Cambridge, ON – The Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) in association with Alliance Hockey is proud to announce a four-year commitment to host the U16 OHL Gold Cup in the Tri-City area. This extends from the 2016 event through to 2019.
“The OHF is excited to continue to work with the ALLIANCE on this great event, which helps our young players showcase their talents as they continue on their quest to play for the Canadian National Team,” said Tony Foresi, OHF President.
The OHL Gold Cup has been hosted by this partnership since the inaugural event in 2013. Alliance President Harry Blinkhorn notes support from the local community as a major contribution to its success.
“Alliance Hockey is excited to work with OHF in hosting the OHL Gold Cup for the next four years in the Tri-City area. Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge are known throughout Ontario as a hockey hotbed for volunteers, players and spectators. This event seems to get better every year, hosting the 2015 event at the Activa Sports Complex in Kitchener was a great atmosphere that we want to build on,” said Blinkhorn.
The U16 OHL Gold Cup is an annual event created to feature Ontario’s top Under-16 talent. This event not only showcases Ontario’s talent, but is an evaluation and selection process for Team Canada.
“The OHL Gold Cup is great showcase to prepare young elite athletes for upcoming programs with Hockey Canada,” said Ryan Jankowski, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada. “Many of our past and present Team Canada athletes have participated is this event, and it continues to prepare prospective players for what they can expect in the future with our programs.”
The top players from the U16 OHL Gold Cup will attend the Under-17 Team Canada National Camp where Hockey Canada staff will select 66 players from across the country to represent Canada at the World Under-17 Challenge held annually in December. With 8 teams and 160 players representing the ALLIANCE, GTHL, HEO, HNO, NOHA, and OMHA, the future of Canadian hockey will be on display during the 2016 OHL Gold Cup.