View source for IIHF World Junior Championship

{{Short description|Recurring ice hockey tournament for men's junior national teams}}
{{for multi|the similar tournament for players under age 18|IIHF World U18 Championship|the similar tournament for female players|IIHF World Women's U18 Championship}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title           = IIHF World Junior Championship
| logo            = IIHF World Junior Championship.png
| logo_size       = 150px
| last_season  = 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
| sport           = Ice hockey
| inaugural       = 1974 (unofficial)<br/>1977 (official)
| teams           = 10
| champion        = {{ihj|United States}} <br>(7th title) <!-- When listing new champion, please also update the History paragraph, re number of gold medals and yr. -->
| champ_season    = [[2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|2025]]
| most successful club = {{ihj|Canada}} <br> (20 titles)
| relegation      = [[IIHF World U20 Championship Division I|Division I]]<br/>[[IIHF World U20 Championship Division II|Division II]]<br/>[[IIHF World U20 Championship Division III|Division III]]
| website         = [http://www.iihf.com/ IIHF.com]
}}

The '''IIHF World Junior Championship''' ('''WJC'''), sometimes referred to as '''World Juniors''', is an annual event organized by the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF) for national under-20 [[ice hockey]] teams from around the world. It is traditionally held in late December, ending in early January (beginning from [[Boxing Day]] to January 5). The tournament usually attracts the top hockey players in this age category. 

The main tournament features the top ten ranked hockey nations in the world, comprising the 'Top Division', from which a world champion is crowned. There are also three lower pools—Divisions I, II and III—that each play separate tournaments playing for the right to be [[Promotion and relegation|promoted]] to a higher pool, or face [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] to a lower pool.

The competition's profile is particularly high in Canada, and this is partly for historical reasons because prior to NHL players being allowed in the [[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]], this was a rare tournament where the best western players faced the best players from the [[Soviet Bloc]], and the only other tournament of similar stature where this occurred was the irregularly scheduled [[Canada Cup]] for senior sides. The tournament's stature in Canada can also be credited to Canada's strong performance in the tournament (it has won the gold medal twenty times since its inception), the role of hockey in [[Culture of Canada|Canadian culture]], along with strong media coverage and fan attendance. As such, in recent years, nearly half of the tournaments have been held in Canadian cities, with the remainder being held in Europe and the United States.

The [[United States men's national junior ice hockey team|United States]] is the defending champion, having defeated [[Finland men's national junior ice hockey team|Finland]] to win the [[2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|2025 edition]] in [[Ottawa]], [[Canada]].

==History==
The first official tournament was held in 1977, although the first three tournaments were held unofficially from 1974 to 1976.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/all-medallists/u20.html|title= All Medallists - U20|access-date= 2009-01-07|work= History|publisher= [[International Ice Hockey Federation]]}}</ref> The tournament has been dominated by the teams from [[Canada men's national junior ice hockey team|Canada]] and [[Soviet Union men's national junior ice hockey team|Soviet Union]]/[[CIS men's national junior ice hockey team|CIS]]/[[Russia men's national junior ice hockey team|Russia]], together accounting for 33 of the 49 overall gold medals awarded (through 2025). The USSR won the first four official tournaments, while the Canadians put together five straight championships between 1993 and [[1997 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1997]], and another five straight from [[2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|2005]] to [[2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|2009]]. Canada leads the all-time gold medal count with 20 golds, while the Soviet Union, the CIS, and Russia combined have 13 golds.

When it began, the World Junior Championship was a relatively obscure tournament. It has since grown in prestige, particularly in [[Canada]], where the tournament ranks as one of the most important events on the sports calendar and during the [[holiday season]]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' writer Bruce Dowbiggin credits [[The Sports Network|TSN]], along with Canada's strong performance at the tournament, for turning it from an obscure non-event when it acquired the rights in 1991 (which had started to grow in prominence due to the 1987 [[Punch-up in Piestany]]) to one of Canada's most beloved annual sports events, and at the same time cementing the link between [[Canadian nationalism]] and hockey, and inspiring the NHL's [[Winter Classic]].<ref name=gandm-wjmolehill>{{cite news|title=TSN turned World Junior molehill into mountain|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/tsn-turned-world-junior-molehill-into-mountain/article4084348/|access-date=21 December 2014|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref name=gandm-wjcredit>{{cite news|last1=Dowbiggin|first1=Bruce|title=Credit TSN for elevating world juniors to must-see TV|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/credit-tsn-for-elevating-world-juniors-to-must-see-tv/article4181903/|access-date=6 January 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> Based on increasing attendances for countries repeatedly hosting the event, the popularity of the tournament seems to be growing in other nations as well.

At editions of the tournament held in the country, games involving Team Canada consistently sell out NHL arenas, offering large profit guarantees to [[Hockey Canada]] and the IIHF.<ref>{{cite news |title= Ottawa to host 2009 world junior tourney|url= https://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/news_story/?ID=164709&hubname=world_jrs|agency= [[The Canadian Press]]|publisher= [[The Sports Network|tsn.ca]]|date= 2006-05-03|access-date= 2009-01-07|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071228185930/http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/news_story/?ID=164709&hubname=world_jrs|archive-date= 2007-12-28}}</ref> In the 21st century, Canada has and will continue to host the tournament every second or third year due to the significantly greater following the tournament has in Canada compared to other participating countries.
Originally, Switzerland was selected to host the WJHC in 2010, but withdrew.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=240282&lid=sublink06&lpos=headlines_main |title=Toronto, Regina-Saskatoon formally bid to stage World Juniors |date=10 June 2008 |publisher=tsn.ca |access-date=2010-01-05 }}</ref>
[[Buffalo, New York]], in the United States, hosted the tournament in 2011 and 2018; in both cases, proximity to Canada's population core in [[Southern Ontario]] was a key factor to the city winning the bidding rights.<ref>{{cite news |title= Buffalo to host 2011 world hockey juniors|agency= [[Associated Press]]|publisher= [[CBC Sports]]|date= 2008-10-27|access-date= 2009-01-07|url= https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/buffalo-to-host-2011-world-hockey-juniors-1.707225}}</ref>

The tournament offers one of the most prestigious stages for young hockey players, significantly boosting a player's value for upcoming [[NHL Entry Draft]]s.<ref name=gandm-wjcredit/>

===Punch-up in Piestany===
{{main|Punch-up in Piestany}}
One of the most infamous incidents in WJC history occurred in 1987 in [[Piestany]], [[Czechoslovakia]] (now part of [[Slovakia]]), where a bench-clearing [[fighting in ice hockey|brawl]] occurred between [[Canada]] and the [[Soviet Union]]. It began when the Soviet Union's Pavel Kostichkin took a two-handed slash at Canadian player [[Theoren Fleury]]. The Soviet Union's [[Evgeny Davydov]] then came off the bench, eventually leading to both benches emptying. The [[Official (ice hockey)|officials]], unable to break up the numerous fights, left the ice and eventually tried shutting off the arena lights, but the brawl lasted for 20 minutes before the IIHF declared the game null and void. A 35-minute emergency meeting was held, resulting in the delegates voting 7–1 (the sole dissenter was Canadian Dennis McDonald) to eject both teams from the tournament. The Canadian team chose to leave rather than stay for the end-of-tournament dinner, from which the Soviet team was banned.

While the Soviets were out of medal contention, Canada was playing for the gold medal and was leading 4–2 at the time of the brawl. The gold medal ultimately went to Finland, hosts Czechoslovakia took the silver and Sweden, who had previously been eliminated from medal contention, was awarded the bronze.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/1987-punch-up-in-piestany|title= Punch-up in Piestany|access-date= 2009-01-07|work= CBC Digital Archives|publisher= [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date= 1987-01-04}}</ref>

==Medalists==
{{main|List of IIHF World Junior Championship medalists|List of IIHF World Junior Championship Gold Medal Games}}
{{:List of IIHF World Under-20 Championship medalists}}
==Future tournaments==
These tournaments have been announced:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef" align=left
! Year
! Host city (cities)
! Host country
|-
| align="center" | [[2026 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|2026]]
|[[Minneapolis]] and [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Ryan |date=2023-01-05 |title=Minneapolis-St. Paul to host 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39246446/minneapolis-st-paul-host-2026-world-junior-hockey-championship |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=ESPN |language=en-US}}</ref>
|{{USA}}
|-
| align="center" | 2027
|Alberta (Cities TBD)
|{{CAN}}
|-
| align="center" | 2028
|TBD
|{{FIN}}
|-
| align="center" | 2029
|TBD
|{{CAN}}
|}
The IIHF announced that Canada will host the tournament every other year until their agreement with Hockey Canada runs out in 2034.<ref>{{cite news|last=Podnieks|first=Andrew|title=President Tardif meets the press|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2024/wm20/news/57272/president_tardif_meets_the_press|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|date=2023-01-05|access-date=2023-01-05}}</ref>

==Hosting countries==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef" align=left
! Host country
! Tournaments<ref name=":0">1974, 1975 and 1976 unofficial tournaments are counted</ref>
|- align=center
| align="left" | {{CAN}}
| 18<ref>1975 and 1982 tournaments were co-hosted with the United States</ref>
|- align=center
| align="left" | {{FIN}}
| 7
|- align=center
| align="left" | {{SWE}}
| 7
|- align=center
| align="left" | {{USA}}
| 7<ref>1975 and 1982 tournaments were co-hosted with Canada</ref>
|- align=center
|align=left|{{ihj|CZE|name=Czechia}}<br>''{{ihj|TCH}}''<br>''Total''&nbsp;
|{{sort|6|4<br>2<ref>1987 tournament played in what is now Slovakia</ref><br>''6''}}
|- align=center
|align=left|{{ihj|RUS}}<br>''{{ihj|URS}}''<br>''{{ihj|CIS}}''<br>''Total''&nbsp;
|{{sort|5|2<br>3<br>0<br>''5''}}
|- align=center
|align=left|{{ihj|DEU}}<br>''{{ihj|FRG}}''<br>''Total''&nbsp;
|{{sort|2|1<br>1<br>''2''}}
|- align=center
| align="left" | {{SUI}}
| 1
|}
;Note
*1974 (Soviet Union), 1975 (Canada & USA), and 1976 (Finland) unofficial tournaments are counted.

==Participating countries==
Canada, Finland, Sweden, and Czechoslovakia/Czechia have participated in all 44 IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championships as well as the three unofficial tournaments. The United States has participated in all except the unofficial tournament in [[1976 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1976]]. The USSR/CIS/Russia participated in all tournaments until the 2022 edition (having been suspended by the IIHF in February 2022 as a result of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]).<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.iihf.com/en/news/32301/iihf_council_announces_decisions_over_russia_belar|title=IIHF Council takes definitive action over Russia, Belarus|access-date= 2023-12-24|work= History|publisher= [[International Ice Hockey Federation]]}}</ref>

When Czechoslovakia [[Dissolution of Czechoslovakia|peacefully split in 1993]], Czechia remained in Pool A but Slovakia was placed in Pool C (now Division II). Slovakia was promoted to the top division for the [[1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1996]] Championships and has remained there since.

When the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|Soviet Union broke up]], Russia remained in Pool A, while all other former Soviet republics started competing in Pool C in 1993.

Starting with the 1996 tournament, the competition was increased from an 8-team round-robin to the current 10-team format, including elimination rounds. Since then, Switzerland has become a regular participant.

Germany has been a frequent participant in the top pool, having played there roughly half the time in the past decade. Latvia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan have also each made a number of top division appearances since the early 1990s. Less frequent top pool appearances have been made by Austria, Denmark, France, Japan, Norway, Poland and Ukraine.

At the most recent championship, held in Canada in [[2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|2025]], participating teams were Canada, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef" align="left"
! Team
! Appearances<ref name=":0" />
!Most recent year 
in Top Division
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|CAN}}
|52<ref name=":1">Includes unofficial tournments in 1974, 1975, and 1976</ref>
|2025
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|CZE|name=Czechia}} / {{ihj|TCH}}
|52<ref name=":1" />
|2025
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|FIN}}
|52<ref name=":1" />
|2025
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|SWE}}
|52<ref name=":1" />
|2025
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|USA}}
|51<ref name=":2">Includes unofficial tournments in 1974 and 1975</ref>
|2025
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|RUS}} / {{ihj|URS}} / {{ihj|CIS}}
|48<ref name=":1" />
|2021
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|SUI}}
|38
|2025
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|DEU}} / {{ihj|FRG}}
|31
|2025
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|SVK}}
|30
|2025
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|LAT}}
|9
|2025
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|KAZ}}
|9
|2025
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|NOR}}
|9
|2024
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|BLR}}
|8
|2018
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|DEN}}
|7
|2019
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|AUT}}
|6
|2023
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|POL}}
|6
|1997
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|UKR}}
|4
|2004
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|FRA}}
|1
|2002
|- align="center"
| align="left" | {{ihj|JPN}}
|1
|1993
|}
''As of 2025 tournament''

== Player eligibility ==
A player is eligible to play in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships if:<ref name="Main requirements for eligibility">{{cite web |url=https://blob.iihf.com/iihf-media/iihfmvc/media/downloads/statutes/2021_-_2024_iihf_statutes_and_bylaws.pdf |title=IIHF statutes and bylaws |publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation|IIHF]] |access-date=2022-12-26}}</ref>
* the player is eligible to compete as a male athlete
* the player has his 20th birthday in the year of the tournament's ending (e.g. born in 1994 for 2014 tournament), and at latest, the fifth year after the tournament's ending (e.g. born in 1999 for 2014 tournament);
* the player is a citizen in the country he represents;
* the player is under the jurisdiction of a national association that is a member of the [[International Ice Hockey Federation|IIHF]].

If a player who has never played in IIHF-organized competition wishes to switch national eligibility, he must have played in competitions for two consecutive years in the new country without playing in another country, as well as show his move to the new country's national association with an international transfer card. In case the player has previously played in IIHF-organized competition but wishes to switch national eligibility, he must have played in competitions for four consecutive years in the new country without playing in another country, he must show his move to the new country's national association with an international transfer card, as well as be a citizen of the new country. A player may only switch national eligibility once.<ref name="Requirements for switching national eligibility">{{cite web |url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/iihf-eligibility.html |title=IIHF Eligibility |publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation|IIHF]] |access-date=2014-01-01 |archive-date=16 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916141100/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/iihf-eligibility.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Tournament awards==
At the conclusion of each tournament, the Directorate of the IIHF presents awards to the Top Goalie, Forward, and Defenceman of the tournament. The media attending the event select an All-Star team separately from this.
{{main|List of IIHF World Junior Championship Directorate award winners}}
{{main|List of IIHF World Junior Championship Media All-Star Teams}}

== Broadcast coverage ==
The following television networks and websites broadcast World Junior Championship games on television or online.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-  style="background:#efefef; text-align:left;"
!Country
!Broadcaster(s)
|-
| Canada
| [[The Sports Network]]<br />[[Réseau des sports]]
|-
| Czechia
| [[ČT Sport]]
|-
| Europe
| [[Eurosport]]
|-
| Finland
| [[TV5 (Finland)|TV5]]
|-
| Latvia
| [[TV6 (Latvia)|TV6]]
|-
| Russia
| [[Match TV]] <br>[[Channel One Russia]]
|-
| Slovakia
| [[JOJ Šport]]
|-
| Sweden
| [[Sveriges Television]]<br />[[Viaplay Group]]
|-
| Switzerland
| [[UPC Switzerland]] (MySports)
|-
| United States
| [[NHL Network (United States)|NHL Network]]<br>[[ESPN+]]
|}

[[The Sports Network]] (TSN) produced by [[Paul Graham (television producer)|Paul Graham]] has covered the World Junior Championship annually since 1992,<ref>{{cite news|title=Man Behind Curtain Steps Into Spotlight|last=Jones|first=Terry|date=November 20, 2018|newspaper=[[Edmonton Journal]]|page=B1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-graham-2017/170494453/}}</ref> after reaching a broadcast agreement with then [[Hockey Canada]] vice-president [[Bob Nicholson (ice hockey)|Bob Nicholson]].<ref>{{cite news|title=TSN Banking on Hlinka Gretzky Cup Success|last=Jones|first=Terry|date=August 9, 2018|newspaper=[[Edmonton Journal]]|page=C1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-graham-2018/170508946/}}</ref> TSN initially covered only the Team Canada games, then added all games in Team Canada's pool.<ref name="Garrioch-2024">{{cite news|title=TSN's executive producer Paul Graham is signing off after building up the world juniors into the beast it is today|last=Garrioch|first=Bruce|date=December 30, 2024|newspaper=[[Ottawa Citizen]]|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/junior-hockey/tsns-executive-producer-paul-graham-is-signing-off-after-building-up-the-world-juniors-into-the-beast-it-is-today|access-date=April 15, 2025}}</ref> TSN gradually expanded coverage to include all games of the tournament, when Graham insisted on "a big game feel".<ref name="Garrioch-2024" /> As of the [[2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|2021 Championships]], all pre-tournament and in-tournament games were broadcast.<ref>{{cite news|title=IIHF Looks to Establish a Tradition With Junior Games on Christmas Day|last=Jones|first=Terry|date=October 20, 2020|newspaper=[[Edmonton Journal]]|page=NP10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-graham-2020/170547039/}}</ref> As of the [[2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|2025 Championships]], coverage exceeded 84 broadcast hours.<ref name="Garrioch-2024" />

TSN is the IIHF's main broadcast partner for this tournament. TSN.ca carries all games excluding relegation games live, as well as most games on demand after their completion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iihf.com/channels1011/wm20/tv-listings.html|title=IIHF World Under 20 Championship 2011 Television Coverage|date=5 January 2011|publisher=iihf.com |access-date=2010-01-05 }}</ref> Beginning with 2022 WJC, the international feed produced by TSN as seen on NHL Network's USA Hockey team games and in other countries has the IIHF lettering for game scores instead of TSN's.

Starting with the 2013 tournament, a paywall and geo-block was implemented on TSN's online coverage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/story/?id=411089 |title=FAQ: How to watch the World Juniors PPV online |date=20 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231132429/https://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/story/?id=411089 |archive-date=2012-12-31 |website=TSN}}</ref> The same system applies to Canadian cable subscribers and subscribers of TSN's streaming service – users cannot stream the tournament outside of Canada on TSN Direct.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/streaming-faq-1.1105604|title=Streaming FAQ - TSN.ca|author=TSN ca Staff|date=2018-06-07|website=TSN|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref>

Norway is currently a 'blackout' zone. Neither Eurosport or Viasat carry the tournament.

==See also==
*[[Ice Hockey World Championships]]
*[[IIHF World U18 Championship]]
*[[IIHF World Ranking]]
*[[World Junior A Challenge]]
*[[World U-17 Hockey Challenge]]
*[[2007 Super Series]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
;General references
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web |url= http://www.iihf.com|title= International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date= 2009-01-07}}
*{{cite web |url= http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/57536|title= Mens National Junior U-20 Team|access-date=2009-01-07|publisher= [[Hockey Canada]]}}
*{{cite web |url= https://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/|title= World Juniors|access-date= 2009-01-07|publisher= [[The Sports Network|tsn.ca]]}}
*{{cite book |title= International ice hockey encyclopaedia 1904 – 2005|last= Müller|first= Stephan|year= 2005|publisher= Books on Demand|location= [[Norderstedt]]|isbn= 978-3-8334-4189-9|oclc= 180899737}} Also {{OCLC|124052660}}.
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{citation |last =Gibson |first = Kevin |year =2003 |title = The Official Book of Team Canada from Eh to Zed: The World Junior Championships|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=Roi9RxZ41eQC&q=Canada%20Cup&pg=PP1 |publisher=  Trafford|isbn=1-4120-0162-5 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|IIHF World U20 Championship}}
*[http://www.quanthockey.com/wjc-u20/en/records/wjc-u20-players-all-time-points-leaders.html IIHF World U20 all-time leading scorers] at quanthockey.com
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070513135807/http://www.worldjuniors2008.com/ www.worldjuniors2008.com]}} - 2008 IIHF World U20 Championship - Pardubice, Liberec, Czech republic
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081002093058/http://www.iihf.com/archive/archive.htm Result archive] - Full results for men's, women's and junior championships since 1999 and medalists for all tournaments.
*[http://www.passionhockey.com/hockeyarchives/archives.htm#a1997 Complete archive] of all IIHF tournaments in French at passionhockey.com.
*[https://nextworldjuniors.com/ World Juniors 2022 All Matches Time]

{{World Junior Ice Hockey Championships}}
{{IIHF}}
{{New Year}}

[[Category:International ice hockey competitions for junior teams]]
[[Category:World Junior Ice Hockey Championships| ]]
[[Category:International Ice Hockey Federation tournaments]]
[[Category:Junior ice hockey competitions]]
[[Category:December in sports]]
[[Category:January in sports]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1977]]
[[Category:World championships in ice hockey|U20]]