Holiday tradition: B.C. ready for world junior hockey championship - Action News
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Holiday tradition: B.C. ready for world junior hockey championship

The world junior hockey championship, which begins Wednesday, has grown from a niche event hosted in boutique European towns, to a cult classic of a sporting spectacle that in Canada, at least, rivals major pro sports in audience and attention.

Canada looking to repeat as champions at tourney co-hosted by Vancouver, Victoria

Canada, the defending world junior champions, begin play Wednesday against Denmark and the following day versus Switzerland before facing a Czech Republic outfit Saturday that boasts a strong core of skilled offensive players. (Chad Hipolito/Canadian Press)

Officially, it's the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, but in Canada it'sknown simply as the world juniors.

The annual holiday tournament of the topteenaged male hockey players has grown from a niche event hosted in boutique European towns, to a cult classic of a sporting spectacle that in Canada at least, rivals major pro sports in audience and attention.

This year, thetournament returns to British Columbia for the first time since 2005/06,with games split between Vancouver and Victoria, starting on Boxing Day Wednesday and concluding Jan. 5with the bronze and gold-medal games.

Team Canada poses for a photo after defeating Sweden in last year's gold-medal game at Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press)

Here's what you need to know about this year's world juniors:

Who's playing?

Tenteams are drawn into two pools for the opening round. Pool A is based in Vancouver, with games at Rogers Arena. Pool B is based in Victoria, with games at theSave-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

POOL A

  • Canada
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Russia
  • Switzerland

POOL B

  • Finland
  • Kazakhstan
  • Slovakia
  • Sweden
  • United States

The top four teams in each pool qualify for the quarter-finals on Jan.2in Victoria and Vancouver. The winners advance to the Jan. 4 semifinals in Vancouver, withthe bronze and gold-medal games the followingday.

Canada's head coach, Tim Hunter, speaks to media following the team's recent selection camp at the Q Centre in Victoria. (Chad Hipolito / The Canadian Press)

When does Canada play?

Canada begins its schedule Wednesday (Boxing Day) against Denmark. The team's opening-round schedule grows increasingly tougher, ramping up to theNew Year's Eve clash against Russia. All games start at 8 p.m. ET.

  • vs. Denmark Dec. 26
  • vs. Switzerland Dec. 27
  • vs. Czech Republic Dec. 29
  • vs. Russia Dec. 31
  • Who are the notable players?

    The top teams at the tournament are brimming with talent and the stage is always set for unknowns to emerge.

    Jack Hughes United States

    • Thelikely first overall selection in next summer's NHL draft, Hughes is expected to be among the stars of the tournament. The 17-year-old is adynamic skater and puck-handler.He'll anchor a strong American team alongside older brother Quinn, an attacking defenceman selected by the Vancouver Canucksin the first round of last year's draft. Jack is ranked as the top undraftedplayer by NHL Central Scouting.
    American Jack Hughes is expected to be a top pick in the next NHL draft and among the top players at the 2019 World Juniors. (Carlos Osorio / The Associated Press)

    Kaapo KakkoFinland

    • Kakko is likely the most hyped prospect of the tournament after Hughes. Currently playing in Finland's top league against men, Kakko, 17, has the combination of size and puck-handling to dominate games.

    Adam Boqvist Sweden

  • Boqvist, 18, is an aggressive offensive defencemanwho looks to lead the charge from the back. A first-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, he's known for hisspeed and willingness to carry the puck in an effort to model his game after his idol, San Jose Sharks blue-linerErik Karlsson.
  • Cody Glass Canada

    • The Vegas Golden Knights' first-ever draft pick lit up the scoreboard with his junior team last season, scoring 37 goals and 102 points in 64 games for the Portland Winterhawksof the Western Hockey League. Glass, 19, is a fast-skating, physical centre who'll be counted on for leadership as a top-six forward on Team Canada.
    Centre Cody Glass, left, was cut from the Canadian team a year ago, but is expected to play a key offensive role on this year's squad. (Aaron Lynett / The Canadian Press)

    What are the marquee 1st-round matchups?

    U.S. vs. Slovakia Dec. 26 in Victoria

  • The second game of the tournament and first in the B.C. capital. It'll be the first glimpse at the Americans, led by the Hughes brothers, in a matchup against a Slovakian team that nearly upset last year's silver medallists from Sweden.
  • Canada vs. Czech Republic Dec. 29 in Vancouver

    • This will be Canada's third game of the tournament and likely toughest to that pointafter opening against Denmark and Switzerland. The Czechs are a step below the elite tier of teams at the tournament but boast a strong core ofskilled offensive players, including NHL first-rounders Filip Zadina(Detroit) and Martin Necas(Carolina) that will test the Canadiandefence.
    Czech Republic forward Filip Zadina scored seven goals in as many games at last year's world junior tournament. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/Associated Press/File)

    Canada vs. Russia Dec. 31 in Vancouver

    • The traditional rivals and gold-medal contendersmeetin the final game of poolplayon what is traditionally the biggest night of the opening round. The winner of what is typically an emotional contest will earn an easier quarter-final matchupand big boost of momentum entering the elimination round.

    Finland vs. United States Dec. 31 in Victoria

    • The Hughes' vs.Kakkoand company in a meeting featuring some of the tournament's highest-profile players and twofavoured teams in Pool B.
    Canada celebrates its 5-0 goal-medal win over Russia at the 2006 world juniors, the last time B.C. hosted the under-20 tournament. (Ryan Remiorz / CP Photo)