The 2026 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship started its 10-day stretch on Friday, bringing spectators from all over the world and boosting local businesses.

William Horcoff (Pittsburgh Penguins) extended the lead to 3-0 on a shot from the slot at 15:55 of the first. James Hagens (Boston Bruins) made the play happen with a check behind Germany's net to free the puck to Brodie Ziemer (Buffalo Sabres) at the bottom of the left circle. Horcoff then finished the play off a pass from Ziemer.

Your daily briefing on what's going on in college hockey, everything from the assists on the ice to the Zamboni.

Known as the ROC, the Recreation Outdoor Center is a covered rink in winter. Public skating and hockey-playing have dedicated times Fridays and weekends. Otherwise, the rink is open to the public for general use if it isn’t rented or hosting an event. More information: bit.ly/LouisRink

Every year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, one of the best hockey competitions in the world takes place: the IIHF World Junior Championship. The tournament is a showcase of the best men’s under-20 players and highlights the future stars of the NHL.

Ryan Kennedy, Tony Ferrari and Michael Traikos break down the favorites, the dark horses and their predictions for the 2026 world juniors in Minnesota.

This year’s World Juniors kick off in just over an hour with a Group A clash between Sweden and Slovakia in St. Paul. With all 10 countries’ rosters locked in, it’s time to look at which prospects each NHL team will see representing them on the world’s biggest stage for under-20 players.

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us. The 2026 World Juniors are set to kick off on December 26th, with 10 teams chasing gold on the world stage.