New Brunswick to Host the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship

This post is sponsored by Destination New Brunswick but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

There might be no better destination than New Brunswick to host the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship. The province is the home of more than 50 NHL players, and with incredible winter weather and facilities ideal for this type of event, this is shaping up to be an experience that shouldn’t be missed.

The 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship will be held from December 26, 2022 until January 5, 2023 at the 8,800-seat Avenir Centre in Moncton, a city which has previously been the site of major concerts featuring bands like The Eagles, The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen among others. Music isn’t the only type of event that “the Hub City” is known for, however. This city has also been home to other championship tournaments in hockey, curling, track and field, and soccer.

“Moncton is New Brunswick’s biggest city with a population of 150,000 and for a small place it offers plenty in terms of hotels, restaurants, shopping and entertainment,” said Neil Hodge, Travel Media Representative for Tourism New Brunswick.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that New Brunswick would be asked to host this winter activity. Hockey is a part of life in this Maritime province, and as well as being the location of the World Pond Hockey Championship, New Brunswick has a hockey legacy that includes former World Junior champions such as Everett Sanipass, Scott Pellerin, Luc Bourdon, Patrice Cormier, Jake Allen, Sean Couturier, Philippe Myers, and Lukas Cormier. It’s also home to Stacy Wilson, a Canadian Olympic silver medalist and four-time world champion.

There are 10 countries in the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship. Team USA, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Latvia are in one division that plays its games in Moncton. Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Germany and Austria are in the other division that plays its games in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

New Brunswick is Canada’s only officially bilingual province (English and French), it’s 85 per cent forested and it’s a unique destination in many ways. Some things the province is known for are the Bay of Fundy with the highest tides in the world, the warmest saltwater beaches in Canada and warmest north of the Carolinas, lobster and all seafood, and huge untouched wilderness.

For fans looking for things to do outside the event, Moncton provides plenty to see and do for the entire family. The city plans on bringing out all of the stops for those who plan to enjoy the winter weather in the region.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to give new and returning visitors a taste of what New Brunswick is all about with our abundance of tourism activities. When fans aren’t in the stadium cheering on their team, we invite them to have fun exploring Moncton and other parts of our province,” states Katie Kohler, Assistant Director of Destination Marketing for Tourism New Brunswick.

For some suggestions on things to do, Tourism New Brunswick recommends these attractions:

Magnetic Hill Winery: With views of the city of Moncton, this spot serves select wines and cheese in a restored farmhouse built in 1867.
Marché Moncton Market: Make sure to visit this delightful market open on Saturdays where you can purchase fresh produce and farm products to take home with you.
Tidal Bore: New Brunswick is home to the highest tides in the world and one great place to experience this is the Petitcodiac River in downtown Moncton. There are two tide changes every day in the Bay of Fundy. The amount of water that flows into the bay for one tide change is enough to fill the Grand Canyon twice.
Fundy National Park and Kouchibouguac National Park: These stunning national parks can be enjoyed all year round and visitors can camp, snowshoe, and cross country ski through this winter wonderland.
Downtown Moncton: The city has many great restaurants and some cool craft breweries. Tire Shack Brewing Company, located in a former auto garage, was named Canada’s Brewery of the Year in 2022.

Tourism New Brunswick will have a strong presence inside and outside the Avenir Centre in Moncton during the hockey tournament. Visitors are invited to speak with staff about the province and learn about many other things to see and do in the area.

New Brunswick is the ideal destination for outdoor activities, and while you won’t want to miss the World Junior Hockey Championship, there’s plenty to do outside of the arena, as well. Snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and ice skating are among some of the other recreational activities the province offers.

“Moncton is a city that punches outside its weight class and it has hosted many big events in the world of sports and entertainment,” Hodge mentions.

No matter how fans choose to spend their time, they will have a memorable start to the new year in and around Moncton as they explore the nearby natural wonders, delicious dining opportunities, and hospitality of the region.

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