The 2018 world junior hockey championship will see Canada face the United States in the first outdoor game ever at an International Ice Hockey Federation event. The game will be the highlight of the preliminary round, taking place on Dec. 29, 2017 at New Era Field, home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
The historic game is sure to be one of the highlights of the tournament, and will be played at the same stadium that hosted the first-ever NHL Winter Classic in 2008. In fact, on Jan. 1, 2008, an NHL record 71,217 people saw the Penguins beat the Sabres 2-1 in overtime at what was then Ralph Wilson Stadium.
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It was about time for the IIHF to get in on the outdoor action. The NHL has been hosting regular-season outdoor classics since 2003 and because of the success, has since increased the frequency of outdoor games. There will be four played during the 2016-17 season, the first of which took place last week between the Oilers and Jets. The fact that the game is being played in Buffalo, situated between major Canadian and American cities, makes it even more ideal.
“The U.S.-Canada rivalry is as good as it gets in sport,” executive director of USA Hockey Dave Ogrean said in a statement. “To have an outdoor game between the two countries as part of the World Juniors in hockey-rich Western New York will be spectacular.”
The rivalry between the two countries is truly one of the best in sports, dating back decades, and the world junior championship has played host to some of the best Canada vs. USA moments.
Taking place in Buffalo, NY, the tournament will feature the best players under the age of 20 from the top ten hockey nations in the world. The tournament will run from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, with all other games being played at the KeyBank Center and HarborCenter in Buffalo.
