World Juniors tournament brings best young hockey talent to Twin Cities over holiday break
As the Olympics near, hockey will once again be seen on the national stage.
But many players already named to Olympic rosters, such as Jack Eichel (USA), Cale Makar (CAN), and other NHL stars like Connor Bedard, Zeev Buium, and Macklin Celebrini, got their start at the IIHF World Junior Championships.
The World Juniors is a tournament for players under 20 to represent their country and is known for being one of the biggest stages for players to prepare for the NHL draft.
“I’m really excited about watching Gavin McKenna on Team Canada,” said first-year Cam Adair.
McKenna is the projected first overall draft pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft. He hopes to lead Team Canada to a gold medal finish in the tournament. Something Canada hasn’t won since 2020.
This year, Minnesota is set to host the renowned tournament at the end of December, with medal games in early January.
The tournament hosts players from across the globe looking to move their names up in the NHL draft rankings, looking to make a mark on NHL scouts for their hockey careers ahead of them. This is Minnesota’s best chance to catch some of the best upcoming players.
The American team is hopeful for the tournament, a chance to play on home soil, something that hasn’t happened since 2018. The team is looking to win a gold medal three-peat after defeating Finland last year and Sweden the year before.
This isn’t the first time Minnesota has hosted the tournament; it was the first-ever host city in 1976. This year is the 50th edition of the tournament.
The pre-tournament summer showcase US roster included 13 Minnesota natives out of the 42-player roster, with many more players having ties to the state of hockey.
This tournament is a hot spot for NHL scouts. Many players will play in the tournament during their draft eligibility, and their performance can catch the eye of scouts and media, elevating them in draft rankings.
It’s also an excellent boost for MN tourism, with many hockey fans from around the world expected to travel in for the tournament.
“We’re thrilled to be hosting hockey fans from across the world this winter and to share our local restaurants, shops, and attractions with visitors, highlighting why Saint Paul is such a special place,” said Jaimee Lucke Hendrikson, president and CEO of Visit Saint Paul.
The tournament will be a switch-up from the regular professional hockey usually played at Grand Casino Arena (formerly known as Xcel Energy Center)
The buzz around the world juniors is hopefully enough to bring more major hockey events to the state of hockey.