Your Guide to the World Junior Championship 2024!

This will be the 76th edition of the Junior World Championship. Last year, Canada won the championship after overtime against the Czech Republic, with Dylan Guenther emerging as the match hero. Heading into this year's edition, Canada and the USA, along with host nation Sweden, are once again entering the championship as favorites according to the bookies.

The Rules for the Junior World Championship

The Junior Ice Hockey World Championship is intended for young players, with an age limit of 19 years at the end of the year when the tournament concludes. For instance, during the 2023/2024 Junior World Championship, participants must not have been born before 2004. Additionally, players must not be more than five years younger than the oldest participants to qualify. This means that players born between 2004 and 2009 are eligible to participate in this championship.

Regarding team composition, team leaders are allowed to select three goalkeepers and twenty outfield players for the tournament.

Group A

Group A in the 2024 tournament consists of Canada, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Latvia.

Sweden

Expectations are high for the Swedish juniors who, in this year's edition of the Junior World Championship, play on home ice with the support of their fans. The Junior Crowns also enter as one of the betting companies' favorites to win the tournament. With players like Axel Sandin Pellikka, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, David Edstrom, and Liam Öhgren, to name a few, it's not unreasonable. There is already plenty of SHL experience in the Swedish squad. Lekkerimäki and Sandin Pellikka have made significant impacts in Swedish hockey this season. Pellikka is currently leading the internal scoring in Skellefteå with his 9 goals. Lekkerimäki has also shown great qualities and, together with Mathias Bromé, is Örebro's top scorer this season. With plenty of quality and the fans behind them, it could go a long way. I find it hard to see the Swedish national team as the tournament's favorites considering the USA's squad. However, the feeling is that winning the group is within reach if Canada can be defeated, and a medal should be expected from this squad.

Canada

Another of the expected favorites for victory in the tournament. They are also the reigning champions after last year's victory against the Czech Republic in the final. As usual, Canada fields a strong team. Matthew Poitras stands out the most, having already established himself in the NHL with the Boston Bruins this season. In the Boston jersey, he has managed to score 5 goals and 8 assists in 27 matches, and he is one of the few players in the tournament who is already considered a regular in the NHL. Although Canada is always to be reckoned with, they have had better teams over the years, but the NHL experience Poitras brings could be the tipping point in a playoff.

Finland

While Sweden has plenty of SHL experience in its squad, Finland instead has many young players doing well in the domestic league. Lenni Hämeenaho, Aleksanteri Kaskimäki, Oiva Keskinen, and Jani Nyman are just some of the already established players in Liiga. Not least Nyman will be someone for the other teams in Group A to keep an extra eye on. During the season, the young Finn has already managed to score 14 goals for his Ilves and 8 assists. This places him second in the league's scoring list. However, Finland will miss last year's top point scorer, Joakim Kemell, as the Nashville Predators did not want to release him. Finland, which last won gold in 2019 and was in the final in 2022, looks a bit thin behind its stars to really challenge all the way. Head coach Lauri Mikkola has emphasized the team's skill in numerical advantages and disadvantages, and it's not unreasonable that Finland's powerplay could put many other nations under significant pressure.

Germany

The senior national team in Germany has reaped great success in recent years, but it has not been as fun on the junior side. The best placement the team has is a fifth place in 1981. Occasionally, Germany produces a star player, and there are certainly a couple of interesting names in the squad, but not enough to challenge for any prominent placements. Players worth keeping an extra eye on are Moritz Elias and Roman Kechter, who have established themselves in Germany's top league and done quite well. We find no equivalent to Moritz Seider or Leon Draisaitl in this year's edition.

Latvia

Latvia fell into the top division when Belarus and Russia were thrown out of the tournament in 2022. Since then, the Balts have tried to establish themselves but unfortunately do not measure up against the more established hockey nations. It's hard to believe anything other than they will be cemented at the bottom of the group.

Group B

Group B in the 2024 tournament consists of the USA, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Norway.

USA

The tournament's favorites and perhaps not surprisingly when we examine the team. Here, there is not only NHL experience but also future names that resonate loudly. I would not be the first to suggest that Lane Hutson reminds of Cale Makar, and in the practice match against Sweden, he made two fine assists. Another player to be wary of is Cutter Gauthier, who is shot-happy and has been a dominant player in NCAA where he often finds the net. Will Smith is a creator with a bright future, and Oliver Moore is perhaps the tournament's most skilled skater. The USA simply has, in my opinion, the most complete team of the tournament with four good lines. That said, this year's tournament is played in Sweden on European soil, and even if the USA assumes the role of favorites, Sweden is a real threat to the finest medals, but the USA is the team to beat!

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic put on a fine performance last year when they made it all the way to the final. Once there, it took overtime for Canada before the decision was a fact. This year, the Czechs still have plenty of high-class players and several who were there last year and are likely to be eager for revenge. Jiri Kulich was one of the tournament's sharpest scorers with his 7 goals. That the Buffalo Sabres agreed to let him go to this year's tournament is a huge boost for the Czech squad. In the AHL, the now 19-year-old forward has scored 16 goals in 23 matches, and the future looks bright! Another player to keep an extra eye on is Eduard Sale, who already last season played 43 matches with Brno in the Czech Republic's top league and now resides in the OHL to further develop before hopefully joining the Seattle Kraken in the future. There is a bit of a "dark horse" aura around the Czech Republic, which has enough quality to threaten the expected favorites. They might not be able to win gold, but challenging for a medal should not be ruled out, and at high odds, it is interesting as a betting idea.

Slovakia

It happens that Slovakia finds a good year group that can challenge the very best. The last time the team won a medal was in 2015, that time it was bronze. A player familiar to those who keep track of HockeyAllsvenskan is Alex Ciernik, who this season has scored 4+8 in Västervik in 19 matches. Dalibor Dvorský has managed to play 10 matches in Oskarshamn (SHL) and did well in AIK hockey beforehand. Slovakia also has a few players doing well in the OHL, and Adam Sýkora has had a taste of playing in the AHL this season. However, Slovakia should not be able to mix in any medal fight this time. I would not completely rule them out from at least bothering one of the favorites on a good day, although a lot has to match up.

Switzerland

Many, including myself, had hoped to see Lian Bichsel at the Junior World Championship, but that will not be the case. The Rögle defenseman has chosen to decline national team play this time. It's entirely his own decision, as he is worried that it would be harder to get back into Rögle if he is away for so long over Christmas and New Year. Instead, we can keep an extra eye on another Rögle player, from the junior team, Eric Schneller, who gets the chance to make his first Junior World Championship appearance. Another player worth keeping an eye on is Rodwin Dionicio, who was chosen by Anaheim in this summer's draft and has looked sharp in the OHL. Otherwise, the highlights are not too many, and I find it hard to see Switzerland seriously mixing it up.

Norway

There are some interesting connections to Swedish club hockey here. No fewer than 12 players in Norway's junior national team play in Sweden. The promising center Felix Granath, who recently made his debut with Frölunda, will be an interesting player to watch during the tournament. Noah Steen (Mora IK) and Oskar Kind Bakkevig (Malmö J20) are promising talents, but perhaps the most exciting is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. He debuted with Mora IK this season and is touted for a bright future; he was a major reason Norway is back in the top division of the Junior World Championship. The team as a whole may not go far against stronger nations, but challenging teams like Switzerland and Slovakia is not impossible, albeit as underdogs.

Betting Tips for the Junior World Championship 2024

USA Winner @ +200

I find it hard not to see the USA as the favorites in this tournament. Sweden is close behind and can certainly challenge for the gold, especially on home ice. But the American squad looks very complete and is filled with talent and future NHL stars. The bet is placed with FanDuel.