Minneapolis-St. Paul finalist for the 2011 world junior championships
Posted on August 21st, 2008 – 11:38 AMBy Michael Russo
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey announced today that it has narrowed the list of potential sites to host the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-20 Championship to (alphabetical order): Buffalo, N.Y., Grand Forks, N.D., and Minneapolis - Saint Paul.
“The World Under-20 Championship is a spectacular event that we’re extremely pleased to be hosting again,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “We had interest in this event from more than 20 different entities across the country. We’ve narrowed the field to three very worthy finalists and look forward to reaching a decision before the end of the year.”
The 2011 IIHF World Under-20 Championship (otherwise known as the IIHF World Junior Championship) is a 10-nation tournament featuring the top men’s ice hockey players in the world under the age of 20.
“It will be a real treat for sports fans in our country to have the World Junior Championship back in the United States,” said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey. “It’s a very special event with an extremely high level of talent.”
“The last time we hosted the World Junior Championship back in 2005, fans got to see players like Phil Kessel, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin to name just a few,” said Jim Johannson, a two-time Olympian who serves as USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations. “The bottom line for hockey fans is, outside of the Olympics, the World Junior Championship is probably the best international tournament they’ll ever get to witness.”
The United States has hosted the event four previous times, including in Grand Forks, N.D./Thief River Falls, Minn. (2005), Boston (1996), Anchorage, Alaska (1989) and Minneapolis - St. Paul (1982).
82 Responses to "Minneapolis-St. Paul finalist for the 2011 world junior championships"
Sweet!
I hope they host it in Minny. I’d like to see that.
For USA Hockey, it’s all going to come down to one thing…Do they want to take the sure success and go with GF/Moorhead, or do they want to risk poor attendance and go with the Twin Cities or Buffalo.
Why would you have better attendance in Grand Forks? That doesn’t make any sense.
Well, GF/Moorhead is hosting it in April 2009. How do we know that Buffalo or the TC will have poor attendance? I know it wasn’t great during the IIHF World Championships in 2004 at the X. However, Buffalo is very close to Canada that they might get folks to drive over the border to see the games.
I think Buffalo would have pretty good attendance as well, sunshine, for the same reason.
It works like this…in GF/Moorhead, it is the big event of the year. In the TC, there is the Wild, Vikings, Wolves, etc. In Buffalo, they have the Sabres and Bills. When the WJC was held in GF/TRF in 2005, it was the most highly attended WJC outside of Canada ever. The people at the Ralph have put in a significant financial guarantee to USA Hockey, obviously the reps for TC and Buffalo have guarantees as well, but I doubt that they can garner as much of a profit as a return to the GF area. I think if they decide to spread it around the country, and not return to GF immediatly, they will go to Buffalo, because of the close proximity to Canada, since that’s where most of the fans come from anyways.
BTW…the April 2009 U-18 tourney is in Fargo, not GF.
Hey Kevin,
Would you say you’re attached to Staal? Just curious…
Would you say you’re attached to Staal?
I hope you’re not going to use that “You can’t afford Staal, so trade him for Gaborik” thing.
What happened to Staal last season anyway? Was that just a sophomore slump, or is there some reason for concern over his long-term offensive upside?
I thought Fargo and Grand Forks were the same thing??? About a 7 iron apart? No? Hmph.
I’m not really sure what happened to his shorthanded tallies, although I suppose you can’t really count on getting those every year. Little concerning though when it goes from 7 to 0. So that part might’ve been a sophomore slump. For his even strength stuff, he played a lot at wing his rookie year but was almost always third-line center last year. Supposedly they want to move him back to wing this year. He went from playing with Malkin a lot to… not.
Fargo is a little over an hour from Grand Forks. I’m guessing USA Hockey will chose either GF or Buffalo. GF is a sold, known sellout. Not sure on Buffalo, though.
“I hope you’re not going to use that “You can’t afford Staal, so trade him for Gaborik” thing.”
Hardly. I was more thinking along the lines of Gaborik would probably score 50+ goals playing with Sid and Staal is an amazing young 2 way center. This has nothing to do with cap. I’m just thinking player value to the team. Not that Staal doesn’t have his place on your team. I’m just saying if Gaborik went to the Pens it’d be scary. I would assume if you just offered Hossa $8M you would be able to do the same for Gaborik on an extension.
We didn’t offer Hossa 8, and would Gaborik accept just 8 anyway? No doubt Gaborik would light it up with Sid. I’m not trading them straight up THEN negotiating with Gaborik though. Went down that road once already.
Even if you subtract the SHG, he’s still 10 goals shy of the previous season. Not a good change considering he had 6 minutes more ice time per game in 07/08
His role was different. He was shutting down other team’s top lines instead of playing ON his team’s top line.
Dilbert says:
August 21st, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Fargo is a little over an hour from Grand Forks
That’s about a 7 iron for me….
I was at the U-20 tourney in GF in 2005. Attendance was not an issue. My fear is in 2011, when the U-20 comes back to the US, they’ll put it in Buffalo rather than back in the midwest where it was the last time the US hosted. I do take some comfort in feeling it’s really between St. Paul and Buffalo, not because of attendance (all will sell out), but because they want to move it around. I hope it’s St. Paul because it is really a great event.
Anyone have an idea how many games we can expect in HD this year?
All of the VS games are HD, right? And then FSN now has an HD Channel, but will they use it for the Wild? I think I only remember a couple HD games being broadcast last year.
KiPA: I doubt that any team is going to pony up players and/or picks for Gabby, if it comes to that, without having some kind of extension worked out. You see that more at the trade deadline when teams feel they “are a move away”. But prior to the season starting, I don’t think any GM wants the “he’s going to be a UFA at the end of the season” headache. Unless, of course, some GM is able to roll Dougie Ballgame over and stuff his head into the couch cushions.
Plus they want to sign Staal to an extension. They’re not interested (yet) in moving him.
DB: I think teams will pony up players and picks for Gaborik. We might not get as much as we could at the trade deadline but we will get players and prospects. Picks are going to be conditional.
Come on if it is true that the Rangers are willing to move Drury or someone for one year of Sundin, a few teams would be willing to do it for Gaborik.
What about ponies? I like ponies. I want a pony. Can I have a pony? …. The Mr just said I can’t have a pony, it won’t fit in the yard…… boy do I need a hockey fix.
Kevin,
Yeah I don’t know if the Pens would be going with another big trade like last year but then again I had no idea they were even interested in Hossa. I was just curious how you felt about another big name trade.
Not too interested, Lucky. We’d have to give up an actual asset this time to bring in a big name via trade.
I saw some fans, maybe just one, saying Staal and Whitney for Gaborik.
Hey I’m just a bored hockey fan trying to make it to training camp. It’s not like our trade suggestions are going to get our GM’s on the phone with each other.
No worries, Lucky. I’d almost start to consider that one. Problem is the great unknown of what it’d cost to sign Gaborik to an extension. We’ve got four solid offensive D right now, but one’s aging and coming to the end of his contract in a coupe years and two others are too young with no experience, leaving Whitney left.
Then there was one idiot who wanted to get Gaborik and Burns for Staal, Whitney and Sydor I think it was. I didn’t even laugh at the absurdity of that one. I just died a little inside.
KiPA: we have an ‘offensive’ defenseman, too, and we’d LOVE to get rid of him. 
Martin Skoula, meet Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, meet Martin Skoula.
Neither will be buying the other an Old Frothingslosh at Christmastime any season soon… 
“I didn’t even laugh at the absurdity of that one. I just died a little inside.”
lol. I hear ya. I saw some pretty bad trade offers when we thought we had a chance at Ollie Jokinen. Offering players like Matt Foy and Aaron Voros… It was kind of sad really.
I’m with you, Bandgeek. I need to see some hockey NOW.
As for the World Juniors, I would love to see it here, but I have to believe we’re number 3 on that list. GF/TRF did a great job with the event, sold virtually every ticket, have Winnipeg within driving distance.
Buffalo has the 8 million people of Toronto less than two hours away, making it a certain sellout as well.
What we have to offer is the best facility in the hockey world, but I’m not sure that will be enough for this.
http://podcast.830wcco.com/wcco/1279934.mp3
Leipold interviewed on the Mike Max Show. A little more insight on Gaborik and what he’s thinking for the Wild.
It’s actually a good interview.
Yeah, interesting on the practice facility. CL’s sure enthusiastic about his revenue streams. Oh, and hockey.
I think this month, while its a unique situation, has become apparent that a separate practice facility might be warranted. Foster and the guys have to be work out at Hamline University, which is about halfway between downtown Minneapolis and the X.
I was watching an old fight (2005) on you tube tonight, and they pronounced Boogaard as Bow-gaard. It got me wondering, is that how it was originally pronounced and the fans enhanced it to Boo-gaard as his popularity increased, or are G&G just morons?
It’s time for hockey season to start when these are my musings…
It is Bow-guard. His mother said so in the article Russo did on Boogie’s fight camp.
For those crazy for some hockey, I recommend checking out
http://www.hockeywebcasts.com/nhl/200607/minnesota.php
On the left side, you can get some of the archived 07-08 and 06-07 games. For some reason, Joost doesn’t have the 07-08 games but the 06-07 games are on google so there should be no problem.
Yeah, the other day I ran across this (adorable) interview with Burns and Boogie and even Burns pronounced it Bow-gard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1O2bs5muUg
I just want to put them both in my pocket and take them everywhere with me. Gonna have to get some bigger pockets…
Sunshine. I never wrote that teams wouldn’t give up picks and/or players for Gabby. I wrote that teams wouldn’t do it prior to the season starting without having an extension with Gabby worked out prior to. Trade history suggests that teams are much more willing to take a chance by aquiring an UFA for picks/players at the deadline. When UFA are traded prior to the start of a season, an extension is more often than not worked out behind the scenes before the trade is announced. If Gabby is moved, of course the Wild would get players/picks in return. You would hope Dougie Ballgame is shrewd enough not to move Gabby for the Gold Package for 12 months on DirectTV and a country club membership at Interlachen.
MsC I’ve wanted to do that for years…. gather up Boogie and keep him all to myself that is, Burns would be a good addition to the collection. Who needs action figures when you can have the real thing right?
Word. And I bet Burnzie would wash the dog for me. I’ve managed to hurt both my wrists playing hockey and I’m not looking forward to that chore this weekend.
sunshine,
Thanks for the link for Leipold. He seems like such a down to earth blue collar owner. From everything I’ve heard since the day he bought this team the guy is nothing but a class act. That’s good news for the fans. Now he mentioned someting about a Gaborik extentsion offer? This offer is it being designed by the Ace of Cakes crew or what’s taking so long here?
Just going by the Rolston offer, I would assume that they would give Gaborik and his agent an offer sometime today so they have the weekend to mull it over. The Wild would then hope that by early next week there is a counter offer.
Just speculating here.
DB: I am saying that the Wild could get prospects/players and picks for Gaborik regardless of having an extension worked out by the trading team. Picks being conditional based on an extension. The package probably will not be as good as what the Wild can get at the trade deadline.
If Gabby is dealt before the season starts, expect an extension to be announced by the other team. Trade history has shown that teams willnot take on high-level UFAs prior to the start of the year without getting that player locked up to an extension. Teams are much more willing to take on an UFA at the deadline because they feel they are a player away from the Cup. Of course the Wild would get picks/players from another team if a deal is made. What I am saying that if a deal is made between now and Oct. 11, the other team will no doubt (JL accent) have an announcement on an extension.
Burnsie has a kennel for boarding my dog? sweet!
Day 5 of the new job (sorry Bandgeek, but if you knew C# {not the key, the language} I’d find you a job). I am liking it…
No KJ… Pocket Burnzie will wash your dog but at your house. Because he’s at your house. In your pocket. Pocket Burnzie. Pocket Boogie will help. Then we’ll have lemonade while the dog dries off on the deck. Oh yes, I like this plan very much!
ms.c…I suppose those would be ‘Hot Pockets’ then?
Ohhh, you’re good.
Don’t feel bad kj, I have an interview next week so there is hope. Pray, light a candle, sacrifice a goat, whatever, for me oky doky. I like the idea of Pocket Burnzie and Boogie. My friend H would want a pocket Mikko. Do pocket Burnzie and Boogie do dishes and clean bathrooms? I can’t get the Mr to help with those very often so if the “Hot Pockets” could help with that it would be peachy.
Well… within reason. They really should be doing manly, sweaty, dirty things, I think. I would gladly do the dishes and pay the housekeeper to scrub the toilets if they’ll organize the garage, lay some mulch in my flowerbeds, and take out the trash. I think I’d also task them with taking my skates to get sharpened since that’s sort of their bailiwick. And hey, Burns and Boogie have both lived here, so they know their way around.
Obviously you don’t want, like, a Pocket Gabby, though. He’ll just hog your Xbox and get speeding tickets in your car.
Would a pocket Skoula trip over lint and make bad defencive moves? I bet you could use a pocket Hards. He could give all sorts of tips for being a better goalie. How small would a pocket PMB be? And would a pocket Shepp live in your basement and play with your kids (and dent your truck)? All things that need to be considered when getting a pocket hockey player.
You do have to wonder how many speeding tickets Gaborik has received. I think I read somewhere that even Demitra gets scared when Gaborik drives because he likes to drive fast.
Would you want to ride with a guy who has a formula one simulator in his house? I have enough problems with the Mr and he’s actually mellowed a lot.
If he was still here, would a pocket Voros get really excited he’d done something well and head butt the other “hot pockets”? And would a pocket Fridge have a pocket lawn Gnome?
Skoula would remember to pick up your dry cleaning (which closes at 7) at 7:05. It’s not that Pocket Skoula is bad to have around. He’s just mortal, where as most Hot Pockets give the appearance of being a step above mortal.
Man, choosing a pocket goalie would be tough. I’d have to go minor leagues I think. Khudobin would be fun to have around (see my blog post about him tomorrow to find out my plans for him). Schaef and Brusty can just stay in my pocket and make smartass remarks about stuff.
I don’t have kids or a basement, but I think he’d probably be a pretty decent skating coach.
(That’s Shep who’d be the Pocket Skating Coach, BTW.)
LMAO at the Pocket Voros and Fridge. Man, Pocket Fridge would be the best Hot Pocket ever. He can play the piano and sing and dance and rough people up (oh wait, Pocket Boogie’s on that beat already)…
Oh man. This place is really going downhill fast. Summer just isn’t kind to the hockey fan, is it?
I’ve been looking at possible line combos around the league and the Devils are thinking about putting Rolston as a center on the first line with Elias/Parise and Gionta.
Hope he does better there with the Devils than with the Wild.
Iggy, it’s just our way of making time go faster, wouldn’t you want a pocket Iginla? I would love to watch pocket Boogie beat the snot out of pocket Matt Cooke. And pocket Fridge would have to do the singing and dancing, I don’t think Boogie is all that good at that kind of stuff, but he does seem like he’d be a good cuddler. Lets just say you feel very safe sitting on a chair with Boogie behind you on one side and Fridge on the other, it’s to bad the sun was in our eyes otherwise that would be my favorite picture from the summer bash.
(Most) dudes don’t want other dudes in their pockets.
A pocket Jessica Alba, now that’s a different story.
You could carry around your “Hot Pocket’s” in a man bag. Or leave them at home on a display shelf like my Mr’s Clerks dolls… I mean, Clerks Inaction figures.
Thank you, VoR, for being the Voice of Reason here. 
To echo your statement, no I most definitely do not want Iginla in my pocket. I’m a fan, but not *that* much.
Do we need to petition NiNY to add “Hot Pocket’s” to the Russoville dictionary?
Wait… maybe if you have a lot of pocket hocket players or “Hot POckets” you could have a “Man Bag” to carry them around in!! Like the case I had for my Strawberry Shortcake dolls when I was little only instead of shaped like a strawberry it could be in the shaped like an equipment bag.
Have I mentioned of late how weird I’m getting the more I go without a good hockey fix?
I already have a “Man Bag”. I carries two balls and that is all.
*It
Fine. More Hot Pockets for me and BG…
Have I mentioned of late how weird I’m getting the more I go without a good hockey fix?
I say this with all the love in the world, but I don’t think you need to mention it. It’s a little obvious.
LOL Y’all totally underrate the pleasure of a little frivolous weirdness on a Friday afternoon. It’s good for you and nothing you should be apologizing for.
Ugh. Now I have to go iron 6 shirts and color my hair. Do I live the glamorous life or what?
Hey, I hope that wasn’t directed at me, Ms. C. I’m all for weirdness and zaniness.
It’s also fun to make fun of weirdness and zaniness. Though I didn’t think I was doing that.
I’m all for Pocket Hockey Players and frivolous Friday fun. It keeps the really weird side of me at bay (only the Mr gets to see that).
If you get a chance, go to the Wild’s site and watch the video on Foster. It’s pretty good. I wonder if a Pocket Fossie would have the same bad puck luck as regular Fossie?
I just listened to Foster on wcco radio. He said that his rehab was 9-5 job. He was disappointed that Rolston wasn’t re-signed but it was kind of expected because he was so close to UFA. He also said that it was sad to see Parrish go because him, Koivu, Schultz, and Parrish were all pretty close. He would like to have Gaborik back because he is a good teammate.
Not really Kev (though I really haven’t seen you rock the weird yet, so the jury is still out…) 
Yikes. I wouldn’t want Fozzie in my pocket. I don’t need those pucks aimed at him coming at me instead. Already about got decapitated by a street hockey puck today.
I’m sure I’ve done plenty of weird things on here.
My standards are very high. I’m from Texas, remember. Gotta go big for me to bat an eye.
Augh. Stupid Dallas beating us… 
MsC, I have to say there is one town in Texas that has the monopoly on weird. I heard a news story about some small town (didn’t catch the name) in Texas that won’t allow pickups to be parked in driveways. Ok so maybe not weird, just stupid. And Kevin, you’ve not actually done anything that weird, funny, but not weird.
Could I have a full set of Pocket Stall Brothers? Even the youngest one just to make a complete set. Could we have pocket Dumb and Dumber’s? We could use those like Voo-Doo dolls.
Alright, well I can be weird, it just takes the right circumstances.
I have no idea, BG. Never heard of that. Texas seems like a really bad place to not let people park pickups in driveways. Kinda the bread and butter vehickle in these parts.
Alright, I know everyone’s opinion on Eklund, but someone got me hooked on it for those times when I need amusement (and I’ve been needing that lately).
So he came up with this gem tonight:
The Montreal Canadiens have interest in signing Robert Lang
Two things: first, he says this is in relation to the Rangers trading Gomez to Vancouver and signing Sundin.
But second and most important: Lang’s still under contract ($4M) with Chicago.
Trading for Lang might not be bad but would it be worth it just for one year? He is 38 years old and I don’t know if you would want to re-sign him next season.
A 2nd or 3rd rounder and a 2nd tier prospect. You are also helping Chicago with their cap problem.
Robert Lang?
Wasn’t he the host of the Dating Game???
