From watching the Ottawa Senators on the Canadian Tire Centre (CTC) to their son stepping on the identical ice to symbolize Canada — Cole Beaudoin’s mother and father say the sensation is surreal.
Born and raised in Ottawa, Beaudoin is among the 25 gamers carrying the maple leaf on the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship.
“We grew up simply watching it [so] for him now to be a part of it and be in his hometown and have all of the assist from the local people, it’ll be wonderful,” his father Eric Beaudoin mentioned.
The Canadian hockey vacation custom formally kicks off Thursday, returning to Ottawa after 15 years.
Over the subsequent two weeks, 10 groups from all over the world might be competing on the CTC and TD Place, vying for the gold medal on Jan. 5.
Mother and father of one other hometown star, Oliver Bonk, say of all years to have it in Ottawa, this one is further particular.
“Final yr we went to Sweden and that was nice, however to have it in Ottawa at residence, and that is the final yr that he can play for the juniors, so it is actually particular,” his mom Jill Bonk mentioned.
Each Bonk and Beaudoin grew up taking part in for the Kanata Blazers minor hockey crew, however an age group aside.
Beaudoin, the 18-year-old ahead, was just lately drafted by the Utah Hockey Membership twenty fourth total within the 2024 NHL draft, and at the moment performs for the Barrie Colts within the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Bonk, the 19-year-old defenceman, went on to get drafted twenty second total by the Philadelphia Flyers within the 2023 NHL draft. His present crew, the London Knights, have been just lately topped the 2024 OHL champions.
Bonk’s mom says this match is simply one other stepping stone in his hockey journey.
“[We’re] tremendous proud, joyful [and] excited,” she mentioned, beaming ear to ear.
His father, Radek Bonk — a former Ottawa Senators ahead — says he is wanting ahead to being on the alternative facet of the sport on the CTC.
“We at all times discuss this, like would not [it] be nice for those who in the future [made the team]. You at all times joke about it, sort of discuss it,” he mentioned.
“His dream … turning into a actuality, you already know, it is superior,” Radek added.
Of their first match up, Canada is taking over Finland on the CTC at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Canada hosts, but once more
Bonk is one in all 5 returning gamers on the present roster who competed within the 2024 World Juniors match in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Regardless of the plus 5,000 kilometres distance between Canada and Sweden, Bonk’s mother and father mentioned it was Canadians who crammed the stands ultimately yr’s match — even at non-Canadian video games.
“Canadian followers save the match,” Radek mentioned.
“That was a unbelievable, unbelievable ambiance — three and a half thousand followers. I believe this rink [CTC] sits 18,000, so it is gonna be loopy,” he added. “I hope the boys are prepared for it.”
Dean McIntosh, Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of income, fan expertise and group affect, says the group has a long-term settlement with the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation the place Canada hosts the match nearly each different yr.
The rationale: “as a result of Canadians are nice hockey followers,” he mentioned.
“I used to be in Sweden final yr and there [were] 1000’s of Canadians in Sweden watching the sport. So the World Juniors is admittedly a part of our vacation custom in Canadian cloth,” McIntosh added.
Now again on residence soil, he mentioned Ottawa is anticipating 400,000 followers to roll by town, boosting the native economic system by about $80 million.
Staff Canada might be searching for redemption this match after final yr’s disappointing, last-minute 2-1 loss to Czechia within the quarterfinals.
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