The schedule for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship has been released, with the tournament set to be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, with Sweden hosting for the first time in a decade, Gothenburg hosting the World Juniors for the first time ever, and marking the first post-pandemic tournament to be held outside of Canada.

Group A, which features the host nation and the defending champion Canada against Finland, Germany and Latvia, kicks off with Canada vs. Finland in a 2022 Gold Medal Game rematch, while Sweden opens against Latvia, who seems likeliest in the group to fall to the relegation round. They will likely be competing against Germany to avoid this fate, while the Juniorkronorna will look to recapture some of their pre-pandemic glory to top out the group in front of a favourable crowd.

Group B will feature 2023’s surprising Silver medallists Czechia against the United States, Switzerland, Slovakia and newly-promoted Norway, with border rivals Czechia opening the tournament against Slovakia. The Czechs and Americans figure to likely top the group, while Slovakia and Switzerland will look to surprise as in 2023 and fight for higher position, leaving Norway the likely victim to return to the relegation round.

The tournament schedule is as follows:

The IHLC will be brought to Gothenburg by Canada, who is the defending back to back world champion; whether they can keep the title in the pre-tournament exhibition games to make it to 26 December against Finland or not, and which arena will ultimately host the title, will remain to be seen!

Photo Credit: 2023 World Junior Championship – IIHF – HHOF – IOC