The IIHF World Junior Championship is an annual under-20 ice hockey tournament organized by the IIHF. It features a 10-team ‘Top Division,’ comprising the highest-ranked nations, while lower divisions compete for promotion. The event is held from late December to early January. Founded in 1977 as an official tournament, the 2024-2025 WJC will be the 49th edition.
Canada has been the dominant nation with 20 gold medals, followed by the Soviet Union/Russia (13 gold medals). The United States is the current defending champion with six titles, as of December 2024. Participation has expanded over the years, with countries like Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Switzerland joining the top division.
IIHF World Junior Championship player eligibility
To compete in the IIHF World Junior Championship, players must meet specific eligibility criteria set by the International Ice Hockey Federation. These criteria ensure fair competition while respecting national representation rules.
Age Requirements: Players must be under 20 years of age in the year the tournament ends. i.e., a player is eligible for the 2024 tournament if born in 2004 or later.
Gender Eligibility: The tournament is open to male athletes only, sticking to IIHF standards.
National Citizenship: Participants must hold citizenship of the country they represent and be under the jurisdiction of a national ice hockey association affiliated with the IIHF.
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Switching National Eligibility:
Players who have not competed in any IIHF-organized events can switch nations by playing for two consecutive years in the new country and securing an international transfer card (ITC).
For players who have previously participated in IIHF competitions, switching requires four consecutive years of participation in the new country, obtaining an ITC, and citizenship.
A player can only change their national eligibility once.
Related: Where to watch World Junior Championship?
2024-2025 IIHF World Junior Championship player eligibility
Upper age limit: Players are eligible if their 20th birthday falls in 2025 (January 1 to December 31). Even if they turn 20 during the tournament, they can still participate. However, players whose 20th birthday occurs in 2024, before the tournament begins, are not eligible as per Thehockeywriters.
Lower age limit: A player must be at least 15 years old during the year the tournament ends (2025).
FAQs on Who can play in the IIHF World Championship
A. Players must be under 20 years of age in the year the tournament ends.
A. The World Junior Championship will be held in Ottawa, Canada.
A.The IIHF World Junior Championship features 10 teams in its top division.
A. Canadians can watch the IIHF WJC on TSN RDS and Americans can catch the live action on the NHL Network and ESPN+
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