The Coyotes "are vying to bring not one but two major hockey tournaments to Gila River Arena," pursuing both the IIHF World Junior Championship and the NCAA Frozen Four, according to Sarah McLellan of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Coyotes President & CEO Anthony LeBlanc on Thursday said that the team "has expressed its interest in hosting" the '18 World Junior Championship and is also "forging a partnership with Arizona State's hockey program to work toward a joint application to house a future NCAA Frozen Four." The Coyotes "plan to submit a formal bid" for the '18 World Juniors "in the next few months, and LeBlanc anticipates a short list of finalists could emerge by the end of the year, although that isn't a given." LeBlanc said that other suitors "include Detroit, Buffalo and two locations in Florida" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/6). USA TODAY's Kevin Allen reports Red Wings execs "were in Colorado Springs Thursday to talk with USA Hockey officials about the possibility of Detroit serving as the site" for the '18 World Junior tournament. The Red Wings' new downtown arena "is scheduled to be completed by then." The Lightning, Panthers, Penguins, Coyotes and others are also "believed to be interested" (USA TODAY, 2/6).
