2026 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships: Predictions and betting odds

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: 25 December, 2025

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships will be played in the United States from 26 December 2025 to 5 January 2026, bringing elite under-20 hockey back to Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Matches will take place at Grand Casino Arena and 3M Arena at Mariucci, with Minnesota hosting the tournament for the first time in more than four decades.

A small change this time sees Denmark return to the top division for the first time since 2019, taking the place of Kazakhstan, who were relegated after finishing last in 2025. In this article, we provide all the key information you need ahead of the tournament and share our predictions for the group winners and the eventual champion.

All the familiar heavyweights return this year, obviously including last year's winners, the United States. Alongside them are several dangerous outsiders. The 10 teams are split into two groups of five for the preliminary round. Here's the full list of participating national teams:

• United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia, and Denmark.

Goalkeepers: Caleb Heil, Nick Kempf, Brady Knowling, AJ Reyelts.

Defencemen: Asher Barnett, Henry Brzustewicz, EJ Emery, Blake Fiddler, Logan Hensler, Cole Hutson, Adam Kleber, Luke Osburn, Chase Reid, Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen.

Forwards: Kamil Bednarik, Trevor Connelly, Cole Eiserman, James Hagens, Will Horcoff, Jacob Kvasnicka, Ryker Lee, Cole McKinney, Brendan McMorrow, LJ Mooney, Max Plante, AJ Spellacy, Teddy Stiga, Shane Vansaghi, Will Zellers, Brodie Ziemer.

World Juniors Canada roster

Goalkeepers: Carter George, Jack Ivankovic, Joshua Ravensbergen.

Defencemen: Kashawn Aitcheson, Harrison Brunicke, Ben Danford, Carson Carels, Ethan Mackenzie, Zayne Parekh, Cameron Reid, Jackson Smith, Keaton Verhoeff.

Forwards: Carter Bear, Cole Beaudoin, Braeden Cootes, Caleb Desnoyers, Liam Greentree, Michael Hage, Tij Iginla, Jett Luchanko, Brady Martin, Porter Martone, Gavin McKenna, Michael Misa, Jake O'Brien, Sam O'Reilly, Cole Reschny.

Players to watch

Several players arrive this year in top form, coming off strong starts at the club level. With that in mind, here are the names worth keeping a close eye on as the competition unfolds.

Gavin McKenna (Canada)

Gavin McKenna is the name everyone will be talking about in Minnesota. At just 17, he is widely seen as the future No.1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Last season in the WHL, he scored 41 goals and 129 points, earning league MVP honours and leading Medicine Hat to the championship. On the international stage, McKenna has already collected two gold medals with Canada, scoring 10 goals and making 10 assists in seven games at the WJC 2024. He also set a new national record for most points in a single U18 tournament.

Gavin McKenna feeds Brady Martin with a beautiful backhand pass and he finishes upstairs! 🚨🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/0aCg4RyXZU

— JayOnSC (@JayOnSC) December 18, 2025

Petteri Rimpinen (Finland)

For Finland, much of their success could come down to Petteri Rimpinen between the pipes. He was named the tournament's best goaltender last year and earned a spot on the 2025 World Junior Media All-Star Team. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings this summer, but already brings valuable experience. Rimpinen spent last season playing against grown professionals in Finland's Liiga, where he also won the Rookie of the Year award.

PETTERI RIMPINEN IS PUTTING ON A CLINIC IN OT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GABZuthlAR

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 6, 2025

James Hagens (United States)

James Hagens is the player expected to drive Team USA's offence on home ice. The Boston College freshman is already producing at a high level in the NCAA and is projected as a top-three pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He has a strong track record in international tournaments too, having won gold medals at U17, U18, and the 2025 World Juniors, where he recorded 9 points in 7 games. Hagens arrives in Minnesota as one of the most complete and reliable forwards of the tournament.

#NHLBruins prospect James Hagens had six goals and seven assists before his hat trick vs Notre Dame. As of right now, his nine goals are tied for 13th in the NCAA in goals scored.

See what I did there? 🧸pic.twitter.com/og0GgCoBQ9

— Marcussi (@Marcussi_MA) November 29, 2025

It's no surprise to see Canada and the USA leading the odds. Both teams arrive with stacked rosters and clear gold-medal ambitions. Sweden sit just behind them as the main challenger, while Finland are the classic dark horse.

Updated on 25.12.2025

Group A winner

Sweden to win Group A. They've had their share of bad luck in the medal rounds lately, but this looks like a proper "now or never" roster. The depth up front is scary, the blue line can move pucks all day, and they should have enough firepower to edge any team in the group.

Group B winner

Canada to win Group B. It's a brutal group with Finland and Czechia right there, but Canada's mix of elite skill and pace usually shows up early in the tournament. If they keep it simple and avoid a slow start, they should edge the group.

Who will win the World Junior Championship 2026?

Sweden have been close for years, but something always seems to go wrong. Either an overtime loss or a bad period. This time it just feels different. The squad is packed with NHL draft-eligible talent, with several players already pushing elite levels and even keeping pace with names like McKenna. If Sweden allow their young, creative forwards to play freely, the chemistry is already there. With that depth and confidence, this looks like their best chance in years to win the gold.

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