The United States will host its first ever IIHF World U18 Championship in Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota April 9-19, 2009. This 10-team championship will take place at the newly constructed Urban Plains Center in Fargo and the recently renovated Moorhead Sports Center in Moorhead.
The IIHF World U18 Championship annually features the world’s best players under the age of 18. Future Olympic, World and National Hockey League (NHL) stars annually compete in this event. The event features the top players in the world that will be selected in the NHL draft in June 2009. The past two first picks in the NHL draft have been American players who have participated in the IIHF World U18 Championship. Team USA has captured the gold medal at this event three times 2002, 2005 and 2006.