Hon. Neil Lumsden announces support of World Juniors in Ottawa
OTTAWA, Ontario – The Province of Ontario has announced it will support the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship through a $4 million investment, which will benefit the planning and delivery of one of the most prestigious hockey tournaments on the international calendar.
The Hon. Neil Lumsden, minister of tourism, culture and sport for Ontario, made the announcement at Canadian Tire Centre, which will be the primary competition venue for the 2025 World Juniors, before puck drop in tonight’s Battle of Ontario between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Our government is proud to support the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. This world-class tournament will reinforce Ontario’s reputation as a leading destination for hosting international sporting events,” said Neil Lumsden, minister of tourism, culture and sport. “I am confident that the 2025 World Juniors will also encourage hockey fans from near and far to visit the National Capital Region and discover all that it has to offer, benefiting both local businesses and the residents of Ottawa for years to come.”
In addition to the 29 games during the World Juniors, pre-tournament games will take place in Ottawa and surrounding communities, allowing fans to be part of the action leading up to the first day of competition on Boxing Day.
“We are thrilled to partner with Minister Lumsden and the Province of Ontario for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship and greatly appreciate the significant contribution they have made to ensure that it is a success on and off the ice,” said Katherine Henderson, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “Throughout the holiday season, the World Juniors will be a celebration of hockey in and around the nation’s capital and we are looking forward to bringing the tournament back to Ontario for the first time since 2017.”
In 2009, the IIHF World Junior Championship hosted in Ottawa generated $80.5 million in economic impact in Ontario and ended with Canada’s fifth-consecutive gold medal in front of a sold-out crowd.
The successful bid for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship was a partnership between the Ottawa Senators, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, Ottawa Tourism, Hockey Eastern Ontario, the City of Ottawa and the Province of Ontario.
With ticket demand expected to exceed availability, a priority ticket draw will begin on Dec. 14, 2023. Fans will need to register for the draw to have a chance to purchase tickets, and can sign up for the Hockey Canada Insider to receive updates and ticket information as soon as they become available.
The groups and schedule for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship will be announced by Hockey Canada and the International Ice Hockey Federation at a later date, following the conclusion of the 2024 World Juniors in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp for the 2024 World Juniors will begin on Sunday in Oakville, Ontario, and include a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars on Dec. 12 and 13, which will be livestreamed on HockeyCanada.ca.
All 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship games will be broadcast on TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada.
To learn more about Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.
