Ottawa's Bell Capital Cup will have 485 teams participating this year, 25 shy of their Guinness World Record of 510, set back in 2007. (Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photography)

The world junior hockey championship might be the one everybody watches, but it won't be the biggest hockey tournament going on in Ottawa over the holiday season.

That honour goes to the Bell Capital Cup, which runs from Dec. 28 to Jan. 1. It's widely regarded as the world's largest hockey tournament. There are 485 minor hockey teams descending on the nation's capital for the five-day event, just four off last year's mark and 25 short of the 2007 count, a Guinness World Record-setting 510.

"I think people enjoy being part of something big," said Aaron Robinson, general manager of the tournament. "And we try to go above and beyond with additional opportunities, like the all-star games and skills competitions." About 2,000 volunteers help out during the event, which is spread out over 20 arenas, Robinson says.

It's this "big-event feel" that may be the reason the Bell Cup isn't experiencing some of the registration woes other tournaments are feeling right now. Even though the global economy has hit the wall and travel costs are high, the tournament is going to see teams from the United States, Finland, Germany and China take to the ice.

"Considering the economic times, it's pretty impressive that we were able to get that number of teams," Robinson said. "We're pretty happy with the number of teams we've received."

Having the world junior hockey tournament in the city at the same time has definitely helped entice teams to make the trip, Robinson says, and it also adds a special flavour to this year's version of the event.

"It's definitely huge," Robinson said. "The whole city is going to be hockey-mad for the next two weeks, and particularly during the Bell Cup."

According to the latest count, he says, around 4,000 people making the trip to Ottawa for the Bell Cup are also taking in a world junior game.