You know it’s the Holiday Season when the World Junior Hockey Championships are on the horizon. The horizon is now upon us as the best junior hockey players in the world meet up for the yearly tradition of great hockey at the end of the year.
The tournament, which features many of the best players 20 years of age and younger, has been officially held since 1977. This time around, the tournament comes to us from Gothenburg, Sweden, and word is the host Swedes have cobbled together a formidable team.
By the way, Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden and is known for its relatively mild temperatures for a Nordic city, Liseberg amusement park, the Poseidon statue, football (soccer), Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA), and Ace of Base. And hockey.
Defending champions Canada leads the way with twenty gold medals overall. The Russians (who, for obvious reasons, won’t be participating again this year) are next in line with thirteen, followed by 5 each for Finland and the United States. Sweden and the Czech Republic both have 2 gold medals to their names.
Group A consists of Sweden, Canada, Finland, Germany, and Latvia for this year’s tournament.
Czechia (silver medal last year), the United States (bronze medal last year), Slovakia, Switzerland, and Norway comprise Group B.
Since 1977, the IIHF World Junior Championships have seen some of the biggest names in hockey represent their respective countries. The alumni list of current NHL’ers is impressive and includes Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Connor McDavid, Mark Stone, Auston Matthews, Sidney Crosby, Artemi Panarin, Carter Hart, John Tavares, Roman Josi, Mitch Marner, Jonathan Toews, John Gibson, and Phil Kessel.
Logan Cooley, Mike Modano, Roberto Luongo, Markus Naslund, Jon Casey, Eric Lindros, Peter Forsberg, Pavel Bure, Doug Weight, Theo Fleury, Jeremy Roenick, John Vanbiesbrouck, Mike Vernon, Sean Burke, Mike Richter, and Dominik Hasek have all suited up for their respective countries during this illustrious tournament.
You can add the name Connor Bedard to that list. The impressive Chicago Blackhawks’ rookie forward led all players with 23 points at last year’s tournament, which was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New Brunswick.
Who will add their name to this impressive list? Which country takes home the coveted gold medal this time around? The answers to those questions are contained within the games, and SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Channel 91 will be there beginning Tuesday, December 26.
To get you properly primed for the tournament, Shane Malloy and Brad Allen bring you an in-depth two-hour examination of the teams and players involved this time around.
Saturday, December 23 at 7 am Eastern.
Sunday, December 24 at 8 am, 3 pm & 10 pm Eastern.
Monday, December 25 at 6 pm Eastern.
Tuesday, December 26 at 6 am Eastern.
Tuesday, December 26
Finland vs. Canada 8 am Eastern
Norway vs. USA 11 am Eastern
Wednesday, December 27
Latvia vs. Canada 1 pm Eastern
Thursday, December 28
Switzerland vs. USA 11 am Eastern
Friday, December 29
Czechia vs. USA 11 am Eastern
Sweden vs. Canada 1 pm Eastern
Sunday, December 31
Slovakia vs. USA 6 am Eastern
Germany vs. Canada 1 pm Eastern
Tuesday, January 2
Quarter-Final #3 11 am Eastern
Quarter-Final #4 1 pm Eastern
Thursday, January 4
Semi-Final #1 9:00 am Eastern
Semi-Final #2 1:00 pm Eastern
Friday, January 5
Bronze Medal Game 9 am Eastern*
Gold Medal Game 1 pm Eastern
(* only if Canada is in the Bronze Medal Game)
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