Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia during a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Teams from Slovakia, Latvia and Czechia were featured in exhibition games at Bemidji's Sanford Center Dec. 19-22, 2025, ahead of the World Jr. Men's Hockey Tournament.
BEMIDJI — Hockey players from all over the world are competing in Minnesota this month, and pre-tournament games kicked off Friday, Dec. 19, in Bemidji.
The World Hockey Jr. Men’s Tournament features some of the globe’s best hockey players aged 17 to 19, and many are on the cusp of National Hockey League stardom.
“There are 10 nations that compete against each other. It's very Olympic-like: over the course of 11 days, it's a round-robin tournament,” said Kathy Ross Pavek, a public relations consultant with Minnesota Sports and Events.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Players from Team Slovakia practice for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
“If you're a hockey fan, you know that this is one of the most iconic, anticipated hockey tournaments every year.”
Ross Pavek and her team have coordinated the game schedule, which also includes Duluth, Rochester and the Twin Cities. She said the U.S. only hosts the tournament once every seven years, and it hasn’t been in Minnesota since the 1980s.
“What's also special about this year is it's the 50th anniversary of the tournament,” she said. “More than 200 Minnesotans, actually many from Grand Rapids: Trent Klatt, Jim Jetlin, Alex Goligoski, they all played in this tournament.”
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Adam Benak of Team Czechia plays in a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji. Benak has been drafted by the Minnesota Wild for this season.
Ross Pavek also noted Wayne Gretzky made his international debut at the World Junior Championship.
Three teams were on exhibition in Bemidji Dec. 19-22 leading up to the tournament: Slovakia, Czechia and Latvia.
Ross Pavek told the KAXE Morning Show that orchestrating even the exhibition games took a lot of coordination.
“These guys are playing in for teams all over the world, so that travel coordination just to get them here is gargantuan,” she said. “Then getting them acclimated, getting them into hotels, lining up all of these different venues and working with the different venue partners and city partners in all these communities.”
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Players from Team Slovakia practice for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Slovakia Head Coach Peter Fruhauf has coached hockey for the last several years. In an interview after Friday’s practice, he said he transitioned to coaching after his playing days.
Sanford Event Center hosted the games, and the teams stayed in the connecting hotel. Fruhauf said he had been staying inside instead of enjoying Bemidji’s winter weather, which is a bit fiercer than Slovakia’s.
“I stick with this building. And I love it here, I love the people taking care of us, very nice,” Fruhauf said. “And we have everything we need here. So why go outside in minus 40 degrees, right?”
Slovakia’s Tobias Bitka has been playing hockey since he was six years old. While the Sanford Center’s ice isn’t as hard as he is accustomed to, he and others on the team were skating fast during their Friday afternoon practice.
“Looking for every game, we're going to every game we've been in with mindset and hopefully we'll be successful,” Bitka said.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Hockey fans cheer during the Team Latvia and Team Czechia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Dan Wehrs of Park Rapids took in the Latvia versus Czechia exhibition as a spectator Friday night. He said his son used to play internationally for Hungary, and the Wehrs family followed him all over the globe.
“International hockey is so fun to watch," Wehrs said. “There's so much skill in the way they skate and move the puck.”
Czechia’s Mitej Kubiesa shared his thoughts after his team won Friday's game 3 to 2 in overtime.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia during a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
"It was a tough game for us, a so close game,” Kubiesa said. “We gotta play harder, we gotta be more hungry, I would say.”
His head coach, Patrik Augusta, said he was relieved the team found a way to win the game, but he says that the team has some more work to do.
"You represent your country, and you want to go to the game and win and you want to show your best,” he explained.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
The opening ceremony for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series, Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia game, on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
While far away from family this holiday season as they compete in the tournament, some of the international visitors shared a bit about traditions from home.
Kubiesa said his favorite part of the holidays are the traditional Czech foods.
“We usually eat like a potato salad and schnitzel,” Kubiesa said. “That's our tradition for Christmas. And then usually some sweet stuff.”
Mikus Vecvanags of the Latvia team says he likes getting together with family and friends, but says the gifts are a special favorite.
"Growing up, it was a hockey gear and something around hockey, but other than that, like board games and stuff that me and my whole family could play,” Vecvanags said.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
A member of the ice crew rollerskates down the hallway during a break in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
After the pre-tournament series wraps up, Slovakia will compete against Sweden in the first preliminary round at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul on Friday, Dec. 26. Czechia will play against Canada in a preliminary round Friday, then Latvia will play Canada in a round Saturday, Dec. 27.
1 of 26 — 07 Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia play in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
2 of 26 — 04 Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia play in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji. Adam Benak (#20) of Team Czechia has been drafted by the Minnesota Wild this season.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
3 of 26 — 03 Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia play in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia during a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
4 of 26 — 01 Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia play in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia during a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
5 of 26 — 06 Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia play in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia during a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
6 of 26 — 05 Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia play in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia during a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
7 of 26 — 05 Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia play in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia during a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
8 of 26 — 01 Players from Team Slovakia practice for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Slovakia practice for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
9 of 26 — Larissa Donovan interviews the coach of Team Slovakia during the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Larissa Donovan interviews Slovakia head coach Peter Fruhauf during the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
10 of 26 — The entrance of Team Latvija's locker room at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
The entrance of Team Latvia's locker room at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
11 of 26 — The entrance of Team Slovakia's locker room at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
The entrance of Team Slovakia's locker room at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
12 of 26 — 01 Hockey fans cheer during the Team Latvia and Team Czechia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Hockey fans cheer during the Team Latvia and Team Czechia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
13 of 26 — The ice crew watches the opening ceremony for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series, Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia, on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
The ice crew watches the opening ceremony for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series, Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia, on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
14 of 26 — A Grinch stocking on the First Aid door during the Team Latvia and Team Czechia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
A Grinch stocking on the First Aid door during the Team Latvia and Team Czechia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
15 of 26 — The Zamboni Team maintains the ice during the Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
The Zamboni Team maintains the ice during the Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
16 of 26 — A member of the ice crew cleans the ice during the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game between Team Czechia and Team Latvia, on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
A member of the ice crew cleans the ice during the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game between Team Czechia and Team Latvia, on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
17 of 26 — 02 The Zamboni Team maintains the ice during the Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
A member of the Zamboni Team maintains the ice during the Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
18 of 26 — Hockey fans during a break in the Team Latvia and Team Czechia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Hockey fans during a break in the Team Latvia and Team Czechia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
19 of 26 — The ice crew cleans the ice during the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game of Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia, on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
The ice crew cleans the ice during the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
20 of 26 — A young hockey fan waves flags during the Team Latvia and Team Czechia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
A young hockey fan waves flags during the Team Latvia and Team Czechia game at the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
21 of 26 — 02 Players from Team Slovakia practice for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Slovakia practice for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
22 of 26 — Adam Benak of Team Czechia plays in a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Adam Benak of Team Czechia plays in a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji. Benak has been drafted by the Minnesota Wild for this season.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
23 of 26 — 02 Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia play in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Latvia and Team Czechia during a World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
24 of 26 — 03 Players from Team Slovakia practice for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
Players from Team Slovakia practice for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
25 of 26 — The opening ceremony for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series, Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia, on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
The opening ceremony for the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series, Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia, on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
26 of 26 — A member of the ice crew rollerskates down the hallway during a break in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025 at The Sanford Center in Bemidji.jpg
A member of the ice crew rollerskates down the hallway during a break in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series game on Dec. 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
The KAXE News Team is breaking down your property tax statement, line by line. Next, credits, local government's preliminary tax levies and how others' value changes affect your taxes.
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Plus U.S. senators check in on status of postal delivery in the Minnesota-North Dakota district after recent woes; and a new coalition looks to reset the green building conversation.
Larissa Donovan has been in the Bemidji area's local news scene since 2016, joining the KAXE newsroom in 2023 after several years as the News Director for the stations of Paul Bunyan Broadcasting.
Lorie Shaull has dedicated countless hours behind the scenes to bringing the stories of our news, KAXE Morning Show and music departments to life with her beautiful and compelling images.
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Hockey teams from Slovakia, Czechia and Latvia competed in exhibition games at Bemidji's Sanford Event Center Dec. 19-22, 2025.
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe agency did not issue a determination on permits at U.S. Steel’s Keetac mine, which is expected in February 2026 ahead of the Legislature convening.
Contributed/Michelle Griffith / Minnesota ReformerOfficials cast doubt on a federal prosecutor’s estimate that fraud in state-run Medicaid programs since 2018 could total over $9 billion.
Contributed/Michelle Griffith / Minnesota ReformerProviders in 14 “high-risk,” state-run Medicaid programs being audited by the state have billed $18 billion since 2018, and “half or more” is possibly fraudulent, Joe Thompson said.
Contributed/Jerry Burnes / Iron Range TodayCity cuts increase from nearly 30% as it weighs cutting public works position and awaits a potential $191,000 land sale.
Contributed/Adobe Stock via Minnesota News ConnectionHigh‑performance and low‑emissions are key goals laid out by the recently launched Minnesota Efficient Builders Coalition.
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe agreement with the Minnesota Nurses Association was reached after 10 bargaining sessions beginning in July 2025.
