It’s the best time of the year. The IIHF Junior World Championship is here.
Once again, the best ice hockey players under the age of 20 from around the world will come together to find out which nation has the best number of juniors. This time around Canada is set, where the hometown team is aiming for gold. The odds-on favorite to compete in the 12-day event has a roster of NHL first-round draft picks – 20 of 25 – and NHL talent, including team captain and Blackhawks striker Kirby Dach.
However, don’t expect this to be a cake. Team Canada will face stiff competition from Russia, which it beat in the gold medal game last year. a highly skilled American cadre; and a Swedish squad with an Oilers prospect, Philip Broberg, as captain.
WORLD JUNIORS: Breakdown of prospects for all NHL teams
As always, World Juniors are expected to be full of big goals, big saves and bigger and bigger victories. With national pride on the line, the battle for gold will be fierce. Here is everything you need to know about the tournament.
Where is the 2021 Junior World Championship?
The 2021 Junior World Championship will take place in Edmonton, Alta.
This year’s tournament was originally scheduled to take place in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta, but the need for a safe bladder prompted Hockey Canada to relocate the entire event to where the NHL summer hockey was playing. The WJC will land on the ice with fans in both cities – fingers crossed – in 2022.
This year, Edmonton will host World Juniors Games for the third time. In 1995 Canada was at the top of the podium. In 2012 Sweden won and the Canadians came third in Alberta’s capital.
When does the Junior World Championship take place in 2021?
As the teams at Rogers Place only play on one ice rink, this year’s tournament includes an additional day of competition. The tournament starts on Christmas Day with a triple header.
The group stage with two groups of five teams each extends over the first seven days of the competition and ends on New Year’s Eve. The eight surviving teams have New Years off before heading back to the quarter-finals on January 2nd. The winners of these games reach the semi-finals two days later. The bronze and gold medal games will take place on Sunday 5th January.
How did COVID-19 affect the tournament?
Since the jump, the tournament has felt the pandemic. The location was changed to a bubble in Edmonton. Then came the positive cases. Canada spent 14 days in quarantine during its selection camp before sending a handful of players home. Team USA lost two key players, John Beecher and Thomas Bordeleau. Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden were also affected.
MORE: Extensive coverage of the effects of COVID-19
On which channel will the Junior World Championship be broadcast?
- TV station (USA): NHL network
- TV channels (Canada): TSN
- Live Stream (Canada): TSN Direct
In an unprecedented move, every World Juniors game will be broadcast live on the NHL Network and TSN.
Which teams will take part in the 2021 Junior World Championship?
Ten teams, divided into two groups of five, take part.
| Group A | Group B. |
| Canada | Russia |
| Finland | Sweden |
| Switzerland | United States of America |
| Slovakia | Czech Republic |
| Germany | Austria |
When is Canada against USA?
For the time being, there will be no battle for North America for this year’s tournament. In the two countries in different groups, fingers and toes have to be crossed so that they can compete in a do-or-die matchup.
WORLD JUNIORS TEAM LEADERS: Canada | United States of America
Full schedule for the 2021 Junior World Championship
The participating teams are guaranteed four games in the group stage. Teams that advance to the last day of competition (bronze or gold medal game) play a total of seven competitions.
(All times east)
| FRIDAY, DEC. 25th | ||
| Switzerland versus Slovakia | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Germany versus Finland | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Russia versus USA | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| SATURDAY, DEC. 26th | ||
| Sweden versus Czech Republic | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Germany versus Canada | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| USA vs. Austria | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| SUNDAY, DEC. 27 | ||
| Finland versus Switzerland | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Slovakia versus Canada | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Czech Republic versus Russia | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| MONDAY, DEC. 28 | ||
| Austria versus Sweden | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Slovakia versus Germany | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| TUESDAY, DEC. 29 | ||
| USA versus Czech Republic | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Canada versus Switzerland | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Austria versus Russia | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| WEDNESDAY, DEC. 30th | ||
| Finland versus Slovakia | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Switzerland versus Germany | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Russia versus Sweden | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| THURSDAY, DEC. 31 | ||
| Czech Republic versus Austria | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Canada versus Finland | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Sweden versus United States | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| SATURDAY, JAN. 2 | ||
| Quarter finals | Noon | TSN, NHLN |
| Quarter finals | 3:30 pm | TSN, NHLN |
| Quarter finals | 19 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Quarter finals | 10:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| MONDAY, JAN. 4th | ||
| Semifinals | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Semifinals | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| TUESDAY, JAN. 5 | ||
| Game for the bronze medal | 17:30 | TSN, NHLN |
| Gold medal game | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
Who won the 2020 Junior World Championship?
Canada won the gold medal last year and beat Russia in the final. It was the nation’s 18th title.
WORLD JUNIORS 2020: Canada is golden | Lafreniere called MVP
Who has won the Junior World Championship in the last 10 years?
| year | winner | Host country |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Canada | Czech Republic |
| 2019 | Finland | Canada |
| 2018 | Canada | United States |
| 2017 | United States | Canada |
| 2016 | Finland | Finland |
| 2015 | Canada | Canada |
| 2014 | Finland | Sweden |
| 2013 | United States | Russia |
| 2012 | Sweden | Canada |
| 2011 | Russia | United States |
Which countries won the most medals at the Junior World Championship?
| country | gold | silver | bronze | total |
| Canada | 18th | 9 | 5 | 32 |
| Russia* | 13 | 13 | 11 | 37 |
| Finland | 5 | 4th | 6 | 15th |
| United States | 4th | 2 | 6 | 12th |
| Sweden | 2 | 11 | 6 | 19th |
| Czech Republic + | 2 | 5 | 7th | 14th |
| Slovakia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
* Includes medals won as the Soviet Union and CIS
+ Includes medals won as Czechoslovakia
