Viking Cup in Camrose

Sounds like the Czechs won't be represented at the Viking Cup Hockey Tournament in Camrose, Alberta, Canada for the first time since the tournament began. Too bad....many loyal fans will miss their presence.

Sounds like the Czechs won't be represented at the Viking Cup Hockey Tournament in Camrose, Alberta, Canada for the first time since the tournament began. Too bad....many loyal fans will miss their presence.

Yes, it´s true. Instead of travelling to Canada Czech team will probably play two or three games against team Sweden.

This will mean a lot of lost scouting exposure for the U18's. Maybe this is what the Czech Ice Hockey Federation wants.

This will mean a lot of lost scouting exposure for the U18's. Maybe this is what the Czech Ice Hockey Federation wants.

I don´t think so. Czech U-18 team will play four international tourney around the Europe next season where will be many, many NHL scouts(mostly from Europe but also some from N.A. especially at the World U-18 championship).

There will be lots of NHL scouting at these Euro tournments, but they will not play against a lot of NA players. At this tournament, they play a lot against a variety of Canadian/American players with NA rules and ice size. I've talked to numerous NHL and CHL scouts over many years at the Viking Cup and they all say that they value this tournment for particularily that reason. They want to see the Euro kids play here....not always just against other Euros in Europe.

I have it posted in the Canadian Junior board - but in September of next year - there will be the first ever World Junior 'A' Hockey Challenge with teams coming from a handful of European countries, one from the States, and two from Canada. I believe this tournament will snag a bit of the talent from Europe that would normally compete at the Viking Cup.