Back in 1999 the minor ball hockey associations of BC and Alberta founded the Western Challenge Cup (WCC). As there was no National or Western Championships for minor ball hockey competitors, this tournament would serve as a venue to challenge skilled minor ball hockey players with a chance to compete against other teams throughout BC and Alberta at a higher competitive level. Since the start of the WCC, the tournament has been hosted by Edmonton, Calgary and cities throughout the Lower Mainland. This tournament has grown over the years with a participation expectancy of a minimum of 32 teams each year. The tournament occurs over a 4 day period usually during the middle of July.