Ten countries are represented at this year’s tournament, the first in Minnesota since the ’80s.

ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota may be the State of Hockey, but for the next week, it’s the center of the hockey universe.

The International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship will see ten countries competing from now until Jan. 5. Fans were out in force in St. Paul at Grand Casino Arena Friday night.

“I don’t think there’s another state in the United States that loves hockey the way that this state does,” Tim Meier, a fan, said.

Meier, along with three other friends, drove in from Hastings to watch Team USA compete.

“It’s high-quality hockey, it’s fast, and it’s young kids and they’re having a great time,” Ken Trembath said.

The United States is admittedly a huge draw for many of the fans at Grand Casino Arena on Friday, but their opponent on the ice, Germany, certainly didn’t go without some cheers of their own.

“Hopefully it’s a good match for him and for the German team!” Thomas Pape, whose son, Matthias, plays defense for Germany.

“First time in Minnesota!” Pape added. “We will have a look at what we can do outside of hockey!”

That’s what St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter is hoping for.

“Our goal is not to just show them what amazing hockey we have here in Minnesota, that’s true,” he said. “Team USA is obviously going to win here this week, but we also want to show them how amazing everything else is in Minnesota as well.”

“Our welcome mat rolls far beyond just the hockey arenas; it rolls out to our entire community. We’re hoping a lot of our local businesses get an opportunity to shine too,” Carter added.

Money generated for this event is also expected to be huge. Wendy Williams Blackshaw, President and CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events, says they’re expecting somewhere close to the Olympic Gymnastics Trials last summer.

“We are anticipating, conservatively, somewhere in the $75 million economic impact range,” Williams Blackshaw said.

“That’s why we do it, that’s what we love,” she added. “It’s a huge injection into Minneapolis and St Paul’s economy and the state.”

Final numbers won’t be released until after the tournament wraps up next month, but Williams Blackshaw says they’re also expecting hotel space to be packed.

“This time of year, typically, hotel occupancy is 20% something like that,” she said. “It is a lot higher than that.”

Team USA won its first game against Germany Friday 6-3. Their next game is at Grand Casino Arena on Dec. 27. against Switzerland at 5 p.m.