From watching the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre (CTC) to their son stepping on the same ice to represent Canada — Cole Beaudoin’s parents say the feeling is surreal.
Born and raised in Ottawa, Beaudoin is one of the 25 players wearing the maple leaf at the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship.
“We grew up just watching it [so] for him now to be part of it and be in his hometown and have all the support from the local community, it’s going to be amazing,” his father Eric Beaudoin said.
The Canadian hockey holiday tradition officially kicks off Thursday, returning to Ottawa after 15 years.
Over the next two weeks, 10 teams from around the world will be competing at the CTC and TD Place, vying for the gold medal on Jan. 5.
Parents of defenceman Oliver Bonk, Radek and Jill Bonk, say to have the World Juniors in Ottawa this year are extra special. (Francis Ferland/CBC)
Parents of another hometown star, Oliver Bonk, say of all years to have it in Ottawa, this one is extra special.
“Last year we went to Sweden and that was great, but to have it in Ottawa at home, and this is the last year that he can play for the juniors, so it’s really special,” his mother Jill Bonk said.
Both Bonk and Beaudoin grew up playing for the Kanata Blazers minor hockey team, but an age group apart.
Beaudoin, the 18-year-old forward, was recently drafted by the Utah Hockey Club 24th overall in the 2024 NHL draft, and currently plays for the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Bonk, the 19-year-old defenceman, went on to get drafted 22nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2023 NHL draft. His current team, the London Knights, were recently crowned the 2024 OHL champions.
Bonk’s mother says this tournament is just another stepping stone in his hockey journey.
“[We’re] super proud, happy [and] excited,” she said, beaming ear to ear.
His father, Radek Bonk — a former Ottawa Senators forward — says he’s looking forward to being on the opposite side of the game at the CTC.
“We always talk about this, like wouldn’t [it] be great if you one day [made the team]. You always joke about it, kind of talk about it,” he said.
“His dream … becoming a reality, you know, it’s awesome,” Radek added.
In their first match up, Canada is taking on Finland at the CTC at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Canada hosts, yet again
Bonk is one of five returning players on the current roster who competed in the 2024 World Juniors tournament in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Despite the plus 5,000 kilometres distance between Canada and Sweden, Bonk’s parents said it was Canadians who filled the stands at last year’s tournament — even at non-Canadian games.
Oliver Bonk, an Ottawa local, is playing in his second World Junior Hockey Championship this year after competing in the 2024 tournament in Sweden. (Francis Ferland/CBC)
“Canadian fans save the tournament,” Radek said.
“That was a fantastic, fantastic atmosphere — three and a half thousand fans. I think this rink [CTC] sits 18,000, so it’s gonna be crazy,” he added. “I hope the boys are ready for it.”
Dean McIntosh, Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact, says the organization has a long-term agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation where Canada hosts the tournament almost every other year.
The reason: “because Canadians are great hockey fans,” he said.
“I was in Sweden last year and there [were] thousands of Canadians in Sweden watching the game. So the World Juniors is really part of our holiday tradition in Canadian fabric,” McIntosh added.
Now back on home soil, he said Ottawa is expecting 400,000 fans to roll through the city, boosting the local economy by about $80 million.
Team Canada will be looking for redemption this tournament after last year’s disappointing, last-minute 2-1 loss to Czechia in the quarterfinals.