USA Hockey picks Buffalo, not St. Louis, to host World Junior Championship
ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis will not host the 2018 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in 2018. Buffalo will.
The Blues, who had supported the city's push for the tournament, acknowledged USA Hockey's decision to award the event to Buffalo in a statement from Chris Zimmerman, the club's president and CEO of business operations.
"On behalf of the St. Louis Blues and in conjunction with the St. Louis Sports Commission, I would like to personally thank everyone involved in our bid to host the 2018 World Junior Championship in St. Louis," the statement read. "Although we have fallen short in our goal to bring this world class event to the Heartland of Hockey, we have succeeded in creating a lasting and profoundly positive impression with USA Hockey that will reap rewards in the future. We are immensely proud of the teamwork, talent and passion that was displayed in this effort by the staff of the St. Louis Blues, the staff of the St. Louis Sports Commission, our local hospitality and corporate partners as well as our civic leaders and friends."
St. Louis had been one of three finalists for the championships, along with Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Had St. Louis been selected, Scottrade Center and Family Arena would have hosted the events, which will feature 10 nations and many future NHL stars under the age of 20.
