Prince George, B.C. – An international hockey tournament is coming to the Peace Region this fall.

The 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge begins October 30 and will be co-hosted by Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.

The provincial government is providing $60,000 in funding to help make the tournament a reality and will feature teams from Finland, Sweden, Russia, the Czech Republic and the United States.

“I am very proud to see strong Provincial support to my region for this amazing opportunity,” says Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier. “Hosting this level of hockey will once again showcase the Peace Region as a destination for world-class sporting events.”

Canada will be represented by three teams in the tournament with the gold medal game to be played at the Encana Events Centre in Dawson Creek.

This will mark the second time BC has hosted this tournament following Port Alberni in 2009.

The Peace Region has hosted high profile tournaments in the past including the National Under-18 Women’s Championship in 2012 in Dawson Creek and the Allan Cup in Fort St. John in 2010.