Kelowna to host World Junior exhibition game

Russia vs. Sweden slated for Dec. 18 at Prospera Place

The IIHF World Junior Championship is returning to British Columbia for the first time in 13 years, and Kelowna will host a pretournament game as part of the Lordco Road to the World Juniors.

On Dec. 18, Russia and Sweden will face-off at Prospera Place (7 p.m. PT) as part of their preparations for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, which runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Vancouver and Victoria.

Russia has won four gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship, last standing atop the podium at the 2011 World Juniors in Buffalo, N.Y. Sweden has won gold twice, most recently at the 2012 World Juniors in Calgary and Edmonton.

“The Kelowna Rockets are very happy to be partnering with Hockey Canada and Prospera Place to bring this exciting game to Kelowna,” said Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton. “Sweden and Russia are consistently two of the best teams in the world, and for our fans, this game will be a real treat.

“We are pleased to announce this game is a complimentary “bonus” game for our season-ticket holders,” added Hamilton. Ticket information will be released today. This is not the first time a Hockey Canada event has come to Kelowna.

The city co-hosted the B Pool of the 2005 World Junior Championship with Kamloops as well as the inaugural World Sledge Hockey Challenge (now Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup) in 2007.