Whether the national squads will meet in the elimination rounds of the World Junior Hockey Championship is unknown, but players from Canada and Finland will face off in town next weekend.
Finland’s popular hockey team Jokerit will return to Barrie for the first time in three years and take part in the Glenn Bellerby Memorial Tournament running Jan. 6 to 8.
Two teams, composed of boys aged 12 years old, will be accompanied by coaches and parents and will take part in the ‘AA' hockey tournament against teams from throughout the province.
Jokerit hasn’t been to Canada for the event since January 2020.
All of the games will take place at the Peggy Hill Team Community Centre, with the schedule for Jokerit as follows:
- Jan. 6 at 8:30 and 9 a.m.
- Jan. 6 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
- Jan. 7 at 8:30 and 9 a.m.
- Jan. 7 at 3:30 and 5:50 p.m.
The finals of the tournament will be held Sunday, Jan. 8.