With the season upon us, this means the inevitable return of the IIHF World Junior Championship, which will return to Europe for the first time since January 2020, with Gothenburg, Sweden hosting the world’s top under-20 teams starting on 26 December.

Group A features the hometown Juniorkronorna going up against defending champions Canada in a battle for the top seed, with Finland looking to play spoiler in enemy territory and top the group, with the two squads facing off on New Year’s Eve, potentially with the group title on the line. Germany and Latvia will round out the group, both looking to stay alive in the tournament and perhaps pick up an upset or two.

Group B sees defending Silver medalists Czechia taking on defending Bronze medalists the United States in a battle for group supremacy, with the group being rounded out by Switzerland, Slovakia and the newly promoted Norway, returning to the Top Division for the first time in a decade. Team USA will be looking to return to the top for the first time since 2021, while the Czechs will look to improve on their stunning second-place finish last year and reach the top for the first time since 2001.

Click here to see the full 2024 World Junior Championship schedule

From the perspective of the IHLC, a few interesting facts related to this year’s World Junior Championship:
– the United States enters as incumbent champions for the first time since 2020, and the seventh time in history
– this is the seventh World Junior Championship to be hosted in Sweden, with Gothenburg hosting for the first time; Gothenburg has previously hosted the men’s World Championship in 1981 and 2002
– Canada is looking to”three-peat” (after wins in 2022 and 2023) for the first time since winning five straight between 2005 and 2009, and winning their twenty-first Championship overall
– the only returning tournament award winners from 2023 are directorate Top Goaltender Adam Gajan (Slovakia) and media all-star forward Jiří Kulich (Czechia)

After yesterday’s exhibition victory over Canada, the United States will enter the tournament with the International Hockey Lineal Championship, ensuring that the title will run through Group B at Frölundaborg – who leaves Sweden with the title, and ostensibly World Junior Championship Gold, remains to be seen!

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