Alberta has a strong history of hosting world-class sporting events, and over the next four years, the government will support major international hockey events including the World Juniors, Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Canada vs USA National Women’s rivalry games, World Para Ice Hockey Championship, and Hockey Canada skills development camps.
Hosting these events not only provides an opportunity for hockey players to display their skills in front of local and global fans, the events are expected to generate a total economic impact of more than $55 million. In addition, these events will help build upon Alberta’s reputation as a premier host for major sporting events of all types and sizes and as an attractive travel destination for visitors from around the world.
“Alberta's government is thrilled to be hosting these major sporting events. These events will create excitement around the game of hockey while driving visitors to the province, increasing tourism and bolstering local businesses. These tournaments and events will be an inspiration to young Albertans as they get a chance to learn from and watch the world’s best hockey players.”
If Budget 2024 is passed, Alberta’s government will provide $11 million in funding to support the 2024 World Para Ice Hockey Championships, 2024 and 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cups, 2025 and 2026 Canada vs. USA National Women’s rivalry games, 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship and four years of Hockey Canada summer camps. These events and development camps will foster diversity and inclusion in hockey, provide players with the opportunity to play in front of a hometown crowd and inspire the next generation of athletes.
“Hosting international games and tournaments are critical to provide opportunities for our men’s, women’s and para athletes to develop and compete on the world stage, showcase our teams and communities, and inspire the next generation of participants and fans. We are grateful that the province of Alberta has made this significant investment to enable these events to be played on home ice, which will significantly benefit each of our programs, including our national teams that are preparing for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”
The 51st IIHF World Junior Championship in 2027 is expected to draw more than 400,000 fans to the province throughout the pre-tournament and championship games. With global interest in the games from participating countries and hockey fans, broadcasts could reach more than 100 million views of the event worldwide. The World Junior Championship alone will generate the majority of economic activity across the province and support 140 jobs directly linked to the event.
The 2024 Para Ice Hockey Championships will be the first of the funded major events held in the province. The tournament will take place from May 3-12 in Calgary and will welcome eight international teams including Canada, China, Czechia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Slovakia and the USA. The event will draw in visitors from around the world, bolster hotel bookings and increase activity at local businesses resulting in an economic impact of about $2 million. Canada and Alberta’s para ice hockey players continue to knock down barriers in the world of sports, champion inclusion and show that hockey is for everyone.
Related information
- IIHF (governing body of the World Juniors)
- Hlinka Gretzky Cup
- Canada National Women’s Team
- World Para Ice Hockey
- Hockey Canada Skills Development Camps