'They're not thinking about hockey': Little appetite for first-ever summer world juniors tournament
The shadow of scandal hangs over the World Junior Championships set to start in Edmonton next week.
Last year's competition shared between Red Deer and Edmonton was shut down mid-event, with the players returning home after three games were forfeited in two days because of COVID-19 cases among players.
Despite the tournament starting Aug. 9 and being played at Rogers Place exclusively, United Cycle told CTV News Edmonton it still has plenty of merchandise on its shelves.
"I know as a kid growing up here. It's Dec. 26; it's Boxing Day. That's the kick-off to the World Juniors," said Kelly Hodgson, United Cycle operations manager.
Ticketmaster shows hundreds of tickets still available for several matches.
"There's a lot of things working against the tournament right now, whereas usually it's sold out and very successful financially," said Dan Mason, University of Alberta sports marketing professor.
"The World Juniors are a cultural institution at Christmas time," Mason added. "They've kind of evolved over the past 30 years or so to become this thing that people get into over the holiday break with their families."
"The fact that it's being held in the summer, I think, is the most critical issue that they're facing right now because people have their plans for summer, and they're not thinking about hockey."
The other major factor is the sexual assault allegations plaguing Hockey Canada. The national organization had its funding from the federal government, and corporate sponsors paused following sexual assault allegations involving eight members of the 2018 men's junior hockey team.
Those allegations came to light after it was reported that Hockey Canada paid out an undisclosed settlement to the complainant — who was seeking $3.55 million — after she sued the organization, the Canadian Hockey League, and the eight unnamed players.
Additionally, Hockey Canada confirmed it maintained a fund drawing on minor hockey membership fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including misconduct claims. The national hockey organization says it will no longer use that fund to pay for claims over sexual assault allegations.
Locally, Explore Edmonton says it has "paused" promoting this year's championship event, despite the city playing host to the tournament.
"We continue to have discussions with Hockey Canada officials about their plans to address the need for change," said Traci Bednard, Explore Edmonton CEO, in a statement.
The organization still plans to perform an economic impact study after the tournament ends.
Typically, world junior events hosted in Canada were seen as a surefire investment by Hockey Canada and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Mason said.
With an independent review of Hockey Canada's governance looming, Mason says ticket sales may be impacted.
"Obviously, there's going to be an impact on people who are disgruntled or affected by the issues facing Hockey Canada," he said. "We know that Hockey Canada is trying to address the issues from a systemic point of view and a case point of view, but obviously, we don't know if there's more things we could learn moving forward."
Still, there are some fans eager to watch the best junior hockey players in the world play in person.
"This is a hockey town," Hodgson added. "I know that when something hockey-related, especially something of this magnitude, happens here in our marketplace, I expect the interest to grow."
Action beings next Tuesday at noon, with Czechia and Slovakia opening Group A play. The United States and Germany open Group B later that evening at 8 p.m.
Canada's first puck drop will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday against Latvia.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.