Bob Nicholson, the man most responsible for the event becoming the phenomenon it has become, is pumped in several different directions as the 2020 IIHF World Junior heads to the medal round.

As the Oilers executive who succeeded in securing the 2021 world junior for Edmonton and Red Deer, Nicholson believes hes about to oversee a phenomena equal to or perhaps surpass the most ballistic hosting of the event in history.

Thats one Bob Nicholson. But there are two others.

Theres the Bob Nicholson who is the vice president of the IIHF. And theres the Bob Nicholson, the former head of Hockey Canada who took the event from crayons to perfume.

Im just excited, he said Wednesday as he contemplated whats about to happen in Ostrava and what he expects to happen in Edmonton.

At the Czech-Canada game on New Years Eve they said the building was packed with 75 per cent Canadians and next year were going to hold it right back in Edmonton where we set records in 2012.

This is when the numbers go crazy and people get excited. Our priority lottery draw ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday and we have plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Were trending really well. And this is the period when in 2012 it exploded and were confident its going to do exactly the same. If you want to go to the games you definitely need to get into the draw to have a chance to get a ticket.

The bonus this time is Canada has a good young team and there are going to be a lot of returning players, added Nicholson of the team in Ostrava.

When Alberta last played host to the championship, more than 175,000 entries were received for the priority lottery draw.

The tournament sold out a year out in 2012 and were trending with very similar numbers again this time around. Given the entries weve already received for the 2021 priority draw, we are very much on the same pace, said Nicholson.

Percentage-wise going into this final stretch were at almost exactly the same identical position we were in 2010. Were at 97 percent.

In Ostrava, the 2020 IIHF World Junior playoff rounds begin Thursday. In Edmonton, the final countdown to a total and complete 100 per cent sellout of the 2021 World Junior shifts into overdrive at the same time.

Understand one thing, though. This is when it happens. And it hasnt happened yet.

Theyre extremely happy with being at 97 percent of where they were at this point going into 2012, especially considering that they have the Red Deer market in exchange for the Calgary market. But the thing is that approximately 60 percent of the priority draw sign-ups came within these last five days for the 2012.

What they want fans to understand right now is that entering the priority draw during the remainder of this week is their only way to secure tickets.

You should know that they used the same template with the priority draw again to make sure it was a fair system both locally, regionally, nationally and world wide.

The front of the line fans, of course, were the season ticket holders of the Oilers, Flames, Oil Kings and Hitmen in 2012. In 2021 they are the season ticket holders of the Oilers, Oil Kings and Red Deer Rebels.

That has been very comparable, said Nicholson.

Edmonton offers two ticket packages of eight games each involving five preliminary pool round games including two Canada games.

Package A features Canada games including Boxing Day and New Years Eve plus Canadas quarter-final and semifinal round if they arent eliminated early. Package B includes non-Canada quarterfinal and semifinal games but gets you the gold medal game.

The Red Deer package features three price ranges $490, $625 and $725 and features twice the number of games (either 16 or 17) including two pre-tournament games involving Canada, 10 preliminary games, two quarter-finals and either two or three relegation round games depending on whether a third and deciding game of the best of three series will be required.

Fans can register at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets until Sundays deadline of 11:59 p.m. Each priority draw winner will have the right to buy up to four tickets.

When it comes to Edmonton-Red Deer 2021, the focus will also very much be on Ostrava. The final order of finish will determine which nations will compete in Group A in Edmonton and Group B in Red Deer. The teams in Canadas group will play in Edmonton.

You get the idea. Theyre down to the real action in Ostrava 2020 AND in Edmonton for 2021.

tjones@postmedia.com

@byterryjones

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JONES: Anticipation already building for 2021 IIHF World Junior in Edmonton and Red Deer - Edmonton Sun