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MINNEAPOLIS-St. USA Hockey announced Friday that Paul will officiate the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championship.
The tournament will consist of 10 countries and will feature the top male players under the age of 20, with 29 matches played over 10 days. USA Hockey said in a release that the tournament will run from Dec. 26, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026.
USA Hockey also announced that the WJC will be held at the Excel Center in St. Paul and Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. Excel Center is home to the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, and Mariucci Arena is home to the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team.
This is the seventh time the World Juniors have been held in the United States, most recently in 2018 in Buffalo, New York. Paul, this is his second time that the Twin Cities will host the WJC, having made history as the first U.S. venue in 1982.
“We are excited to bring this 50th anniversary edition of the World Juniors to the hockey world,” USA Hockey Executive Director Pat Kelleher said in a statement. “We know teams and fans want a first-class experience in a world-class venue, and we would also like to publicly thank the other finalists who have spent so much time putting together their proposals. “In the end, it was a great result.” It was a very difficult decision. ”
Canada, which won a record 20 gold medals, will host next year’s games in the capital, Ottawa. Canadian Tire Center, home of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, and TD Place Arena will be the venues for the tournament.
This year’s tournament will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, and will feature the United States vs. Sweden in Friday’s championship game. The United States is aiming for its sixth gold medal and Sweden is aiming for its third.
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