>+π·πππβββ’ 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships : Russia vs USA (Livestream) NHLβ 2021 FREE
Live Now>>https://tinyurl.com/ydf5fkrp
Live Now>>https://tinyurl.com/ydf5fkrp
The 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships will be the 45th edition of the Ice Hockey World Junior Championship. It is scheduled to begin on December 25, 2020, and end with the gold medal game on January 5, 2021. This marks the 14th time that Canada will host the IHWJC.
The NHL season may be on hold until mid-January due to the ongoing pandemic, but the World Junior Championship β one of the most exciting annual events on the hockey calendar β will be carrying on as scheduled. The event is set to begin on Dec. 25 in Edmonton and, as always, it promises to bring high-octane action even in the absence of fans.
The event is not only a highly competitive international tournament that offers medals and bragging rights to the top teams, it also acts as a major showcase for some of the gameβs top young prospects. Every game in the tournament will air on NHL Network in the United States and TSN in Canada.
The winner of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship will be from North America, according to three NHL.com writers.
NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman and LNH.com staff writer Guillaume Lepage predict Canada will win the tournament for the second straight year, while NHL.com staff writer Mike G. Morreale believes the United States will win it for the first time since 2017.
Kimelman says Canada will defeat Russia in a repeat of the championship game from the 2020 WJC, while Lepage believes Canada will win against the United States in the final. Morreale predicts the United States will defeat Canada to win the tournament.
Each writer also made his picks for best goalie, best forward, best defenseman and top 2021 NHL Draft prospect.
The 2021 WJC starts Friday and runs through Jan. 5 at Rogers Place in Edmonton. No fans will be in attendance and the tournament will be played in a secure zone similar to what the NHL used for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.
What is the World Junior Championship?
The WJC, or more simply the World Juniors, is an annual international ice hockey tournament that features some of the best under-20 players in the world. A large number of NHL prospects participate in the event every year, both in the form of players who have already been drafted and players who are expected to be drafted this summer. The main tournament features the top-ten ranked hockey nations in the world, but there are also several lower divisions that play separate WJC tournaments for the purpose of promotion/relegation.
How does the format work?
The event typically begins around Christmas and runs until early January, with a round-robin preliminary round preceding an elimination three-round playoff. The 10-team field is split evenly into two groups (Group A and Group B), with every team playing one prelim game against each of the four other teams in their group. The preliminary round uses a 3β2β1β0 point structure (3 points for a win, 2 points for an OT win, 1 point for an OT loss, 0 points for a regulation loss).
Which countries are competing this year?
The 10 teams will play in two groups during the preliminary round, which runs through Dec. 31. Group A consists of Canada, Finland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Germany. Group B includes Russia, the United States, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Austria.
The top four finishers in each group will play in the quarterfinals Jan. 2. The semifinals are Jan. 4, and the championship and third-place games are Jan. 5.
All games will be broadcast on NHL Network in the United States and TSN and RDS in Canada.
Kimelman predictions
Group A winner: Canada
Group B winner: Russia
Champion: Canada
Second: Russia
Third: United States
Surprise star: Brad Lambert, F, Finland
Best goalie: Iaroslav Askarov, Russia
Best defenseman: Bowen Byram, Canada
Best forward: Cole Caufield, United States
Top 2021 NHL Draft eligible player: Matthew Beniers, F, United States
Morreale predictions
Group A winner: Canada
Group B winner: Russia
Champion: United States
Second: Canada
Third: Sweden
Surprise star: Philip Tomasino, F, Canada
Best goalie: Spencer Knight, United States
Best defenseman: Philip Broberg, Sweden
Best forward: Anton Lundell, Finland
Top 2021 NHL Draft eligible player: Matthew Beniers, F, United States
Lepage predictions
Group A winner: Canada
Group B winner: Russia
Champion: Canada
Second: United States
Third: Russia
Surprise star: Jakob Pelletier, F, Canada
Best goalie: Spencer Knight, United States
Best defenseman: Bowen Byram, Canada
Best forward: Dylan Cozens, Canada
Top 2021 NHL Draft eligible player: Matthew Beniers, F, United States
