2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships: Everything you need to know!

Huynh NguyenJuly 25, 2022

The 2022 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships are scheduled to take place imminently, with the world of ice hockey set to turn its attention to some of the upcoming stars of the sport.

Each of the players competing will be looking to become the next household name in the world of professional sport, and this tournament will certainly be an incredible platform in which they are able to propel themselves to stardom.

In this article, we will provide you with everything you need to know about the upcoming competition, with everything from the schedule, location, odds, and even the best players to keep an eye out for with everything else thrown in between, too!

When and where will the 2022 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships take place?

Naturally, the first thing to know about the upcoming competition is to know when and where it will be taking place. If you are interested in watching the sporting event, take place, then you would need to know when it is happening!

The tournament is scheduled to take place at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and will commence with the first game being played on August 9, 2022. The final match will take place on Saturday, August 20, 2022, thus completing a schedule that comprises just under two weeks of intense and highly competitive ice hockey!

Which teams will be competing at the tournament?

There will be a total of 10 teams competing in the 2022 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships this August, with each of them vying for glory. The teams involved have been split into two groups that consist of five, and form Groups A and B.

Group A consists of Canada, Finland, Czechia, Slovakia, and Latvia, whereas Group B features the United States, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

In order to qualify from the group stage and progress to the next round of the tournament, nations will need to finish in the top four positions, while the two teams that finish bottom of each group will then be sent home.

The eight that qualify will then compete in a knockout tournament with a quarterfinal being followed by a semifinal, with the final then taking place between the two best teams on Saturday, August 20, 2022. On the same day, a bronze medal game to determine the team that finishes third will also take place prior to the gold medal game.

Who are the favorites to win the 2022 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships?

There will be some that will be interested to learn who the favorites are for the upcoming event, as they will have had their eye on the odds that are continued to be made available at an online sportsbook they continue to use.

For those who have looked, they will have found that Canada is currently the favorite to win with odds of +150, while Finland is behind them at a price of +350. The USA (+400), and Sweden (+500) make up the best other alternatives as potential winners.

Let’s not forget that we will get to see Canada and Finland play against each other in Group A, with their match being the final group game of the tournament on August 15.

Who are the players to watch?

Naturally, given the status of this tournament and what it can do for the youngest talent playing in professional ice hockey, there are going to be a plethora of different players to keep a close eye on once it begins.

Many will want to keep an eye on those who represent the Canadians and the Americans in this World Championships, as these are likely going to be individuals who could enter the National Hockey League in the future and become All-Stars.

Names such as Connor Bedard, Kent Johnson, Jake Neighbours, and Owen Power are Canadians to look out for, while Matty Beniers, Brett Berard, Logan Cooley, and Matt Coronato could all be impressive for the USA throughout the tournament.

Final Thoughts

There is no denying that the upcoming IIHF 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships is going to be an exciting competition and one that will be able to highlight some of the greatest emerging talent coming through the sport. We cannot wait to see this sporting event get started!