Ep. 125: The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship Comes to Minnesota!

Today on So Much More, we’re celebrating one of the biggest global sports moments headed straight for Minnesota: the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship! This high-octane tournament brings together the world’s best U20 hockey players for an electrifying, fast-paced competition that fans across the globe circle on their calendars.   We’re thrilled to welcome two of the powerhouse leaders behind bringing this international event to the Twin Cities: Wendy Blackshaw, President & CEO of Minnesota Sports & Events, and Jaimee Lucke Hendrikson, President and CEO of Visit Saint Paul.   We explore everything from the fan experience to community impact, from the behind-the-scenes planning to what international visitors can expect when they experience Minneapolis–Saint Paul in the winter. Whether you’re a lifelong hockey fan or new to World Juniors, this episode is packed with insight, energy, and hometown pride.   1:00       Why the World Juniors is coming to Minnesota – The State of Hockey 4:00       The history of World Juniors and the connection to Minnesota 5:15       The lessons Minnesota learned from Sweden and Canada as host countries 8:30       Preparing to welcome international amateur hockey players + fans 9:15       World Juniors HQ store is open at Mall of America 10:00    Bold North Breakaway and Fan Fest in St. Paul; and more family fun 12:45    Exhibition Series brings the World Juniors to cities across Minnesota 14:30    Community initiatives (Assist 26) are critical to the mission of MN Sports + Events 15:50    Volunteers help make large-scale events like this happen 20:00    How to find tickets, volunteer and enjoy the festivities 22:00    A trivia contest about World Junior Championships   For more Info: www.mnsportsandevents.org or www.worldjuniorsmn26.com   Guests: Wendy Blackshaw, President & CEO of Minnesota Sports & Events, and Jaimee Lucke Hendrikson, President and CEO of Visit Saint Paul   Your hosts: Jill Renslow   Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.