World Juniors Hockey Pre-Tournament Games Coming To Rochester

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has announced the World Juniors pre-tournament exhibition schedule for Rochester.

The Med City earlier this year was one of four Minnesota cities tabbed to host the best 20 and under hockey players as they gear up for the 2026 World Juniors Hockey Tournament.

Earlier this year, the City of Rochester completed upgrades to the rink at the Rochester Rec Center to get ready to host the event’s Pre-Tournament series.

The project included adding a new sound system, installing new boards, glass and netting, adding dedicated areas for player benches, penalty boxes and a scorekeeping table.

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Swiss World Junior Hockey Team to Play Two Exhibition Games in Rochester

The IIHF announced that Team Switzerland will prepare for the World Juniors in Rochester. The Swiss will play in two exhibition games at the Rec Center in December.

The first game is scheduled for Dec. 21 against Denmark and the second will happen on Dec. 23 when Switzerland will take on Sweden. Puck drop for both games is set for 7 p.m.

Duluth, Bemidji and Mankato are the other Pre-Tournament Series hosts. Tickets for both exhibition games in Rochester are now on sale.

The 2025 World Juniors Hockey Tournament begins Dec. 26 and runs until Jan. 5.

Tournament games are being played at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul and at 3M Area at Mariucci on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Ten Most Disappointing Minnesota Sports Seasons

The 2021 Minnesota Twins entered the season with high expectations, but unfortunately, they've made the list of most disappointing Minnesota teams of all time.

Disappointment is a common feeling for Minnesota sports fans as the years continue. Following the NBA Championship win for Milwaukee, SportsCenter was quick to point out that Minnesota has the current longest streak of seasons without a championship appearance in the four major sports (MLB/NBA/NFL/NHL). The Minnesota Lynx also chimed in on the stat after claiming four championships since 2011.

The ten teams that are on this list all follow a similar pattern. The year prior was either a great season with a playoff run or one that featured a strong core of players that appeared to have taken the next step. Offseason/preseason expectations were high with even Las Vegas oddsmakers believing in a deep run. Unfortunately, those preseason expectations fell short for the following teams. None of the teams listed below made the playoffs.

Gallery Credit: Jerry Palleschi