THN.com/free. Ottawa Senators fans hold up a giant Canadian flag during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk4ODQ4NzA4MzI5NjEyNjUx/usatsi_10063370.jpg] Ottawa Senators fans hold up a giant Canadian flag during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. The world juniors are headed back to Canada's capital. Hockey Canada and the IIHF announced on Thursday the annual U-20 men's tournament will take place in Ottawa in 2025. TSN's Kenzie Lalonde [https://twitter.com/KenzieTSN/status/1671924098740502544?s=20] first broke the news before the official announcement. “The bid that was submitted to host the world juniors in Ottawa was exceptional, and we cannot wait for fans throughout Canada and the world to experience the celebration of hockey for themselves,” said Hockey Canada COO Pat McLaughlin in a statement [https://hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/ottawa-to-host-2025-iihf-world-junior-championship-2025-wjc]. The Canadian Tire Centre, home of the Ottawa Senators, will be the main rink and host 17 matches, while TD Place, home of the OHL's Ottawa 67's, will host 14 games. Ottawa previously hosted the 2009 world juniors, which featured Jordan Eberle's heroics with seconds remaining to tie Team Russia en route to a semifinal victory and an eventual gold medal win against Team Sweden. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8v8C3scwvg[/embed] The 2024 World Junior Championship comes first, though, and is scheduled for Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2024, in Gothenburg, Sweden. In the meantime, Team USA, Team Sweden and Team Finland are set to participate in the 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Mich., from July 27 to Aug. 4. The tournament serves as a chance for these teams to evaluate their players seeking to make the national squads for the main championship in December and January. The USA announced its squad [https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1277408] on Thursday for the showcase, which includes 10 players from the bronze-winning 2023 team.
