IIHF Mens Under 18 World Championship Returns to Frisco in 2025
USA Hockey announced, that in conjunction with the NHL’s Dallas Stars, it will host the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship in Frisco and Allen, Texas, from April 23-May 3, 2025. The 10-nation tournament, which features the best men’s players in the world under the age of 18, began in 1999 and will be played on U.S. soil for just the fourth time.
“We’re excited to host this world-class event and showcase the future stars of the NHL in greater Dallas-Fort Worth,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “We appreciate the partnership of the Dallas Stars and know that teams and fans will enjoy not only outstanding facilities, but also the renowned Texas hospitality.”
“We are proud to be able to host next year’s U18 World Championship,” said Brad Alberts, president and CEO of the Dallas Stars. “We demonstrated our ability to host a world-class event under some extremely difficult circumstances during COVID and are grateful to be able to host once again with our great Texas hockey fans in attendance.”
THE VENUES
The tournament, which consists of 29 total games, will be staged at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, and the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas.
Comerica Center will play host for Group B preliminary round play, which will include the U.S., Sweden, Czechia, Switzerland and Germany. The facility will also host two quarterfinal games, both semifinal contests, and the bronze and gold-medal games.
Group A preliminary round play, which will include Canada, Slovakia, Finland, Latvia and Norway, will be staged at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center, which will also host two quarterfinal contests.
The venues are approximately 20 minutes apart.
Additional details, including the tournament schedule as well as ticket information, will be released in the weeks ahead.
“We hosted this event in greater Dallas-Fort Worth in 2021 with some COVID restrictions in place and we look forward to returning with all of that behind us,” said Tony Driscoll, assistant executive director of marketing, events and communications for USA Hockey. “Fans will enjoy the great talent they’ll see on the ice and we look forward to sharing additional details in the coming months.”
U.S. SUCCESS
The United States has medaled in the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship in 18 of the last 19 tournaments. Team USA has 20 medals all-time, the most of any country, including a record 11 gold medals.
The biggest names in the NHL today have played in the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship, including the likes of U.S. stars Auston Matthews, Jake Oettinger, Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk to name a few … James Hagens of Team USA was named the MVP of the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship and broke Nikita Kucherov’s record for most points in a single tournament as he recorded 22 total, including nine goals and 13 assists, over the course of seven games. The U.S. finished with the silver medal. Canada will enter the 2025 tournament as defending gold medalist.
LOCATION HISTORY
The IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship has been held in the United States on three previous occasions – 2009 in Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota;2016 in Grand Forks, North Dakota;and 2021 in Frisco and Plano, Texas.
