one year capping that saw Hockey Canada embroiled in controversy over its handling of sexual assault allegations World Junior Hockey Championship In Halifax and Moncton, NB, last month opened under a cloud.
But as it kicks off with Canada’s final against Czechia on Thursday night, fans and businesses in both cities say the tournament has been a resounding success, with packed stands, thrilling on-ice performances and an influx of spectators. .
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Fans interviewed ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final between Sweden and Czechia said the tournament has been a blast.
Teanah McMullen, 19, and Nicole Patterson, 21, have competed in every tournament and pre-tournament game in Halifax. They have tickets to Thursday’s bronze medal match between the United States and Sweden and the gold medal final. Canada defeated the United States in their semi-final on Wednesday night.
“It’s been amazing,” McMullen said. “We see everything. It has been an experience beyond what I could have imagined.”
Patterson said the potential of hockey and the energy of the crowd is unbelievable.
“You don’t see any empty seats even when Canada doesn’t play,” he said.
Gordie Plaganz from St. John’s, NB traveled to Halifax for the week to attend the games. He said it has been especially exciting to see Team Canada superstar Connor Beddard in action and that “the atmosphere here in downtown Halifax is crazy.”
When asked how Hockey Canada’s year of scandal had affected the tournament, Plaganz said, “You can’t paint people with the same brush. We’re just here to enjoy the junior hockey that we have.” And now it is.
McMullen and Patterson said they were thrilled when they learned that Halifax would co-host the annual tournament.
McMullen said, “Hockey is what we love and it belongs in our city.”
“We get to see some great players that will be drafted soon. And we get to see some of the players that we see throughout the year,” McMullen said of some of the players with the Halifax Mooseheads _ of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Said in context – who are participating in the World Junior Tournament.
Prior to the tournament, some fans said their enthusiasm was at odds with tough conversations about Hockey Canada’s handling of the sexual assault allegations.
The national hockey governing body has been mired in controversy for months after it was revealed in May that it settled a lawsuit with a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by several members of the 2018 World Junior team. Then in July, the Halifax Regional Police launched an investigation into allegations that members of the 2003 team sexually assaulted a woman and filmed the assault during that year’s tournament.
None of the allegations have been proven in court and no charges have been laid.
In July, Hockey Canada officials revealed they had paid $8.9 million in sexual abuse cases since 1989, excluding the 2018 deal. The organization elected a new board of directors on 17 December and is still searching for a new chief executive officer. The previous board resigned and the disputes resulted in the ouster of chairman and CEO Scott Smith.
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Halifax Mayor Mike Savage has said that the resignations of the board and CEO were overdue. In a recent interview, he said the “dramatic” leadership change “cleared the way for the mayor of Moncton and me to focus on hockey and the benefits it brings to our two cities.”
Industry group Restaurants Canada says the benefits of the tournament have been significant for Halifax and Moncton restaurants.
“One (restaurant) operator summarized what I’m hearing from both cities, which is that it feels like the height of tourist season in August, but in January _ which is our slowest time of year,” Richard Alexander, vice president of Atlantic Restaurants Canada said in an interview. “So it’s been fantastic for the industry.”
Hockey Canada spokesman Spencer Sharkey said in an email that more than 280,000 seats have been sold for this year’s World Junior Championships, with tournament games averaging 8,610 in Halifax and 5,550 in Moncton.
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