Buffalo to host historic 2018 IIHF World Junior Championships

The Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo will play host to the first-ever outdoor match at an IIHF World Junior Championships in 2018 ©Getty Images

Buffalo has been chosen as the venue for the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championships, which will feature an outdoor match for the first time.

The event will be staged at the First Niagara Center in the American city and preliminary dates for the tournament have been set at December 26, 2017 to January 5.

It is thought the preferred match-up for the historic outdoor contest is hosts the United States against current champions Canada, which will be held at the Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of NFL American football franchise the Buffalo Bills.

The preliminary dates for the outdoor match is either December 27 or 29, and if the two hockey giants are not drawn together, organisers look likely to change the schedule in order to make it happen.

It will be the second time a match has been held outdoors after 77,803 fans, a world record attendance at the time, turned out to watch the opening game of the 2010 IIHF World Championships in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

“The IIHF allows some flexibility if the results of the 2017 tournament are such that we’re not in the same pool so that a country can be moved," USA Hockey executive Dave Ogden said.

"So those early discussions on a ‘what if’ basis have happened.

“We think the US-Canada rivalry is the best in the game and that’s obviously what we’re designing this for.”

Defending champions Canada could take part in the first-ever IIHF World Junior Championships match to be played outdoors in 2018 ©Getty Images

Finland won the 2014 edition of the IIHF World Junior Championships in Malmö, beating Sweden in the final, while Russia ousted Canada for bronze.

Buffalo, in New York, last hosted the tournament in 2011, with matches also taking place at the 18,690-seat First Niagara Center.

“It is a pleasure to have the IIHF World Junior Championship return to Buffalo,” IIHF President René Fasel, also a member of the International Olympic Committee Executive Board, said.

“The last tournament held here in 2011 generated a huge following and we are even more excited about the Organising Committee’s plans to hold an outdoor game as part of the tournament.

“This will be the first time ever that we’ve had such a game as part of the World Juniors, and an outdoor ice hockey game at Ralph Wilson Stadium will without a doubt be a memorable occasion.”