Like Santa swooping in a few days early, a sly wink in his eye, boots scraping a frosty shingle, snagging the biggest present in his sling on a rooftop nail and ripping the wrapping paper just enough for all of us wide-eyed kids below to peek at the shiny surprise inside. That’s exactly how the news tumbled out, rolled down the chimney, and settled into our laps with a soft whoosh.

Edmonton will be a host city of the 2027 World Junior Hockey Championship.

And oh my, didn’t it land with that unmistakable holiday thrill — the kind that warms you quicker than a rinkside hot chocolate on a minus-22 night — sweeter still because we’re sharing the whole glorious thing with Red Deer, our hockey-loving neighbour 90 minutes down that highway which, in December, magically transforms from pavement into a festive, good-natured sleigh path. Two cities, one tournament, and an entire province leaning in like it’s listening for reindeer hoofs.

Of course, for those of us watching our waistlines mere minutes after pushing back from the dining-room table after a — shall we say, plentiful? — sampling of........

© Edmonton Sun