Before the world’s top young hockey players get to St. Paul and Minneapolis for the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship, eight of the national teams will hold training camps at a quartet of sites around Minnesota. Organizers have released the schedule for the pre-tournament series of exhibition games, which begin Dec. 16.

Duluth will host the teams from U.S., Finland and Germany at Amsoil Arena with Finland facing Germany on Dec. 19, U.S. vs. Germany on Dec. 21 and Finland vs. U.S. on Dec. 23.

The Sanford Center in Bemidji will be the home base for Czechia, Latvia and Slovakia, with Czechia playing Latvia on Dec. 19, Latvia vs. Slovakia on Dec. 21 and Slovakia vs. Czechia on Dec. 23.

Denmark will prep for the tournament at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, where S

See Full Page