The schedule for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship has been released, with the tournament set to be held in Canada’s capital of Ottawa, Ontario, with the tournament returning to the city for the first time since 2009, and Canada’s twenty-first time hosting overall.

Group A features the host nation Canada and defending champions the United States topping the group to play out of the Canadian Tire Centre, home of the NHL’s Senators, with Finland, Germany and Latvia rounding out the near carbon copy of last year’s Group A. The tournament kicks off for the second straight year with Canada vs. Finland on Boxing Day, a 2022 final rematch, with New Year’s featuring Canada vs. USA and Finland vs. Latvia, the latter looking to avoid relegation, despite being a perennial fan favourite.

Group B, playing out of TD Place, home of the OHL’s 67’s and PWHL’s Charge, will feature the tournament’s last two Silver medalists in Sweden and Czechia atop the group, with Switzerland, Slovakia and newly-promoted Kazakhstan completing the group. Czechia and Sweden will tilt on New Year’s Eve with the top of the group likely on the line, while Kazakhstan, also fan favourites wherever they go, will likely face the relegation chopping block by the time the ball drops, with a date with Switzerland likely to seal their fate.

The tournament schedule is as follows:

The IHLC will be brought to Eastern Canada by Team USA, who ultimately lost, but then regained, the IHLC at this summer’s World Junior Summer Showcase, but whether they can keep the title by the time their pre-tournament exhibition schedule hits Christmas Day remains to be seen!

Photo Credit: 2024 World Junior Championship – IIHF – HHOF – IOC