
This summer, I played hockey in steamy Toronto rinks — and fell even harder for the game
While winter ends for some of us, playing hockey does not. The ice is still Zamboni'ed, the benches are mopped and swept, the showers and washrooms cleaned with ammonia, and the clocks set and reset on the game clock, which is how the chilled skaters of summer measure the passing of time. Just this year, Lambton Arena in Etobicoke kept their ice in for the whole calendar, and my home rink, McCormick on Brock Avenue, while a little less busy than in the depths of February, still sees people lugging hockey bags through the double doors — only this time in shorts instead of winter coats, exiting into the sunshine where equipment, when laid out, dries in a crisp instant. For many, hockey is forever our cardio, our social release, our strategy for keeping our mental health in decent shape. We can't all be mountain biking or swimming in the river or water-skiing at cottages that we don't have. Canadians identify as cold-weather creatures fighting through the sleet and snow, but it's those that seek a frozen place in the heat of July who go beyond even that.
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Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors But if you're not rolling in it, grab your preferred lucky charm or make whatever sacrifice or offering works for you and hope for the best. Here's everything you need to know about how to get tickets to the 2026 World Cup happening in Vancouver. When do Cup tickets for Vancouver go on sale? Premium Hospitality Packages are already on sale for those willing to put down big money, on three different levels: Single Match, Venue Series or Follow My Team. The prices, respectively, are US$1,350, $8,275 and $6,750, and come in several different tiers, from the lowest-level FIFA Pavilion, to Champions Club, Trophy Lounge, VIP and Pitchside Lounge. Canadians be warned: the Single Game package only includes non-host games in the Group Stage, though if Canada makes it to the Round of 32, you can book that game. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Same goes for the pricey Follow My Team package — letting you follow your country of choice to any stadium it plays in — except for the host countries of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. For those hoping to snag general seating tickets, you'll have to wait until Wednesday, Sept. 10, when the first of several phases of lottery draws are made. You first have to register at and establish a FIFA ID to ensure you're kept abreast of ticketing dates, next steps and processes. Each phased release, which will run through to the tournament final on July 19, will differ in purchasing processes, payment methods and ticket products. The schedule for the Cup won't be known until the groups are established in the December final draw. Canada will play one Group Stage game in Toronto and two in Vancouver. Should they advance to the Round of 32, that game will also be played in Vancouver. They could also potentially play a Round of 16 game in Vancouver if they advance that far. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In all, s even Cup games are scheduled for Vancouver at B.C. Place (June 13 to July 7) and six for Toronto at BMO Field (June 12 to July 7). Canada Soccer is also running a separate, weighted, ticket lottery, called CanadaRed. Seven different tiers of sponsorship, from free to Cdn$5,000, will gain you increasing levels of benefits and increasing chances of securing a ticket to Canada's Cup matches. There is also FIFA's Right to Buy (RTB) packages, where fans can buy a collectible for several hundred dollars, which guarantees first crack at tickets — but not an actual ticket — in various markets. How much do Cup tickets cost? General ticket prices haven't been released, but the FIFA bid package that broke down the logistics of the tournament did have some estimates. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The tickets, tiered from Category 1 through 4, plus box and special seating, are expected to average just over US$300 for the group stage, Round of 32 and Round of 16 games, ranging from $21 Category 4 tickets to $1,095 box seats. FIFA is extremely protective of their ticket sales, warning people away from secondary resale sites. In 2022 in Qatar, the only allowed resale of tickets purchased through them was on their own proprietary resale site, and that will likely be the route the organization takes again in 2026. A screenshot of estimated Cup ticket prices from the FIFA bid package. PNG Where can I buy Cup tickets? There have been tickets and ticket packages popping up on secondary sites like StubHub, but FIFA issued several warnings against buying them. Guaranteed tickets are available through FIFA only, at Is there a presale code or early access for Cup tickets? At this time, only the Hospitality Packages are available to buy. RTB packages are also available. Where are the best seats for the Cup? Tickets are broken down by category, with Category 1 being in the prime areas — usually midfield — and scaling down to the least desirable (Category 4) from there. The prices match the categories. Read More Vancouver Whitecaps News Sports Celebrity Homes