(WGR 550) -- Whatcha got Grand Forks, N.D.? How about you, Minneapolis-Saint Paul?

USA Hockey was in town to hear Buffalo's best pitch to host the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Championships, an annual event that features the premier Under-20 hockey players from around the world. The event will take place Dec. 26, 2010 through Jan. 6, 2011.

USA Hockey director of hockey operations Jim Johannson and assistant executive director of marketing and communications Mike Bertsch met with Buffalo's host committee, and had shining things to say about the prospects of prospects playing at HSBC Arena, as well as Niagara University's Dwyer Arena.

"The Buffalo and Rochester area has been a stronghold of USA Hockey from a youth base," Johannson said. "Everybody understands what the Junior Championships are from this area. The last time it was (in the United States) was in 2005, Alexander Ovechkin, Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby (were part of it)."

Johannson responded positively not only about the prospective venues in Western New York, but the hotel accommodations and restaurants. Bertsch said the public transportation and hospitality would be more than adequate for a tournament of this magnitude.

Bertsch also cited the fact that the tournament has never been to Western New York as a consideration for the committee (North Dakota and Minnesota have hosted in 1982 and 2005, respectively) .The championships have been held in the United States two other times, in Anchorage, Alaska (1988) and Boston, Mass. (1996).

"From a personal standpoint, (Buffalo) is a gorgeous city," said Bertsch, who was visiting the area for the first time in his life. "The city that has a lot of pride, and we're very impressed with it, and the ability to get around the community quickly."

Bertsch said the majority of visitors would be American and Canadian, although he said all countries bring a share of fans. Canadians are particularly passionate about the tournament.

"I think Canadiens take the every day off during the World Juniors," Johannson said. "We want this to be a USA Hockey event, but we're well aware of the significance Canadians would make in this tournament."

Johannson repeatedly spoke of the boon the tournament is for the United States to host.