The world’s best hockey players are coming to Alberta.
Edmonton, Calgary and Prague, the capital of Czechia, will co-host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, the NHL announced Monday.
It will mark the tournament’s return after being dormant since 2016, when Canada won on home ice in Toronto.
The round-robin will be split between Calgary and Prague, with each city hosting seven games — six round-robin and one elimination contest. The two semifinals and final are set for Edmonton.
The games are expected to take place at Calgary’s new Scotia Place, the $1.2 billion event centre slated to open in the fall of 2027, and Edmonton’s Rogers Place. Action in Prague will be at the O2 Arena.
Calgary native Cale Makar, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak, from Czechia, took part in the announcement in a video shared by the NHL on social media.
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is scheduled to make a “sporting announcement” in Edmonton Monday afternoon alongside the federal government, OEG Sports & Entertainment, the City of Edmonton, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp., and Tourism Calgary.
The World Cup, which will feature a total of 17 games, is set to take place in February 2028.
The tournament is expected to feature eight countries, with Russia’s inclusion still up in the air.
An original group of 25 applicants bid to host the tournament.
The World Cup of Hockey has been played three times: 1996, 2004 and 2016. The U.S. won the inaugural tournament, followed by back-to-back wins for Canada.
