CALGARY – The 2012 IIHF World U20 Championship host committee, in partnership with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League, announced Tuesday the opening of a priority draw for all fans interested in purchasing ticket packages for the 2012 IIHF World U20 Championship, being held in Calgary and Edmonton, from December 26, 2011, to January 5, 2012.

The priority draw is the only chance for fans to purchase seats for the 2012 IIHF World U20 Championship. Over 225,000 tickets, or approximately 50 per cent of all seats, are already gone.

Fans can register for the priority draw and the opportunity to purchase tickets in Calgary and/or Edmonton beginning at 10 a.m. MT on Tuesday, December 7 at hockeycanada.ca/2012juniors. The deadline to enter the priority draw is midnight MT on Wednesday, January 5, 2011. Fans selected in the priority draw will be notified shortly thereafter and given the exclusive opportunity to purchase ticket packages.

This draw is for the purchase of ticket packages in Edmonton or Calgary. The Calgary event package is 21 games and includes the gold medal game, bronze medal game, semi-finals, quarterfinals and 10 preliminary round games, beginning at $399. The Edmonton event package is 10 games and includes four guaranteed preliminary round games featuring Canada’s National Junior Team, beginning at $320.

Ticket demand is expected to be extremely high for the 2012 IIHF World U20 Championship, and the priority draw has been implemented to provide fans the fairest access to ticket packages in both cities.

“These are exciting times in Alberta, and with the passion for hockey in this province and the excitement this tournament generates across Canada, we’re expecting another terrific World Juniors,” said Al Coates, executive director of the 2012 IIHF World U20 Championship organizing committee. “Based on the passion Alberta hockey fans have, the priority draw will be the only way for fans to be able to see the 2012 IIHF World U20 Championship live and in person.”

The schedule for the 2012 IIHF World U20 Championship will be finalized upon the completion of the 2011 tournament that begins in Buffalo and Niagara, New York, in less than three weeks on December 26. The schedule will be announced once approved by the IIHF and the participating national associations.