The World Juniors are as much a part of the holidays as Santa Claus, Bowl Games and too much turkey and treats. Last year the Finns won on home ice, defeating Russia in the Gold medal game. The Americans took bronze, defeating Sweden.
As is the case every year, Team Canada is considered the favorite, despite some relatively poor showings in recent tournaments. The event returns to Canada this year, with Montreal and Toronto sharing hosting duties.
There are two groups of teams in the tournament: Group A consists of the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, while Group B features Canada, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia and the United States.