A Visitor’s Guide to the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo
by Jeff Baker
Posted 12/24/17
The eyes of an entire sport will be on Buffalo, N.Y. when the world’s best young hockey players face off at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship from Dec. 26, 2017 to Jan. 5, 2018.
Check out our Visitors Guide below for a look at all the events and attractions as history is made at the 42nd edition of the World Juniors, which returns to the United States for the first time since Buffalo successfully hosted the tournament in 2011.
2018 IIHF World Junior Championship
The 2018 WJC features 10 teams playing 31 games across 11 days. Each team will play four games in the six-day preliminary round.
Group A: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia & United States
Group B: Belarus, Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden & Switzerland
The top four squads from each group advance to the playoff round, starting with quarterfinals on Jan. 2 and culminating with the Gold Medal Game on Jan. 5.
Venues
All games will take place in Buffalo’s Canalside area at KeyBank Center (home of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres) and adjacent HarborCenter, along with the WJC’s first-ever outdoor game at New Era Field (home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills) in Orchard Park, N.Y. between the U.S. vs. Canada on Dec. 29.
The close proximity of KeyBank Center and HarborCenter had a big impact on USA Hockey’s decision to bring the tournament back to Buffalo.
“This is ideal. The players are going to love this,” USA Hockey Assistant Executive Director Mike Bertsch said. “The players are going to love that all 10 teams are in the same building, that they’re going to cross paths all the time. They’re going to feel much more like they’re a part of the event than they may have in the pass. It’s got some uniqueness that’s pretty exciting.”
Schedule
Keep track of all the World Junior Championship matchups with the complete WJC Schedule including this handy printable version.
Tickets
Individual tickets are still available for all WJC games in addition to eight- and 12-game packages and medal round packages.
Championship Village
Visit Canalside as it transforms into Championship Village, a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience featuring interactive fun, live music and a warming station with food and drink. Check the Village’s hours and schedule to stay on top of all the happenings at the tournament’s hub.
“To see that development that’s taken place and what the Pegulas have done in terms of the impact of this area has been pretty phenomenal,” Bertsch said. “The place now where the HarborCenter is was a parking lot. The fields were pretty much dirt around here, and coming back over the summer and seeing how pretty it was, and then coming back in the winter with the hockey feel, we’re pretty excited about being here. It’s neat development. It’s a neat change for everybody, especially for us to come back and see it like this.”
Join the festivities at Championship Headquarters, presented by Labatt Blue, to find Labatt products, music, autograph signings, and a variety of food offerings inside the climate-controlled tent.
Other attractions in the Championship Village include:
● Zippo Warming Area: hot beverages, fun interactive games and more
● Snowzilla: a 40-foot tall toboggan slide
● Hockey Skills Competition: interactive skills games throughout the tournament
● Frozen Jersey Display sponsored by New Era
● Interactive photo opportunities
● Some of Buffalo’s best food trucks
HarborCenter
Fans can take advantage of the state-of-the-art mixed-use HarborCenter facility containing two hockey rinks, Marriott Hotel and award-winning Panorama on Seven restaurant, full-service Tim Horton’s Cafe and Bake Shop, and the ultimate sports fan experience at (716) Food and Sport, which has over 70 televisions including a 38-foot feature video screen over the main bar.
Accommodations
Looking for a place to stay while in town? Browse and book nearby rooms with our Hotel Finder.
Transportation
Need a lift? Visit the NFTA Metro Website for transit information while fans can also utilize the Uber Pickup zone located on Scott St., between Michigan Ave. and Washington St.
Outdoor Game
The U.S. and Canada will renew their rivalry at New Era Field, home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, with tickets available for the first-ever outdoor game in WJC history at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 29 as the teams rematch last year’s Gold Medal Game.
“It’s a huge rivalry. It’s gotten even better over the years because typically now, you’re seeing U.S.-Canada in the finals. And we love that,” Bertsch said. “I was in Montreal last year and that place went crazy when those two teams ended up in the finals. We’re hoping it ends up being the same thing.”
Skate and Seat
Fans will have the chance to skate at New Era Field on Wednesday, Dec. 27 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 28 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with special ticket offers available.
Shop WJC
Rep your team colors with official World Juniors gear at the official Online Store including the Nike 2018 WJC Team USA custom jersey.
Stay Connected
Follow all the World Juniors action on social media on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube accounts. Join the conversation using the #WorldJuniors and #WJCinBUF hashtags.
Stay tuned to our News Page on BuffaloWorldJuniors.com for exclusive tournament coverage with game recaps, feature stories, video content and more.
Sightseeing
Want to see the sights? Enjoy a vast array of restaurant and entertainment options downtown in the Canalside, Chippewa, Cobblestone and Theatre districts in addition to more uptown destinations such as the Elmwood and Hertel areas.
Tour Buffalo’s many architectural gems, highlighted by the 32-story Art Deco-style City Hall, with its free observation deck open on weekdays for a bird’s eye view of the city, plus Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House masterpiece and more.
Take in local cultural offerings with museums and galleries around town. Learn about the region’s rich sports history at the ICONS: The Makers and Moments of Buffalo Sports exhibit at the Buffalo History Museum while the Albright-Knox Art Gallery boasts a world-class collection of both modern and contemporary art.
Experience the natural wonder of Niagara Falls, just a 25-minute drive from downtown Buffalo, with breathtaking views of one of the world’s largest waterfalls that draws millions of visitors each year.
Explore more of the best Western New York has to offer on Visit Buffalo Niagara.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions on our FAQ Page.
