The Western Hockey League, in partnership with NHL Seattle and Visit Kent, are proud to recognize Delta Hockey Academy Green as the champions of the inaugural WHL U.S. Challenge Cup. Delta Green defeated Yale Hockey Academy by a 4-3 score in the tournament’s championship game Sunday afternoon at the accesso ShoWare Center, home of the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, in Kent, Wash.
The tournament, which ran from Friday, February 21 to Sunday, February 23, was also held at the Kent Valley Ice Centre and featured 12 of the top-ranked Bantam teams from the Western United States and British Columbia. Teams participated in an 18-game round robin, playing three games each. Following round-robin play, teams were ranked from first through 12th, setting the stage for final placement games on Sunday, February 23.
Final tournament standings
1st – Delta Hockey Academy Green (Vancouver, B.C.)
2nd – Yale Academy (Vancouver, B.C.)
3rd – West Van Warriors (Vancouver, B.C.)
4th – San Jose Junior Sharks (San Jose, Calif.)
5th – Dallas Stars Elite ’05 (Dallas, Texas)
6th – Los Angeles Junior Kings (Los Angeles, Calif.)
7th – San Diego Saints (San Diego, Calif.)
8th – Greater Vancouver Canadians (Vancouver, B.C.)
9th – Okanagan Rockets (Kelowna, B.C.)
10th – Team Alaska 14U (Anchorage, Alaska)
11th – Phoenix Junior Coyotes (Phoenix, Ariz.)
12th – Seattle Junior 14U Admirals (Seattle, Wash.)
2020 WHL U.S. Challenge Cup All-Star Team
Goaltender – Phoenix Hewlett (Team Alaska 14U)
Defence – Nathan Tobey (Dallas Stars Elite ‘05
Defence – Carter Savage (Delta Hockey Academy)
Forward – Zach Benson (Yale Hockey Academy)
Forward – Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Junior Sharks)
Forward – Trevor Connelly (San Diego Saints)
