Breaking: World Juniors to be resumed during summer

[Antiillafire]

Our government screwed up two WJC tournaments in a row. A WJC is cancelled in Edmonton, but in L.A. there are 80,000 fans watching the Super Bowl. Enough. I am a Canadian and I'll say you can't trust holding this tournament in Canada at this moment.



Yes we have, probably the best tournaments have been held in Canada because they have broken all of the attendance records, starting in Winnipeg in 1999. Lots of memories over the years. But now? That's two in a row squandered. And then they remake it in the summer when everyone is on holidays. Have Canada host it again when Canada is committed to hosting it, with fans and as it was before. Until then, no.

I trust Canadian attendance way more than most American cities. People saying Florida are hilarious. It would literally be a Mickey Mouse tournament there. IIHF would be clawing their eyes out at attendance if it’s in most places in the US lol. In 2019, Vancouver had 10,000 people attend Denmark-Swiss. Even in the smaller arena in Victoria had nice attendance numbers. Almost 6000 for even the smaller games. Buffalo had almost 3000 less fans in attendance on average than Vancouver which includes the outdoor game. When they got it a decade or so ago, it was better attended but still a dramatic difference to the newer tournament. I remember seeing on tv a ton of fans from smaller nations like Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark who were probably immigrant descendants at games in Canadian cities, when it was hosted in USA - not so much. It will be a shit show if it’s in the southern United States.

 

[ORRFForever]

I trust Canadian attendance way more than most American cities. People saying Florida are hilarious. It would literally be a Mickey Mouse tournament there. IIHF would be clawing their eyes out at attendance if it’s in most places in the US lol. In 2019, Vancouver had 10,000 people attend Denmark-Swiss. Even in the smaller arena in Victoria had nice attendance numbers. Almost 6000 for even the smaller games. Buffalo had almost 3000 less fans in attendance on average than Vancouver which includes the outdoor game. When they got it a decade or so ago, it was better attended but still a dramatic difference to the newer tournament. I remember seeing on tv a ton of fans from smaller nations like Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark who were probably immigrant descendants at games in Canadian cities, when it was hosted in USA - not so much. It will be a shit show if it’s in the southern United States.

TSN will have a big say in where 2023 gets played and I'm sure they will push for (Alberta) Canada - I'm also sure they're thrilled they don't have to haul all their stuff / people to Russia. Their employees are probably happy, too.

As for Alberta : TSN would love to have a location where they have done it 3 times previous and know the logistics - they could leave World Junior equipment / signage behind to make it easier / cheaper at Christmas.

If there is no interest in Edmonton for Christmas 2023, Calgary is just down the road. The fact that Alberta is flush with cash (oil is $100 a barrel) will ensure people have disposable income for tickets.

Any other non Canadian location is going to want more than 9 months notice to pull this off and do it right.

We just can't let the Canadian bureaucrats <bleep> this up.

 

[peconcan]

Should have it in Toronto and Montreal again. Ontario just lifted the vaccine passport restriction so hopefully by December we won’t have to even talk about Covid still. Can’t really blame hockey Canada for the cancelation this year that’s more on the Canadian government restrictions

 

[ORRFForever]

Can’t really blame hockey Canada for the cancelation this year that’s more on the Canadian government restrictions

Canadians are very cautious (I can think of other less flattering adjectives) people. Others have to do things for months / years before WE think something is okay - as a Canadian, it's a pain in the ass.

August will be easier because the summer heat makes Covid manageable. It's Christmas 2023 (assuming Canada gets it), that will have Canadian bureaucrats licking their chops / flexing their muscles.

 

[Big Phil]

You can't be trusted to make a factual post.

Sure, whatever that means. Edmonton failed miserably hosting it, and a month later there were 80,000 fans crammed into a building to watch the Super Bowl. Furthermore, I can remember watching the Patriots/Bills playoff game this January on a Saturday night where 75,000 people were jammed in there at a time when the Province of Ontario wouldn't allow the Maple Leafs to play in their building. The two cities are two hours away. If you don't think that is deranged, I wish you a lot of luck, you'll need it!

Enough with Canada for now, come to think of it Buffalo is a good example. If you had any knowledge of the Government of Canada/Ontario/Alberta you wouldn't even need to ask why it is a bad location for a beloved tournament right now.

 

[Big Phil]

I trust Canadian attendance way more than most American cities. People saying Florida are hilarious. It would literally be a Mickey Mouse tournament there. IIHF would be clawing their eyes out at attendance if it’s in most places in the US lol. In 2019, Vancouver had 10,000 people attend Denmark-Swiss. Even in the smaller arena in Victoria had nice attendance numbers. Almost 6000 for even the smaller games. Buffalo had almost 3000 less fans in attendance on average than Vancouver which includes the outdoor game. When they got it a decade or so ago, it was better attended but still a dramatic difference to the newer tournament. I remember seeing on tv a ton of fans from smaller nations like Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark who were probably immigrant descendants at games in Canadian cities, when it was hosted in USA - not so much. It will be a shit show if it’s in the southern United States.

I don't know who said Florida, that doesn't make sense, no. I get it because of the lax restrictions, but that is pretty much all of the States now. This is why I say Grand Forks, ND. It was a massive success in 2005. It is in a cooler climate, it is close to Canada's border and people understand hockey there. Buffalo comes to mind too. Because then if you are in Grand Forks and the Province of Manitoba has some sort of wacky panic attack and then locks down the entire province it won't affect North Dakota.

Canadians are very cautious (I can think of other less flattering adjectives) people. Others have to do things for months / years before WE think something is okay - as a Canadian, it's a pain in the ass.

And a pain in the ass it has been for the last two years. I never thought I would live to see the day when Florida and Carolina experience sellouts in the playoffs while in Canada they played to empty stadiums.

 

[Eye of Ra]

latvia and norway in?

 

[Czechboy]

Most of the games will be one sided.

Agree...

Now it's a big 4 and there will be more lopsided games. It used to be there was always one good quarter (on paper) and another surprising one. This could be 4 easy quarters without much drama.

 

[Czechboy]

Some interesting takes.. I'll add mine to the obscure pile here...

Canada lost their way with this tourney. They made it a march madness type event in NHL cities. You have to buy these masssive packages and stay in places like Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal to attend. I don't think this made it better.

There is so much love for hockey in Canada.. get the Jr tournaments to the communities that support junior hockey. Eg. the London Knights sell out every single game for years now. They'd sell out every world jr game too!

Split it between a big and smaller arena and every game will be sold out and the atmosphere will be electric!

I used london but subsititue that with about 5 to 10 cities in every single province. I'm tired of seeing it in NHL markets. Give it to the communities that support Junior hockey.

 

[Czechboy]

Since I'm making crazy takes...

This is a very unique tournament in a very unique time. Full stop.

I'd change the format for one time only.

Pool A - Sweden, Canada, US and Finland in Edmonton
Pool B - The remaining 5 in Red Deer

Do 2 round robins.

Quarters are done the same.. final 8 with Pool A being seeds 1 to 4... Pool B being seeds 5 to 8.

This would result in a great game every night in both Pools as they'd all be close with less blowouts.

Then a few lousy quarters and two potentially good one.

Semis and Finals would be great.

YES, this is a disadavantage to the Pool B crowd.. they have to travel to Edmonton for playoffs AND they get one extra game.

I don't see any gold medal favs (maybe Slovaks) so the extra game would be good for the developing (or falling) nations.

No, I don't think it'll happen but it's a one off tourney in summer.. I'd like to see the big 4 battle it out!

 

[MeHateHe]

Some interesting takes.. I'll add mine to the obscure pile here...

Canada lost their way with this tourney. They made it a march madness type event in NHL cities. You have to buy these masssive packages and stay in places like Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal to attend. I don't think this made it better.

There is so much love for hockey in Canada.. get the Jr tournaments to the communities that support junior hockey. Eg. the London Knights sell out every single game for years now. They'd sell out every world jr game too!

Split it between a big and smaller arena and every game will be sold out and the atmosphere will be electric!

I used london but subsititue that with about 5 to 10 cities in every single province. I'm tired of seeing it in NHL markets. Give it to the communities that support Junior hockey.

This has been the case in a lot of recent tournaments. 2019 was Vancouver/Victoria, for example. The Victoria packages were sold out, and even the quarter final between the US and Czechia was full (7,000 fans) despite going against the Canada/Finland quarter happening at roughly the same time in Vancouver.

For this summer's tournament, I would love it if they just dropped it in two smaller venues: Kelowna/Kamloops or Charlottetown/Moncton for example. I think they're going to have trouble filling 20,000 seat rinks in August, and it would feel better to put it into some junior towns. They could even spread it around southern Ontario (London/Kitchener/Guelph/Barrie) for example. The travel wouldn't be prohibitive.

 

[Czechboy]

This has been the case in a lot of recent tournaments. 2019 was Vancouver/Victoria, for example. The Victoria packages were sold out, and even the quarter final between the US and Czechia was full (7,000 fans) despite going against the Canada/Finland quarter happening at roughly the same time in Vancouver.

For this summer's tournament, I would love it if they just dropped it in two smaller venues: Kelowna/Kamloops or Charlottetown/Moncton for example. I think they're going to have trouble filling 20,000 seat rinks in August, and it would feel better to put it into some junior towns. They could even spread it around southern Ontario (London/Kitchener/Guelph/Barrie) for example. The travel wouldn't be prohibitive.

I think the venues sell out because the rich NHL season ticket holders buy the packages.. eg. you want to see Canada at the ACC you're also buying a Czech vs Germany ticket.

But then you see the games and they are sold out but empty and in big arenas. Not the Canada ones obviously.

Totally agree with every city you suggested and combo.. I'm sure there are many more.

Bring it back to its roots.

FTR.. when in the US.. I absolutely think they should pick Florida... the Canucks will fly over and make it a hell of an event!

 

[jj cale]

I think the venues sell out because the rich NHL season ticket holders buy the packages.. eg. you want to see Canada at the ACC you're also buying a Czech vs Germany ticket.

But then you see the games and they are sold out but empty and in big arenas. Not the Canada ones obviously.

Totally agree with every city you suggested and combo.. I'm sure there are many more.

Bring it back to its roots.

FTR.. when in the US.. I absolutely think they should pick Florida... the Canucks will fly over and make it a hell of an event!

We've been talking about bringing it back to it's roots a lot on the Canadian team threads over the years, most of us aren't crazy about how HC has made it such a commercialized event and given a big F you to some of the places that made this tournament such a tradition in the first place, but you know how it is, money talks and bullshit walks, the IIHF does exactly the same thing with the WHC, and they also do it with this tournament.

We're all with you here, but you can't fight the man.

 

[Czechboy]

We've been talking about bringing it back to it's roots a lot on the Canadian team threads over the years, most of us aren't crazy about how HC has made it such a commercialized event and given a big F you to some of the places that made this tournament such a tradition in the first place, but you know how it is, money talks and bullshit walks, the IIIHF does exactly the same thing with the WHC.

We're all with you here, but you can't fight the man.

Help me out here.. back in the day.. there was a HUGE Canadian flag in the stands.. where was that?

 

[jj cale]

Help me out here.. back in the day.. there was a HUGE Canadian flag in the stands.. where was that?

Ottawa,not all that long ago in 2009, best atmosphere i've ever seen for this tournament, ottawa was such a great host that year, fans were electric.

So, having it in the bigger cities shouldn't be done away with,they love their hockey too, but the smaller places like Saskatoon should also be given times they host it too, seem to remember the atmosphere there being pretty off the charts too, you might remember the tournament i am talking about and Slaneys huge goal, WJC 1991.


Spread it around, that's what cements the continued health of the game here. HC can be so f***in dense and short sighted by the green, as all the governing bodies can.

 

[JackSlater]

TSN had an interview with McTavish and the summer WJC came up. He sounded very positive about it. Said that it sounded great and that he was 100% willing to go provided Anaheim and Hockey Canada wanted him to play.

 

[ORRFForever]

We've been talking about bringing it back to it's roots a lot on the Canadian team threads over the years, most of us aren't crazy about how HC has made it such a commercialized event and given a big F you to some of the places that made this tournament such a tradition in the first place, but you know how it is, money talks and bullshit walks, the IIHF does exactly the same thing with the WHC, and they also do it with this tournament.

We're all with you here, but you can't fight the man.

True but when you have an additional tournament dropped in your lap like 2022, it would be nice to see it held somewhere small with an old time feel to it.

Having said that, I am sure the IIHF and Hockey Canada will want to make $$$ - holding it in Quebec City / Montreal could work. Of course, Alberta is flush with cash and TSN will be there in August so that would also work.

 

[jj cale]

True but when you have an additional tournament dropped in your lap like 2022, it would be nice to see it held somewhere small with an old time feel to it.

Having said that, I am sure the IIHF and Hockey Canada will want to make $$$ - holding it in Quebec City / Montreal could work. Of course, Alberta is flush with cash and TSN will be there in August so that would also work.

Well , that is what I and some others have been advocating for here, small and old time feel.

Not every year but on a fairly regular basis.

 

[covfefe]

Kelowna would be an interesting target just given the summer population influx and the money that accompanies it. They wouldn't have a problem selling out games. HC has their "summer home" here which is just another way of saying "we like golfing."

Could pair with Vancouver, as they did previously, or with Kamloops and Penticton.

Help me out here.. back in the day.. there was a HUGE Canadian flag in the stands.. where was that?

There was an enormous flag running around the rink in Calgary in 2012. That was probably the craziest atmosphere I've seen in hockey, including playoff games at the Bell Centre.

 

[Czechboy]

Kelowna would be an interesting target just given the summer population influx and the money that accompanies it. They wouldn't have a problem selling out games. HC has their "summer home" here which is just another way of saying "we like golfing."

Could pair with Vancouver, as they did previously, or with Kamloops and Penticton.



There was an enormous flag running around the rink in Calgary in 2012. That was probably the craziest atmosphere I've seen in hockey, including playoff games at the Bell Centre.

I have an image in my head and I think it's from the 90s and a smaller city/venue and the crowd was insanely hot for Canada. I thought it was a big flag? Dakota? I'm probably way off here.

 

[jj cale]

Kelowna would be an interesting target just given the summer population influx and the money that accompanies it. They wouldn't have a problem selling out games. HC has their "summer home" here which is just another way of saying "we like golfing."

Could pair with Vancouver, as they did previously, or with Kamloops and Penticton.



There was an enormous flag running around the rink in Calgary in 2012. That was probably the craziest atmosphere I've seen in hockey, including playoff games at the Bell Centre.

Kelowna/Penticton/Kamloops is a great idea, especially since I'm here, i've been patiently waiting for it, tickets would go like hot cakes.

I'd snap mine up the second they went on sale.

 

[ORRFForever]

Well , that is what I and some others have been advocating for here, small and old time feel.

Not every year but on a fairly regular basis.

Yes. Still think the money will be too much of a draw to resist.

 

[Antiillafire]

Kelowna/Penticton/Kamloops is a great idea, especially since I'm here, i've been patiently waiting for it, tickets would go like hot cakes.

I'd snap mine up the second they went on sale.

What would the draw be like for smaller nations? That’s always one concern with the hosting. I wonder what Red Deer would look like for the smaller nation games, what kind of ticket sales there would be

 

[jj cale]

What would the draw be like for smaller nations? That’s always one concern with the hosting. I wonder what Red Deer would look like for the smaller nation games, what kind of ticket sales there would be

Your guess is probably as good as mine there, I am not sure how the ticket packages work for these events either so I don't know how it breaks down with tickets for all game versus single game purchase. But we can confidently say that no matter where you hold it anywhere in the world games involving the smaller nations won't be as well attended, you've a better chance of a bigger crowd in Canada for them because of the cache this tournament has here but obviously Austria-Sweden, to say nothing of Austria-Germany is not Canada-Sweden or Finland-U.S etc.

The small fry is the small fry, we know how that goes. The super hockey nuts like me will go to any game, doesn't matter who is playing, after that who knows?

 

[jj cale]

Yes. Still think the money will be too much of a draw to resist.

Isn't it always, it's a material world sadly.