2025 World Junior Championship: Canadian hockey tradition returns to the capital on Boxing Day

A Canadian hockey tradition returns to the capital this Boxing Day as the 2025 World Junior Championship is set to bring life to the city.

Thousands of people are in Ottawa looking forward to catching a glimpse of some of the best hometown hockey players from around the world.

Canada meets Finland at the Canadian Tire Center at 7.30pm as it begins its quest for a 21st title heading into the opening day of the World Junior Championships on Thursday night.

Finland is looking for its sixth title and first since 2019.

Canada’s team includes 17-year-old Gavin McKenna of the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers.

Winnipeg Jets prospect Brayden Yager is Canada’s captain at this edition of the World Junior Championship. He was part of the Canadian team that finished a disappointing fifth at the 2024 tournament in Sweden after back-to-back titles.

The USA won the 2024 title and will open their tournament against Germany. Sweden will face Slovakia and Switzerland will take on the Czech Republic in the other opening matches.

Canada took on the Czech Republic in a pre-tournament match on Monday and won 3-2.

Although millions of people are expected to watch the matches on television, the tournament is expected to boost the capital’s local economy.

Ticketed fans are encouraged to arrive early for the game due to the high volume of traffic around the Tanger Outlets mall, The Canadian Tire Center says.

The doors open at 18.30, one hour before the puck drops.

With files from The Canadian Press