Key Takeaways
- The IIHF World Juniors is being hosted in Minnesota’s twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul for 2026.
- Canada is looking for its record 21st gold medal at the tournament.
- The top four nations from each group make it to the quarter-finals, while the bottom teams will play each other in a relegation game.
- The 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship schedule has been released, with Saskatchewan game times available.
- The tournament involves two groups (A and B) of five teams playing a round robin to decide positioning for the playoffs.
Introduction to the IIHF World Juniors
The IIHF World Juniors is a prestigious international ice hockey tournament that brings together the best under-20 players from around the world. This year, the tournament is being hosted in Minnesota’s twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, with games taking place at the Grand Casino Arena, home of the Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Frost, and the University of Minnesota’s 3M Arena at Mariucci. Canada, a dominant force in the tournament, is looking to rebound from a pair of disappointing showings in the last two years, where the United States claimed the gold medal. With a record 20 gold medals, Canada is hoping to add to its tally and make it 21.
Tournament Format
The tournament features 10 teams, divided into two groups (A and B) of five teams each. The first phase of the tournament involves a round robin, where each team plays the other teams in their group. The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, while the bottom teams will play each other in a relegation game. The winner of the relegation game will remain in the Top Division for the 2027 event, while the loser will be relegated to Division IA. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals will all be single-elimination games, with the winners advancing to the next round and the losers being eliminated.
Canada’s Chances
Canada got off to a strong start in the tournament, defeating Czechia 7-5 in their opening game on December 26. The team will be looking to build on this momentum and make a deep run in the tournament. With a talented roster and experienced coaching staff, Canada has a good chance of making it to the finals and competing for the gold medal. However, the team will face stiff competition from other top teams, including the United States, Sweden, and Finland.
Game Schedule
The 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship schedule has been released, with Saskatchewan game times available. The preliminary round will feature a number of exciting matchups, including Canada’s games against Latvia, Denmark, and Finland. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals will take place on January 2, 4, and 5, respectively. Fans can catch all of Canada’s games live on 980 CJME and 650 CKOM, and can also follow the tournament online or through social media.
Playoff Round
The playoff round will feature a number of exciting matchups, including the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals. The top seed from Group A will play the fourth seed from Group B, the second seed from Group A will play the third seed from Group B, and so on. The winners of the quarter-finals will advance to the semi-finals, where they will compete for a spot in the gold medal game. The losers of the semi-finals will play each other for the bronze medal, while the winners will compete for the gold medal in the final game of the tournament.
Conclusion
The IIHF World Juniors is a premier international ice hockey tournament that brings together the best under-20 players from around the world. Canada is looking to rebound from a pair of disappointing showings in the last two years and make a deep run in the tournament. With a talented roster and experienced coaching staff, Canada has a good chance of making it to the finals and competing for the gold medal. Fans can catch all of Canada’s games live on 980 CJME and 650 CKOM, and can also follow the tournament online or through social media. The 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship is shaping up to be an exciting and competitive tournament, and hockey fans from around the world will be eagerly watching to see which team will emerge victorious.
