Capping off a year that saw Hockey Canada mired in scandal over its handling of sexual assault allegations, the world junior hockey championship in Halifax and Moncton, N.B., opened last month under a cloud.
But as it comes to an end Thursday night with a final pitting Canada against Czechia, fans and businesses in both cities say the tournament has been a resounding success, with packed stands, thrilling on-ice performances and an influx of visitors.
Fans interviewed before WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 semifinal between Sweden and Czechia said the tournament has been a blast.
Teannah McMullen, 19, and Nicole Patterson, 21, have attended every tournament and pre-tournament game in Halifax. They have tickets to ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 bronze medal match between the USA and Sweden, and the gold medal final. Canada defeated the United States in their semifinal Wednesday night.
B次元官网网址淚t has been just amazing,B次元官网网址� McMullen said. B次元官网网址淲e watch everything. ItB次元官网网址檚 been an experience like I couldnB次元官网网址檛 even imagine.B次元官网网址�
Patterson said the calibre of hockey and the energy of the crowds have been incredible.
B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 see any empty seats, even when Canada isnB次元官网网址檛 playing,B次元官网网址� she said.
Gordie Plagenz, from Saint John, N.B., travelled to Halifax for the week to attend the games. He said seeing Team Canada superstar Connor Bedard in action has been particularly exciting and that B次元官网网址渢he atmosphere here in downtown Halifax is crazy.B次元官网网址�
When asked how Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 year of scandal has affected the tournament, Plagenz said, B次元官网网址測ou canB次元官网网址檛 paint people with the same brush. WeB次元官网网址檙e just here to enjoy the junior hockey that we have here and now.B次元官网网址�
McMullen and Patterson said they were thrilled when they found out Halifax would co-host the yearly tournament.
B次元官网网址淗ockey is what we love B次元官网网址� and itB次元官网网址檚 in our city,B次元官网网址� McMullen said, adding that the two planned to see all the games as soon as they heard the tournament would be coming to Halifax.
B次元官网网址淲e get to see some of the very best players that are coming up who will be drafted soon. And we get to see some players that we see all year round,B次元官网网址� McMullen said, in reference to some players with the Halifax Mooseheads B次元官网网址� of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League B次元官网网址� who are taking part in the world junior tournament.
Ahead of the tournament, some fans said their excitement was accompanied by tough conversations about Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址榮 handling of sexual assault allegations.
The national hockey governing body has been mired in controversy for months after it was revealed in May that it settled a lawsuit with a woman who alleged she had been sexually assaulted by several members of the 2018 world junior team. Then in July, Halifax Regional Police began investigating allegations that members of the 2003 team sexually assaulted a woman and filmed the attack during that yearB次元官网网址檚 tournament.
None of the allegations has been proven in court and no charges have been laid.
Hockey Canada executives in July revealed that they had paid out $8.9 million in sexual abuse settlements since 1989, excluding the 2018 deal. The organization elected a new board of directors on Dec. 17 and is still searching for a new chief executive officer. The previous board resigned and president and CEO Scott Smith was ousted as a result of the controversies.
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage has said the board and CEO resignations were overdue. In a recent interview, he said the B次元官网网址渄ramaticB次元官网网址� leadership change B次元官网网址渃leared the way for the mayor of Moncton and myself to focus on the hockey and on the benefits that come to our two cities.B次元官网网址�
The benefits of the tournament to Halifax and Moncton restaurants have been significant, says industry group Restaurants Canada.
B次元官网网址淥ne (restaurant) operator summed up what IB次元官网网址檓 hearing from both cities, that is that this feels like the height of the tourism season in August, but in January B次元官网网址� which is our slowest time of the year,B次元官网网址� Richard Alexander, Atlantic vice-president of Restaurants Canada, said in an interview. B次元官网网址淪o it has been fantastic for the industry.B次元官网网址�
Hockey Canada spokesperson Spencer Sharkey said in an email that more than 280,000 seats have been sold for this yearB次元官网网址檚 world junior championship, with an average attendance for tournament games of 8,610 in Halifax and 5,550 in Moncton.
B次元官网网址擫yndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press
