Ready For Quebec

Complete List of Teams Announced for Pee Wee Tournament

The Quebec International Pee Wee Hockey Tournament has announced its complete list of teams participating for the prestigious event in February, and while there won’t be as many teams as usual, there will be worldwide representation within each bracket.

At the AAA level, six countries will battle for the Pee Wee hockey supremacy. Teams from Canada, the United States, Czech Republic, Hungary and Latvia will all compete; at the AA/A levels, there are even more nations represented.

All participants must abide by a strict vaccination policy, which was announced in September. If you have your two vaccination shots by February 2, you’re in.

It doesn’t look like a typical slate of teams — for instance, U.S. hockey hotbeds like Illinois and Michigan will not be represented — but having any international participants is way better than what was expected in previous months. The fact the tournament is taking place at all is an accomplishment in itself, given that it was canceled last winter due to COVID.

Thirty-two AAA teams will battle for the crown in Quebec, as the field features top-notch talent across the board.

New Jersey Hockey Academy, ranked No. 3 in the world in the latest poll, will surely have a contingent of players skating for the New Jersey Devils squad that will be representing their region at the tournament.

The No. 8 ranked Huron-Perth Lakers will be the top intact team competing in Quebec, making them one of the heavy favorites for winning it all. Huron-Perth is 29-4-2 on the season as it stands right now, and they haven’t lost a game since Nov. 7.

Ranked No. 8 in the Canadian rankings, the Sun County Panthers will be looking to make some noise at the tournament, as will the No. 10-ranked North Shore Winter Club.

Coming across the border will be five teams ranked in the top 10 of U.S. youth teams at the ’09 age group. The No. 6-ranked Los Angeles Jr. Kings lead the way for American clubs; the are 21-7-2 on the season. The remaining teams ranked in the top 10 are joining them — the No. 7 St. Louis Jr. Blues, the No. 8 Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers, the No. 9 Boston Jr. Terriers and the No. 10 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite.

The teams logging much longer travel times to reach Quebec are the Czech Knights (Czech Republic), the Hungary Talent (Hungary), the Slovakia K&B Stars (Slovakia) and Riga HS (Latvia).

Pee Wee Quebec tournament organizers deserve a wealth of recognition for making such a substantial event still take place amidst the global climate. Here were some of the special rules outlined for the 2022 tournament in the quest to make it happen:

Only peewee players born in 2009 will be accepted for the categories AAA, AA-Elite, AA, BB and A. For the scholar category, only players born in October, November, December 2008 and in 2009 will be eligible.

All team members must be doubly vaccinated, including coaching staff and managers, regardless of where the team comes from. The vaccination passport must be provided.

All volunteers, host families and partners must be doubly vaccinated.

Anyone aged 12 and over entering the Videotron Center must present their vaccination passport.

Sanitary rules required by Public Health must be applied. We will monitor developments closely and announce changes if necessary.

The 2022 regulations will be subject to any change without notice in accordance with the directives of Public Health, the Government of Quebec or the Government of Canada.

It is certain that the 2022 tournament will not be 100% as you have known it, but it is a step in the right direction! We are happy to hold it, hoping for a ‘real’ tournament return in 2023.

World Hockey Hub will have extended coverage of the Quebec International Pee Wee Hockey Tournament when the tournament gets underway in February. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube for news, highlights and more from the world of youth hockey.