Calgary to host the 2024 World Championships A-Pool

The 2024 World Para Ice Hockey Championships A-Pool will head to Calgary, Canada for the first time it has been announced, as Hockey Canada’s headquarters play host to the biggest event on the sport’s calendar this year.

The event will take place from 4-12 May at WinSport Arenas and will feature the top eight teams in the world: USA, Canada, Czechia, China, South Korea, Italy, Japan and Slovakia. The tournament will be played in a round-robin format with the teams split into two groups, followed by the playoff round, culminating with the gold-medal game on 12 May.

“World Para Ice Hockey is thrilled to partner with Hockey Canada to bring the World Championships A-Pool to a city that has such a rich hockey and winter sport history,” said Michelle Laflamme, World Para Ice Hockey Manager. “This tournament will provide a showcase of the best players the sport has to offer to hockey fans watching both in Calgary and around the world.”

This will mark the second consecutive and overall time the country has hosted the World Championships A-Pool. The last edition of the event was held in 2023 in Moose Jaw, Canada, where the USA continued its Para ice hockey dominance, becoming the first team to win three consecutive titles. Canada claimed silver, and Czechia took bronze with its first podium finish at the event.

“Hosting the World Para Ice Hockey Championship in Alberta for the first time will be a significant moment for our organisation and Para ice hockey in Canada,” said Dean McIntosh, Hockey Canada Senior Vice President of Revenue, Fan Experience and Community Impact. “We cannot wait to welcome each of the competing nations to Calgary this spring, and to drop the puck on what will be an incredible tournament at one of the top facilities in the country.”

Calgary 2024 will see three Asian teams competing in the A-Pool for the first time, as Beijing 2022 Paralympic bronze medallists China and PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic bronze medallists Korea will be joined by undefeated B-Pool world champions Japan.

In operation since 2011, WinSport Arenas houses four ice rinks inside Canada Olympic Park, a year-round sport and recreation hub for Calgary residents. The city of Calgary played host to the 1988 Olympics, and serves as home to both Hockey Canada’s central office and the NHL’s Calgary Flames.

The World Championships A-Pool competition schedule, ticket information, and broadcast information will be announced in the coming weeks.