WJC To Be Held In Canada Every Year?

According to The Hockey News, the powers that be are discussing holding the WJC in Canada every year.

There is a movement afoot to have the World Junior Championship in Canada permanently and you might be surprised by who is in favor and who is against it happening.

On the side in favor is International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel, who reasons that Canadian crowds generate enormous revenues and make it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. On the other side is Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson, who is clearly wary of killing a golden goose by giving Canada too much of a good thing.

“I think there is a good chance (of moving the WJC to Canada permanently),” Fasel said. “Bob is not an easy guy to negotiate with, but if he wants to have the tournament here every year then we have to find a way to make it work for the other federations.”

It is pure and simple all about money. Canada can fill 20,000 seat stadiums, bringing Rene Fasal and the IIHF a boatload of money. In fact, between 2002 and 2012, 7 of 10 WJCs will have been held in Canada or barely across the border in the United States where the majority of fans in attendance are border hopping Canucks.

Speaking of international hockey greed, the same THN article comments on the diminishing likelihood that Team Canada will be allowed to use their famous jerseys at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

As for the unending saga of Hockey Canada being able to use its logo during the Olympics, Fasel is a member of the International Olympic Committee and Nicholson made him aware Canada wants to wear its own logo, despite the fact the Canadian Olympic Association has refused to back Hockey Canada with the IOC.

Sources have maintained that not being able to use the logo on the sweaters would cost Hockey Canada between $10 million and $20 million because Hockey Canada receives all of the profits from sweaters that are sold. But there’s nothing to suggest people won’t buy sweaters just because the Hockey Canada logo isn’t on it.

Fasel essentially said Hockey Canada almost certainly won’t get its way and should move on. Nicholson suggested Hockey Canada might go ahead and wear its sweater anyway and take a $1 million fine. But Nicholson said he doesn’t know if the Canadians would be fined $1 million for each game it wears the sweater or a total of $1 million for wearing it during each game in the tournament.

The IOC and Vancouver Olympic Committee want a piece of Team Canada's money. Come to think of it, they want all of their money.

I guaran-damn-tee Team Canada's mens and womens teams will wear their famous jersey should they make it to the gold medal game. A million dollar fine is worth it.

Special thanks to Paul Kukla for first noticing The Hockey News' piece.