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Tickets on sale

Canada to play two pre-tournament games in Red Deer before World Juniors

Oct 22, 2026 | 11:00 AM

Hockey Canada has announced the pre-tournament schedule for the upcoming 2027 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

From Dec. 17 – 23, six Alberta communities, including Cold Lake, Lloydminster, Camrose, Blackfalds, Edmonton, and Red Deer, will host 12 pre-tournament games before preliminary action commences on Dec. 26.

Most notably, Red Deer will host four pre-tournament games, including two featuring Team Canada.

The Canadians will face Finland on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7: 30 p.m. and Sweden on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m.

Red Deer will also host a matchup between Slovakia and Czechia on Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and another between the United States and Latvia on Monday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Town of Blackfalds will host Norway and Germany at the Eagle Builders Centre on Monday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., followed by two games on Wednesday, Dec. 23 between Norway and Slovakia at 1 p.m. and Czechia and the U.S. at 7 p.m.

Germany and Switzerland will face off on Thursday, Dec. 17, in Cold Lake and on Saturday, Dec. 19, Camrose will host Switzerland and Slovakia at 1 p.m., and Lloydminster will welcome Latvia and Germany at 7 p.m. Camrose will host an additional game on Tuesday, Dec. 22, between Switzerland and Finland.

In addition to the games, seven Alberta communities will host competing teams from around the world for pre-tournament camps ahead of the World Juniors – Blackfalds (Czechia, Norway), Camrose (Finland, Slovakia), Calgary (Canada), Cold Lake (Germany, Switzerland), Edmonton (Sweden), Lloydminster (Latvia) and Red Deer (United States).

Tickets for the pre-tournament games in Cold Lake, Lloydminster, Red Deer and Edmonton are now on sale at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

Tickets for games in Camrose will be available for purchase in early November. Meanwhile, tickets for games in Blackfalds will go on sale Tuesday, October 27, through Showpass.

“It is an incredible privilege to host some of the world’s best young athletes right here in our community. On behalf of Council, I am excited not only to share our hometown pride, but also to showcase our state-of-the-art facilities, outstanding amenities, local businesses, and the dedicated team working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure this event is a success,” said Mayor Laura Svab. “It is an honour to be one of the six host communities, and I look forward to seeing residents and visitors alike come together to celebrate the games.”

TSN is expected to broadcast all three of Canada’s pre-tournament games and all 29 tournament games.