Local stars at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa

After watching the Ottawa Senators play at the Canadian Tire Centre, Cole Beaudoin’s parents are getting ready to see their son play on the same ice rink. He represents Canada at the World Junior Championship.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Cole Beaudoin is one of 25 players who will proudly wear the maple leaf on their jersey at the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship.

We grew up watching this championship, so for him to be a part of it, to be in his hometown and to have all the support of his community, it will be amazingexplains his father Eric Beaudoin.

The championship officially begins on Thursday. It is taking place for the first time in Ottawa in 15 years.

Over the next two weeks, ten teams from around the world will compete at the Center Canadian Tire and at TD Place, aiming to win the gold medal on January 5.

The parents of another local star, Oliver Bonkbelieve that of all the years the tournament has been held in Ottawa, this one is very special.

Last year we went to Sweden and it was great, but this is the last year that[Oliver] can play for juniors, so this year is even more specialshares her mother, Jill Bonk.

Both Bonk and Beaudoin grew up playing for the Montreal minor hockey team. Kanata Blazersbut not in the same age group.

At 18 years old, forward Cole Beaudoin was recently drafted by the Utah Hockey Club at 24^e draft rank of the NHL 2024. He currently plays for the Colts of Barrie in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

For his part, the 19-year-old defender, Oliver Bonkwas drafted at 22^e rank by Flyers of Philadelphia in 2023. His current team, the London Knightswas recently crowned champion of the LHO in 2024. According to his mother, the world junior championship is just another step in his hockey journey.

We are very proud, happy and excitedshe reacted, all smiles.

His father, Radek Bonk – a former Ottawa Senators forward – says he can’t wait to be on the other side of the game at Center Canadian Tire.

We have often talked about it. We thought it would be great if one day he was part of the team. We often joked about it, we talked about ithe says. His dream comes true, it’s great!

For its first match, Canada faces Finland at the Center Canadian Tire at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Canada, host of the tournament

Bonk is one of five players from the current team who participated in the 2024 edition in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Despite the distance of more than 5,000 kilometers that separates Canada from Sweden, Bonk’s parents say it was Canadians who filled the stands at last year’s tournament.

Canadian fans saved the tournament! judge Radek Bonk. It was fantastic: 3500 fans! I think the rink [du Centre Canadian Tire] can accommodate up to 18,000 people, so it’s going to be crazy. I hope the boys are ready.

Hockey Canada’s Senior Vice-President, responsible for revenue, fan experience and community impact, Dean McIntoshexplains that the organization has entered into a long-term agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation, under which Canada will host the tournament almost every two years.

The reason: because Canadians are big hockey fanshe explains.

I was in Sweden last year and there were thousands of Canadians watching the games. The World Junior Championships are an integral part of the holiday tradition in Canadian culturehe adds.

According to him, Ottawa could receive some 400,000 fans during the tournament, a boon to stimulate the local economy to the tune of approximately $80 million.

The Canadian team will look to redeem itself after last year’s disappointing last-minute quarterfinal loss to the Czech Republic (2-1).

With information fromEmma Wellerof CBC News