec 23 – USA vs. Slovakia in Three Hills

Click here for the schedule of the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship.

- With files from hockeycanada.ca