QMJHL Winter Classic: Future Plans & Updates

Even if the organizers did not have the desired attendance for the QMJHL Winter Classic, it could be back in Trois-Rivières for the next season.

According to information from Radio-Canada, the organizers presented two scenarios to the City of Trois-Rivières during a meeting. One scenario plans to keep a refrigerated ice rink open until March after the event.

The mayor of Trois-Rivières, Jean-François Aubin, would like, in an ideal world, to keep the ice rink, but concedes that the cost will determine whether or not this scenario is realized.

It’s a question of money. The refrigerated ice rink is there, but it must be taken care of, it must be maintained, it must be managedhe said at a press briefing before the municipal council.

The request for financial assistance for the 2026 Winter Classic is also slightly greater than that of 2025, according to the mayor. In addition, it is not guaranteed that the event could again be organized on the racecourse site as in 2025.

This year, there was a hypothesis that went around that it could be at the baseball stadium, will that harm the condition of the field? If so, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot, it’s not a good idea. Also, normally, the baseball stadium is closed all winter, so if we open it for the classic, what are the costs that that entails?he adds.

Further discussions are to take place on the possibility of renewing the event, which had mixed success in December.