Canada vs Finland: Group A How to watch, live streaming, channel list and more - 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

Canada and Finland are set to face off in the preliminary round of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 26. In 2024, the United States emerged victorious in the IIHF tournament.

Canada vs. Finland: IIHF Game Details

Canada will face Finland on Thursday, Dec. 26, at Canadian Tire Centre.

Canada vs. Finland: Streaming Options

Date and Time: Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. ET

Location: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Canada.

TV Broadcast: NHLN, TSN

Live Streaming: Fubo TV, Sling TV, DirectTV, ESPN+

Canada vs. Finland: Game Preview

Coming off a disappointing fifth-place finish in 2024, Team Canada enters this tournament with renewed determination to win a medal.

Despite missing top players like Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, Canada's deep talent pool remains formidable. The host nation's roster showcases the next wave of NHL prospects, all eager to restore Canada's golden legacy in front of home crowds.

Finland finished in fourth place in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship after a high-scoring 8-5 bronze-medal loss to Czechia. With a tough group draw, the Finns face an uphill battle. However, a favorable quarterfinal matchup against either Slovakia or Czechia could be the turning point in their campaign.

Canada vs. Finland: Players to watch

Canada returns 5 players from the 2024 IIHF, including captain Brayden Yager, a Winnipeg Jets first-round pick in 2023. Yager leads a group loaded with recent first-rounders like forwards Easton Cowan (Toronto), Berkly Catton (Seattle) and defenders Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia) and Tanner Molendyk (Nashville).

17-year-old Gavin McKenna, the early favorite to go first overall in 2026, leads the WHL in scoring and headlines an exciting group of young forwards. Goaltenders Carson Bjarnason (Philadelphia) and Carter George (Los Angeles) give Canada a strong tandem in net.

Finland brings back 6 players from their bronze medal squad, led by forwards Konsta Helenius (Buffalo), Emil Hemming (Dallas) and Rasmus Kumpulainen (Minnesota).

The defense boasts 2023 Pittsburgh draftees Emil Pieniniemi and Kalle Kangas, who should form a strong defense with captain Aron Kiviharju (Minnesota). Seattle pick Kim Saarinen has the inside track on the starting goalie job.

While not as loaded with premium draft talent as Canada, Finland will rely on depth and work ethic to vie for a medal.