2025 World Junior Championship
Boxing Day, December 26th 2024
5:55pm
Another year of one of the greatest traditions in sport started Thursday in Ottawa. The World Junior Championship puts the greatest hockey talents under 20 years old and puts them in a rigorous 10 team competition. The tournament is split into two groups, A and B.
Group A
Canada, Finland, Germany, Latvia and the United States.
Group B
Czechia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Switzerland and Sweden.
Since 2013 three teams have taken home the gold: Canada (5) the United States(4) and Finland (3). It’s been a North American medal since 2020 with Canada taking the gold thrice and the Americans two-time winners. The Americans are looking to make team history and win their first ever back-to-back WJC gold medal. The tournament this year is being hosted by Canada, with the nations capital playing host.
The World Juniors Championship is a tremendous introduction to the next generation of NHL superstars. From Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews to Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, the World Juniors hockey tournament showcases the greatest young hockey talent in the world. Thousands of fans looking to cheer on their nation have flown into Ottawa with flags and jerseys ready to support the next generation of hockey. Millions of viewers will tune in across Canada and across the world.
The full schedule for the tournament can be found here.
Fast Facts of the WJC
In the history of the tournament team Canada has taken the gold medal 20 times while the United States has 6 gold medals. Russia/Soviet Union has taken 12 gold medals however they are currently banned from participating in the tournament.
Since 2000 Canada has won 10 gold medals, including five consecutive gold medals between 2005 and 2009. In that time the United States has 6 gold medals, two in the last four years.
Russia/Soviet Union has the unfortunate privilege for having the most gold medal losses in tournament history having taken 13 silver medals. Sweden has the most silver medals among participating nations with 12 while team Canada has 10 silver medals in its history at the WJC.