photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation
2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship will be held in Espoo and Vantaa from April 25 to May 5.
The venues are Metro Arena in Espoo and Tikkurila Arena in Vantaa. Many other Finnish cities also showed interest in hosting the event.
”We are happy that the interest of cities and venues in organizing the tournament was strong. We received several high-quality offers from all over Finland, and I would like to thank all the parties that applied for their willingness to host the event,” says Sami Kauhanen, CEO of the Ice Hockey Association.
The offers from Espoo and Vantaa formed together a combination that best meets the needs of the event. The arenas are of a suitable size, and they enable the required level for TV production.
The host cities are looking forward to cooperation and next spring's event.
”It's great to have the U18 World Championship in Espoo and Vantaa. For 30 years, we have been doing high-quality youth work in hockey and other sports. Cooperation with Vantaa is also meaningful,” says Espoo's sports director Martti Merra.
”We are happy that we will be able to host the event together with Espoo. Vantaa is an event city that offers a good setting for international sports events as well. We believe that in cooperation with the city of Espoo and Finnish Ice Hockey Association we will create an event where young ice hockey players can achieve top results and the public will enjoy themselves,” Vantaa's sports director Veli-Matti Kallislahti continues.
For the age group participating in the tournament, the U18 World Championship is an important event for their future careers. Most of the players will be drafted for the NHL in the summer following the tournament, which is why there will be a big number of NHL scouts following the games.
”For them and other visitors it is easy as the venues are located close to each other and within easy reach from the airport. The accommodation capacity of the capital region is also perfectly sufficient for the needs of the official participants and other guests,” says Petteri Hietanen, the General Secretary of the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship.
A total of ten teams will play in the tournament. One preliminary round and two quarterfinals will be played in both arenas. The semi-finals and medal games will be played in Espoo.
The last time the U18 World Championship was organized in Finland was in 2014, at that time the tournament was played in Lappeenranta and Imatra.
The venues are Metro Arena in Espoo and Tikkurila Arena in Vantaa. Many other Finnish cities also showed interest in hosting the event.
”We are happy that the interest of cities and venues in organizing the tournament was strong. We received several high-quality offers from all over Finland, and I would like to thank all the parties that applied for their willingness to host the event,” says Sami Kauhanen, CEO of the Ice Hockey Association.
The offers from Espoo and Vantaa formed together a combination that best meets the needs of the event. The arenas are of a suitable size, and they enable the required level for TV production.
The host cities are looking forward to cooperation and next spring's event.
”It's great to have the U18 World Championship in Espoo and Vantaa. For 30 years, we have been doing high-quality youth work in hockey and other sports. Cooperation with Vantaa is also meaningful,” says Espoo's sports director Martti Merra.
”We are happy that we will be able to host the event together with Espoo. Vantaa is an event city that offers a good setting for international sports events as well. We believe that in cooperation with the city of Espoo and Finnish Ice Hockey Association we will create an event where young ice hockey players can achieve top results and the public will enjoy themselves,” Vantaa's sports director Veli-Matti Kallislahti continues.
For the age group participating in the tournament, the U18 World Championship is an important event for their future careers. Most of the players will be drafted for the NHL in the summer following the tournament, which is why there will be a big number of NHL scouts following the games.
”For them and other visitors it is easy as the venues are located close to each other and within easy reach from the airport. The accommodation capacity of the capital region is also perfectly sufficient for the needs of the official participants and other guests,” says Petteri Hietanen, the General Secretary of the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship.
A total of ten teams will play in the tournament. One preliminary round and two quarterfinals will be played in both arenas. The semi-finals and medal games will be played in Espoo.
The last time the U18 World Championship was organized in Finland was in 2014, at that time the tournament was played in Lappeenranta and Imatra.