The best young men's hockey players in the world are descending on the State of Hockey over the next three weeks.

Why it matters: For the first time since 1982, the Twin Cities is hosting the World Junior Championships, which routinely draws thousands of hockey fans and visitors from the 10 countries playing.

What they're saying: "It is truly the greatest tournament outside of the Olympics in all of hockey," University of Minnesota men's hockey coach Bob Motzko told reporters in April, after he was announced as Team USA's coach.

The big picture: Imagine if someone combined the Frozen Four's collegiate-level players, the Minnesota state high school hockey tournament's spectacle, and the Olympics' international glory — that's World Juniors.

• National teams are stocked with their country's best talents under 20 years old (and not already playing in the NHL).

By the numbers: Tournament organizers estimate the event will fill 8,000 hotel rooms and have a $75 million economic impact, KARE11 reported.

• Minnesota tourism officials hope the event will reopen a pipeline of Canadian visitors, who have decreased travel to the U.S. amid tensions with the Trump administration.

Fun fact: Gathering around broadcasts of the World Juniors' opening round on Dec. 26 is an annual holiday tradition in Canada — "as enduring as eggnog," as the Canadian Press put it.

• "Nothing quite like gathering around the television with family on Boxing Day, cocktail in hand, and watching Canada kick the crap out of whoever happens to draw the short straw," as Canadian newspaper scribe Dan McNee wrote.

The intrigue: The event's U.S. audience is also growing. The ascendant American team has won three of the past five World Junior tournaments, lifted by a talented crop of now-NHLers — like former Golden Gopher Jimmy Snuggerud and current Wild star Matt Boldy.

• Nearly one-third of Team USA's preliminary roster this year is stocked with Minnesotans.

What's happening: Pre-tournament tuneup games are already underway and continue this weekend in Rochester, Mankato, Bemidji and Duluth.

What to expect: Group play begins Dec. 26 at St. Paul's Grand Casino Arena and the U's 3M Arena at Mariucci.

• The gold medal game is on Jan. 5.

What we're watching: If the U.S. and Canadian teams play each other, it will be in an elimination-round showdown. The teams won't meet in group play.

If you go: Single-game tickets start at $32.

Tell a hockey fan

Minneapolis will fund a promising anti-homelessness program for the next three years — if Mayor Jacob Frey keeps a pledge that helped cinch a budget deal with the City Council this week.

Why it matters: The deal between Frey and the council avoids employee layoffs that Frey had opposed and a mayoral veto that might've jeopardized some of the council's priorities.

A major sticking point was how to fund a $1 million-per-year emergency housing voucher program that could shelter as many as 100 families or individuals.

What happened: After Frey objected to permanently reducing police funding to pay for the vouchers, council members agreed to instead use one-time funding instead.

• Frey in turn signed a letter promising to maintain the program for three years — though funding beyond the first year is not guaranteed.

The other side: Council member Robin Wonsley railed against the deal, blasting her usual allies for setting up a "fiscal cliff" in three years that risks putting voucher recipients back on the streets.

What we're watching: Whether this deal is a sign of a thaw between Frey and the council, which his critics will still control after new members take office next year.

Keep reading

🧢 Tom Pohlad will replace his younger brother Joe as the controlling owner of the Minnesota Twins. (ESPN)

• The franchise also publicly unveiled three new minority owners — one of whom is Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold.

📊 Fewer than half of the Minnesotans polled by KSTP/SurveyUSA approved of either President Trump or Gov. Tim Walz's job performance. (KSTP)

Outgoing Minneapolis City Council Member Emily Koski publicly disclosed a man with a history of mental illness had been harassing and stalking her for the past two years. (Star Tribune)

• Several Minneapolis politicians — including Koski's successor, Jamison Whiting — reported similar problems with the same 58-year-old man.

🗂️ Department of Homeland Security officials say they have "zero record" of ICE agents pulling over Rep. Ilhan Omar's son, as Omar claimed earlier this week. (Fox9)

🏛️ A federal judge freed a couple accused of kidnapping a Homeland Security Investigations agent while they await trial after their attorneys sharply disputed the government's account of the chaotic incident. (MPR News)

• Oluwadamilola Bamigboye — who may still face immigration detention — and Rekeya Frazier both pleaded not guilty.

Rising energy prices during the holidays have Americans second-guessing if they should scale back on their holiday light displays.

By the numbers: The average Minnesotan's electric bill went up nearly 22% between November and December 2024, according to a study from Payless Power — and their usage jumped 29%.

What they're saying: Kristina Zagame of EnergySage advises using LED lights, which cut energy use by about 70% compared to incandescent bulbs.

• Most home displays using LED lights cost under $20 a month.

Yes, but: Electricity bills can jump well over $100 a month if homes use incandescent lights and/or larger displays like inflatables, Zagame said.

How to run your blow-up Santa display all night … guilt-free

Speaking of holiday lights, whaddya suppose the electric bill is for this elaborate Lakeville display?

• It's a 50,000-light setup, according to Mike Marcotte's Holiday Lights Guide.

Plus: Not only is it synced to music, but this system even takes song requests.

📍 Drop by at 17954 Hydra Court.

How to find more displays