Duluth, Minnesota, to Host Premier Tournament for NHL Draft Candidates

The United States is the newly minted capital of the hockey world, and next spring one of the sport’s premier global events will return.

Duluth, Minnesota, will host USA Hockey’s 2027 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship from April 21 to May 2, the 10-team event that showcases many of the world’s top NHL draft-eligible players.

All 29 games will be held at AMSOIL Arena, home of the hockey team at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center will be the practice facility.

“We are thrilled to bring the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship to the State of Hockey,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy high-level hockey and watch the next generation of NHL stars as they compete for a gold medal.”

Among the NHL players who took part in this event before becoming professionals are several of the stars from Team USA’s gold-medal winning team at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games: Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights; Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs; Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils and his brother Quinn of the Minnesota Wild; and Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators and his brother Matthew of the Florida Panthers.

 This will be the fifth time the event has been hosted in the United States, having been held in 2009 in Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorehead, Minnesota; in 2016 in Grand Forks, North Dakota; 2021 in Frisco and Plano, Texas; and 2024 in Frisco and Allen, Texas.

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, hosted the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, which took place in the run up to the Olympics and was won by Sweden after the U.S. had won the previous two editions.

“After the incredible success of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, we are honored to partner once again with USA Hockey and the IIHF to bring another premier international hockey event to Minnesota,” said Wendy Blackshaw, president and CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events. “Duluth is a hockey-rich community, and AMSOIL Arena will provide an electric atmosphere for showcasing the next generation of international hockey talent. Once again, a global spotlight will shine on Minnesota’s deep hockey culture and our ability to deliver world-class events and unforgettable experiences for athletes and fans.”

“The IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship marks one of the first opportunities for many of the world’s top players to compete internationally while representing their country,” said Bill Guerin, president of hockey operations and general manager of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and Team USA during the Olympics. “It not only delivers high-level hockey but also serves as a premier stage for fans and NHL front offices to see these players ahead of the NHL Draft.”
NHL Central Scouting will conduct on- and off-ice testing in Duluth for participating players before the event.

“We can’t wait to welcome players, families and fans from around the world to Duluth,” said Haley Hedstrom, president and CEO of Visit Duluth. “Hockey is woven into the fabric of this community, and there is no better place to showcase the passion, energy and atmosphere that make Minnesota the State of Hockey.”

Schedule and ticket information will be announced at a later date.