The world junior hockey championship is returning to the nation’s capital.
Hockey Canada has announced that Ottawa will host the tournament from Dec. 26, 2024 to Jan. 5, 2025.
It will mark the second time Ottawa has played host to the event.
The city last hosted in 2009, when Canada won the last of five straight world junior titles.
Canada has either hosted or co-hosted the world junior championship 18 times, including three straight from 2021-23.
The Canadians have won world junior gold a record 20 times. They captured gold earlier this year in Halifax for their second title in a row and third in four tournaments.
Hockey Canada said in a release that the 18,652-seat Canadian Tire Centre, home of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, will serve as the primary venue and host 17 games, including both semifinals and the medal games.
The additional 14 games are set for TD Place, home of the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67’s, which has a capacity of around 9,000 fans.
“We are thrilled that the IIHF World Junior Championship will return to Canada and our nation’s capital in 2025,” said Pat McLaughlin, chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. “The bid that was submitted to host the World Juniors in Ottawa was exceptional, and we cannot wait for fans throughout Canada and the world to experience the celebration of hockey for themselves.
“Hosting the World Juniors is a privilege, and we are grateful to the IIHF for its trust in allowing us to deliver the event on its behalf for the 19th time in Canada, and to the CHL for its continued support of the tournament each year.”
The 2024 tournament will be held in Goteborg, Sweden.
Hockey Canada says over 450,000 fans attended the 2009 tournament.
