Economic impact of FISU World University Games on North Country could be substantial

[img_assist|nid=333133|title=|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=834|height=900]Worldwide collegiate athletes have arrived in Potsdam and Canton for the FISU preliminary hockey games Jan. 11-19 at SUNY Canton, SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University ice arenas. The International University Sports Federation (FISU) Games Winter World University Games hockey playoffs will be in Lake Placid Jan. 20. Here, hockey players from the men’s Czech Republic stock up on food and supplies at the Potsdam IGA Monday morning. NCNow photo

BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – With about 500 hockey players from around the world, joined by coaches, officials and volunteers, coming to Canton and Potsdam Jan. 11-19 for the FISU World University Games, the economic impact to the area could be substantial.

But according to the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, the five major hotels in Canton and Potsdam will be busy.

“There are approximately 90 rooms booked per night in Potsdam at the two major hotels and approximately 140 rooms booked per night in Canton at the three major hotels, “said the County Chamber’s Director of Tourism Brooke Rouse. “These are direct contracts with FISU vendors.”

Rouse said it’s difficult to document at this point how many fans or others who may be coming for the games as spectators. The athletes will be housed and fed on the SUNY Potsdam campus.

“Approximately 500 athletes and coaches are staying and eating at SUNY Potsdam. “It’s likely they will venture into town on off days,” Rouse remarked.

On Monday morning, hockey players from Slovakia, Czech Republic, and South Korea did some shopping at the Potsdam IGA.

Lake Placid is serving as host of the FISU games. Because of the extensive field of hockey teams, 45 preliminary games had to be scheduled at SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena in Potsdam, and SUNY Canton’s Roos House.

[img_assist|nid=333134|title=|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=1200|height=806]Worldwide collegiate athletes have arrived in Potsdam and Canton for the FISU preliminary hockey games Jan. 11-19 at SUNY Canton, SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University ice arenas. The International University Sports Federation (FISU) Games Winter World University Games hockey playoffs will be in Lake Placid Jan. 20. Here, hockey players from the women’s Slovakia walk in downtown Potsdam Monday morning. NCNow photo

From Jan. 12 to 22, New York State will host 1,500 elite college athletes from 600 universities and 50 nations as they compete across 12 winter sports and 86 medal events. The majority of events will take place at the newly-renovated Lake Placid Olympic facilities and other ORDA venues including Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Gore, and Whiteface Mountain.

All the women’s hockey games will be played at Maxcy Hall. The men’s action will be split between Cheel Arena and the Roos House.

To purchase tickets or for more information about the FISU games, visit https://www.lakeplacid2023.com/

Here’s a look at the full schedule:

Women’s Hockey

Jan. 11: Great Britain-Czech Republic, 4:30 p.m., Slovakia-Canada, 8 p.m.

Jan. 12: United States-Japan, 1 p.m.

Jan. 13: Japan-Slovakia, 4:30 p.m., Czech Republic-United States, 8 p.m.

Jan. 14: Czech Republic-Canada, 4:30 p.m.; Slovakia-Great Britain, 8 p.m.

Jan. 15: Canada-Japan, 4:30 p.m.; United States-Great Britain, 8 p.m.

Jan. 16: United States-Slovakia, 4:30 p.m.; Japan-Czech Republic, 8 p.m.

Jan. 17: Canada-Great Britain, 4:30 p.m.; Slovakia-Czech Republic, 8 p.m.

Jan. 18: Japan-Great Britain, 4:30 p.m.; Canada-United States, 8 p.m.

Jan. 20: Semi-final 1, 2:35 p.m., 1980 Olympic Center, Lake Placid; semi-final 2, 8 p.m., 1980 Olympic Center, Lake Placid

Jan. 21: Bronze and gold medal games, 5 p.m., 1980 Olympic Center, Lake Placid (both games on one ticket)

Men’s Hockey

Jan. 11: Hungary-Slovakia, 1 p.m. at Cheel Arena; Japan-Latvia, 4:30 p.m., Roos House; Great Britain-United States, 8 p.m., Cheel Arena

Jan. 12: Sweden-Czech Republic, 9:30 a.m., Roos House; Ukraine-Canada, 1 p.m., Roos House; Korea-Kazahkstan, 1 p.m., Cheel Arena

Jan. 13: Kazahkstan-Hungary, 9:30 a.m., Cheel Arena; Canada-Sweden, 1 p.m., Roos House; Czech Republic-Japan, 4:30 p.m., Roos House; Slovakia-Great Britain, 8 p.m., Cheel Arena

Jan. 14: Latvia-Ukraine, 4:30 p.m., Roos House; United States-Korea, 8 p.m., Cheel Arena

Jan. 15: Canada-Japan, 9:30 a.m., Roos House; Czech Republic-Latvia, 1 p.m., Roos House; Slovakia-United States, 4:30 p.m., Cheel Arena; Kazakhstan-Great Britain, 8 p.m., Cheel Arena

Jan. 16: Korea-Hungary, 1 p.m., Maxcy Hall; Kazakhstan-Slovakia, 4:30 p.m., Cheel Arena; Ukraine-Sweden, 8 p.m., Roos House

Jan. 17: Hungary-Great Britain, 9:30 a.m., Maxcy Hall; Latvia-Canada, 1 p.m., Roos House; Sweden-Japan, 4:30 p.m., Roos House

Jan. 18: United States-Kazakhstan, 9:30 a.m., Cheel Arena; Slovakia-Korea, 1 p.m., Cheel Arena; Canada-Czech Republic, 4:30 p.m., Roos House; Japan-Ukraine, 8 p.m., Roos House

Jan. 19: United States-Hungary, 9:30 a.m., Cheel Arena; Great Britain-Korea, 1 p.m., Maxcy Hall; Latvia-Sweden, 4:30 p.m., Roos House; Czech Republic-Ukraine, 8 p.m., Roos House

Jan. 21: Semi-finals 1 and 2, 9:30 a.m., 1980 Olympic Center, Lake Placid (both games on one ticket)

Jan. 22: Bronze medal game, 11 a.m., 1980 Olympic Center, Lake Placid; gold medal game and closing ceremony, 1980 Olympic Center, Lake Placid

Tickets are now on sale for the hockey games and all other events. All games will stream live online at fisu.tv, with the finals being broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+.

To learn more, visit lakeplacid2023.com.