TORONTO, Ont. – Experience all the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship has to offer – from cheering Team Canada on as it begins its quest for a gold medal on home ice, to the interactive fun at McDonald’s atoMc Seriously Fun Fan Zone – when the tournament opens on Boxing Day at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

The Fan Zone, located in the Air Canada Centre Galleria outside Gate 1 is FREE, interactive, and offers all hockey fans, young and old, the chance to test their hockey skills, win team prizes, and meet Team Canada alumni. Meet 2004 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and Team Canada alumnus, Paul Coffey who will be signing autographs on Dec. 26 from 6:30 p.m.-7:45 p.m.

Fans are welcome to visit the Fan Zone between Dec. 26 and 31:

• Monday, Dec. 26: 12:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Dec. 27: 12:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, Dec. 28: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

• Thursday, Dec. 29: 12:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Friday, Dec. 30: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

• Saturday, Dec. 31: 12:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Pick up a free coffee at the McCafe Truck outside the Air Canada Centre before heading indoors for your chance to win prizes at the McDonald’s atoMc shootout set-up. Activities and booths by Hockey Canada partners TELUS, RBC, Chevrolet, and Esso also offer fun and activities for the whole family.

“Over the past 50 years, McDonald’s has built relationships with Canadians in communities across the country. Demonstrated by McDonald’s atoMc Hockey and Équipe McDo programs, we attempt to keep hockey as fun as possible for thousands of players and families in communities across the country. By sponsoring the Fan Zone at the IIHF World Junior Championship this year, we hope to do the same with thousands of fans coming to watch from around the world,” said Wai-Yee Tsai, national marketing supervisor, McDonald’s.

“The IIHF World Junior Championship is an intense and serious environment for the players playing in the tournament. For the fans, we want to provide a completely different environment at the McDonald’s Fan Zone. We hope fans can come to the game early, experience all the ‘seriously fun’ games the Fan Zone has to offer, and then head to their seats to watch the best young hockey talent in the world.”

GO Transit and UP Express make transportation a breeze for hockey fans

Metrolinx wants to make it easy for fans to experience the World Juniors – Canada’s holiday tradition – with hassle-free service to the Air Canada Centre, and direct access to and from Toronto Pearson on the UP Express for fans who are following their teams as they make their way between the two host cities.

Team Canada’s traditional New Year’s Eve game against the U.S. is sold out, but great seats are still available for 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship games in Toronto and Montreal by visiting HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team and the 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.