Vancouver and Victoria get the biggest games, but a spinoff of the World Juniors will hit the ice in Nanaimo.
The IIHF World Junior Championships are beginning in late December, and before the hockey tournament gets underway, there will be exhibition games in Nanaimo and eight other B.C. communities.
The Lordco Road to the World Juniors Pre-Tournament schedule was released Wednesday and the highlight is a game between the Czech Republic and Slovakia at Frank Crane Arena on Dec. 19.
A city press release also previewed that Nanaimo will host training camps.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Nanaimo to host an international hockey event. The training camps and pre-competition game will raise our profile on the world stage, and have economic and social impact for Nanaimo” said Coun. Ian Thorpe in the press release.
“This series of exhibition games will give thousands of British Columbians the opportunity to see top-notch international junior hockey in their home communities,” said Lisa Beare, minister of tourism, arts and culture, in the Hockey Canada press release. “The Province of British Columbia is committed to hosting events like these to help inspire more people to get physically active and to boost local businesses.”
All 10 of the teams competing at the World Juniors will participate in the pre-tournament Dec. 18-23.
The tournament website link to ticket information directs to the Nanaimo Clippers’ official site, but tickets are not available online yet at that link. According to a social media post from the junior A hockey club, Clippers season ticket holders will be able to buy tickets to the game first between Nov. 20-23, and then tickets will go on sale to the general public Nov. 24 at www.nanaimoclippers.com. Tickets will cost $20 plus service charges.
For more information about IIHF World Junior Championships tickets, visit HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.