The events began in Moncton before the World Junior Men’s Hockey Championship.
A rally of encouragement was organized late Monday afternoon on the esplanade outside the Center Avenir, coinciding with the official announcement of the composition of Team Canada and the presentation of the members of the team. .
“This will probably be the only opportunity for fans to get this close to the team,” said Bill Whalen, Co-Chair of the Team Moncton Organizing Committee.
About 30 minor hockey teams are expected to be among those at the pep rally, he said.
Minor hockey and ringette players and thousands of students from local schools were also on hand for the final Team Canada selection camp and a few exhibition games against an Atlantic University Sport all-star team these last days at the Center Avenir.
Team Canada has no games in Moncton during the tournament itself, which is co-hosted by Halifax, but there are two other exhibition games in the city, Dec. 19 and 21, against Switzerland and Slovakia.
The excitement seems to be building, said Whalen, who described the preparations as “fast and furious”.
Normally, a host city has two years to plan for this tournament, but in this case, Moncton only had 3.5 months after the International Ice Hockey Federation canceled plans to hold it in Russia.
“A huge coordination”
A strong team of volunteers committed to the effort, he said.
Whalen circled the tournament cup in the area for his promotion.
“My life has been like the song. I’ve been everywhere, man.”
About 500 people took pictures with the mug at The Moncton Hospital last week, he said.
“I think it’s something really special,” said Shane Porter, venues manager with the City of Moncton’s Recreation, Culture and Events Department.
“It’s not too often you get to house the world like that,” he said.
Co-hosting with Halifax required “an enormous amount of coordination,” Porter said.
But “everyone has rallied together to make this happen,” he said, and “so far it’s been going very, very well.”
The organizing committee is working in coordination with volunteers, Hockey Canada, the city’s public works and enforcement departments, and the RCMP, “to make sure we make downtown safe and comfortable.”
Much more crowds than usual can be expected in the city center during this Christmas season, Porter said.
He hopes this will be good news for hotels and restaurants, but it also requires special planning.
The tournament is “the mainstay of Canada,” he said, “but it takes place during the holidays. So we have to make sure we have people on duty.
The puck drops for the first official game of the tournament at noon on Boxing Day.
All week, games in Moncton and Halifax will be shown on large screens on the plaza outside the Avenir Center for anyone who can’t be on the rink.
A “spectacular” event is planned for New Year’s Eve, Whalen said.
There will be skating on the Ian Fowler Oval and live music throughout the day.
Moncton’s “big pool game” will be USA vs. Finland at 5:00 pm on December 31st. Next, Canada will face Sweden at 7:30 p.m. in Halifax.
Immediately following this big-screen match, the Mellotones will take to a stage on Main Street, which will be closed to traffic.
A countdown is scheduled for midnight followed by fireworks from the riverside which should be visible throughout the city center.
Whalen hopes this will be the model for a new tradition in the city.
“Gamer. Introvert. Problem solver. Creator. Thinker. Lifelong food evangelist. Alcohol advocate.”