Canada is set to host the World Para Ice Hockey Championship for the first time this year ©Getty Images

The Canadian city Moose Jaw has been announced as host of the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championship.

The tournament is set to be the first major international Para ice hockey event in the country since the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver.

Home fans can look forward to the exciting prospect of a repeat of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics gold medal game in the group stage, with both Canada and the defending champions the United States drawn in Pool A.

In the gold medal match in Beijing the US ran out 5-0 winners, while the US also beat Canada 5-1 when they won the previous edition of the Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic in 2021.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from May 28 to June 4, with Canada and the US joined in Pool A by the Czech Republic and South Korea.

Pool B is comprised of China, Germany, Italy and Norway.

The top two teams in Pool A will advance straight to the semi-finals, with the bottom two teams moving on to the quarter-finals, where they will face the top two sides in Pool B.

Reigning Paralympic and world Para ice hockey champions the United States will be the team to beat in Moose Jaw at the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championship ©Getty Images
Reigning Paralympic and world Para ice hockey champions the United States will be the team to beat in Moose Jaw at the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championship ©Getty Images

All matches are due to be held at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, with the tournament set to be Canada’s first ever hosting of a World Para Ice Hockey Championship.

Tickets are set to go on sale on Wednesday (March 29) with prices starting from $15 (£12/€13).

"World Para Ice Hockey is excited to bring the World Championship to Canada for the first time, a nation that has had tremendous success in the sport, winning medals and helping grow the game," said Michelle Laflamme, manager of World Para Ice Hockey.

"This will be an opportunity for those in Canada and around the world to tune in and see the best our sport has to offer, with fierce competition and compelling storylines as we begin the next Paralympic cycle."

Mayor of Moose Jaw Clive Tolley added: "The City of Moose Jaw is very excited to welcome the world to our beautiful city and world-class facility this May as we host the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championship.

"This is a first for Canada, Saskatchewan and Moose Jaw, and the positive social, economic and community impacts will be incredible.

"Hosting an international championship of this calibre is something very special and we are so proud to be selected as the first city in Canada to be the site of this event."