Heavy snow and difficult travel expected again, heaviest snow in southern Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Next winter, the Twin Cities will become even more of a hockey destination. And that might come with a cost to the state budget.

The home arenas of the Minnesota Wild and Gopher Men’s Hockey will host the International Ice Hockey Federation’s 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship.

Minnesota Sports and Events, which helped to recruit the event to Minnesota, is asking for $5 million from the state to help cover costs associated with hosting the tournament. The bill got its first airing at the Capitol on Wednesday.

“Think of it as a mix between March Madness and the Olympics mixed with the spirit of our state hockey championships,” St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter told Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee. “We estimate an approximate $75 million boost to our state’s economy through this event.” 

Over 10 days, the Xcel Energy Center and 3M Arena and Mariucci at the University of Minnesota will host 29 games, as 10 countries compete for the championship. The tournament runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5.

Minnesota Sports and Events helped to bring the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials to Minneapolis in 2024, which the group said had an estimated economic impact of $74.8 million. The organization received $6 million from the state for that event — compared to what it said was $5.75 million in tax revenue.

“We are here today requesting $5 million to cover costs associated with hosting World Juniors,” said Wendy Blackshaw, president and CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events. “The public money in this bill is reinvested in Minnesota. State funding covers expenses that stay here, such as local union labor, public safety, permitting and operations.”

Committee members from both parties spoke in support of the bill, including Sen. Karin Housley, R-Stillwater. Her husband Phil, now an assistant coach with the New York Rangers, played in the 1982 IIHF World Junior Championship for team USA.

“It was such a huge stage, and that’s when he actually got recognized. He was still a senior in high school, and then he got drafted right after that, and then his whole career started,” Housley said. “So I want to thank the World Junior Championships for changing my life, but it is such a world stage for not just these players, but for Minneapolis, St. Paul and Minnesota.” 

The funding request proposal could find its way into a bigger economic development funding package later this session. Advertisements for the tournament are already on the display outside of the Xcel Energy Center. 

, the tournament teams include the United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland and Slovakia.

The current roster of Team USA includes nine Minnesotans and six players who play NCAA hockey for Minnesota teams. The Twin Cities last hosted the tournament in 1982.

Politics and Government News

Sports

NewsPartners

Homepage

Peter Cox

Author

Local organizers are seeking $5 million in state funds toward staging the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship next year.

Minnesota’s site as a world hockey showcase comes with request for state aid for tourney

Go Deeper.

Like this?