IIHF World Junior Championship Tournament awards

Last Modified Dec 31, 2024 08:20 GMT
Canada v Germany: Group A - 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship
Canada v Germany: Group A - 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. Source: Getty

The International Ice Hockey Federation organizes the World Junior Championship, an annual ice hockey tournament for national under-20 teams. Established in 1977, the international tournament is held from late December to early January. The event features the top-10 nations in the 'Top Division' while lower-ranked teams compete in divisions I, II, and III for promotion or relegation.

The WJC mainly features hockey powerhouse nations like Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, among others. Canada holds the record for the most gold medals, with 20 championships. Apart from team achievements, the WJC recognizes individual awards such as Best Goaltender, Best Defenceman, and Best Forward of the Tournament.

Related: Most IIHF Junior Championship Best Goaltender Winner

IIHF World Junior Championship Tournament awards

Each year, the IIHF Directorate honors three standout players with awards for Best Goaltender, Best Defenceman, and Best Forward.

Since the tournament officially started in 1977, the awards have recognized many ice hockey players like Wayne Gretzky, Alexander Ovechkin, and Connor Bedard. The tournament also recognizes the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. The MVP award has been given to iconic names in hockey history such as Peter Forsberg, Connor Bedard, and Trevor Zegras, as per SportingNews.

YearBest Goaltender Best Defenceman Best Forward
2024Hugo HävelidSwedenAxel Sandin PellikkaSwedenCutter GauthierUnited States
2023Adam GajanSlovakiaDavid JiříčekCzech RepublicConnor BedardCanada
2022Jesper WallstedtSwedenKasper PuutioFinlandMason McTavishCanada
2021Devon LeviCanadaTopi NiemeläFinlandTim StützleGermany
2020Joel HoferCanadaRasmus SandinSwedenAlexis LafrenièreCanada
2019Pyotr KochetkovRussiaAlexander RomanovRussiaRyan PoehlingUnited States
2018Filip GustavssonSwedenRasmus DahlinSwedenCasey MittelstadtUnited States
2017Felix SandströmSwedenThomas ChabotCanadaKirill KaprizovRussia
2016Linus SöderströmSwedenZach WerenskiUnited StatesJesse PuljujärviFinland
2015Denis GodlaSlovakiaVladislav GavrikovRussiaMax DomiCanada
2014Oscar DanskSwedenRasmus RistolainenFinlandFilip ForsbergSweden
2013John GibsonUnited StatesJacob TroubaUnited StatesRyan Nugent-HopkinsCanada
2012Petr MrázekCzech RepublicBrandon GormleyCanadaYevgeni KuznetsovRussia
2011Jack CampbellUnited StatesRyan EllisCanadaBrayden SchennCanada
2010Benjamin ConzSwitzerlandAlex PietrangeloCanadaJordan EberleCanada
2009Jacob MarkströmSwedenErik KarlssonSwedenJohn TavaresCanada
2008Steve MasonCanadaDrew DoughtyCanadaViktor TikhonovRussia
2007Carey PriceCanadaErik JohnsonUnited StatesAlexei CherepanovRussia
2006Tuukka RaskFinlandMarc StaalCanadaEvgeni MalkinRussia
2005Marek SchwarzCzech RepublicDion PhaneufCanadaAlexander OvechkinRussia
2004Al MontoyaUnited StatesSami LepistöFinlandZach PariseUnited States
2003Marc-André FleuryCanadaJoni PitkänenFinlandIgor GrigorenkoRussia
2002Kari LehtonenFinlandIgor KnyazevRussiaMike CammalleriCanada
2001Tomáš DubaCzech RepublicRostislav KleslaCzech RepublicPavel BrendlCzech Republic
2000Rick DiPietroUnited StatesAlex RiazantsevRussiaMilan KraftCzech Republic
1999Roberto LuongoCanadaVitali VishnevskyRussiaMaxim AfinogenovRussia
1998David AebischerSwitzerlandPavel SkrbekCzech RepublicOlli JokinenFinland
1997Marc DenisCanadaJoe CorvoUnited StatesAlexei MorozovRussia
1996José ThéodoreCanadaMattias ÖhlundSwedenJarome IginlaCanada
1995Yevgeni TarasovRussiaBryan McCabeCanadaMarty MurrayCanada
1994Jamie StorrCanadaKenny JönssonSwedenNiklas SundströmSweden
1993Manny LegacéCanadaJanne GrönvallFinlandPeter ForsbergSweden
1992Mike DunhamUnited StatesDarius KasparaitisCISMichael NylanderSweden
1991Pauli JaksSwitzerlandJiří ŠlégrCzechoslovakiaEric LindrosCanada
1990Stéphane FisetCanadaAlexander GodynyukSoviet UnionRobert ReichelCzechoslovakia
1989Alexei IvashkinSoviet UnionRicard PerssonSwedenPavel BureSoviet Union
1988Jimmy WaiteCanadaTeppo NumminenFinlandAlexander MogilnySoviet Union
1987Markus KettererFinlandCalle JohanssonSwedenRobert KronCzechoslovakia
1986Evgeny BelosheikinSoviet UnionMikhail TatarinovSoviet UnionJim SandlakCanada
1985Craig BillingtonCanadaVesa SaloFinlandMichal PivonkaCzechoslovakia
1984Alan PerryUnited StatesAlexei GusarovSoviet UnionRaimo HelminenFinland
1983Dominik HašekCzechoslovakiaIlya ByakinSoviet UnionTomas SandströmSweden
1982Mike MoffatCanadaGord KluzakCanadaPetri SkrikoFinland
1981Lars ErikssonSwedenMiloslav HoravaCzechoslovakiaPatrik SundströmSweden
1980Jari PaavolaFinlandReijo RuotsalainenFinlandVladimir KrutovSoviet Union
1979Pelle LindberghSwedenAlexei KasatonovSoviet UnionVladimir KrutovSoviet Union
1978Alexander TyznychSoviet UnionViacheslav FetisovSoviet UnionWayne GretzkyCanada
1977Jan HrabákCzechoslovakiaViacheslav FetisovSoviet UnionDale McCourtCanada

Related: List of IIHF World Junior Championship Directorate Award Winners

FAQs on IIHF World Junior Championship Tournament awards

A. Jonathan Lekkerimaki of Sweden was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.


A. Peter Forsberg, Connor Bedard, and Trevor Zegras are just a few of the players who have earned the MVP title.


A.The IIHF WJC is taking place in Ottawa, Canada.


A.Canada won the most IIHF WJC titles with 20 gold medals. 


Related Stories

NHL analyst reckons Oilers PK 'just doesn't have an answer' for Kings' dominant PP NHL analyst reckons Oilers PK 'just doesn't have an answer' for Kings' dominant PP
NHL analyst reckons Oilers PK 'just doesn't have an answer' for Kings' dominant PP
1d
"That's it, I'm done, see ya": Cal Clutterbuck announces retirement from NHL on social media with heartfelt message "That's it, I'm done, see ya": Cal Clutterbuck announces retirement from NHL on social media with heartfelt message
"That's it, I'm done, see ya": Cal Clutterbuck announces retirement from NHL on social media with heartfelt message
$60,800,000 Montreal Canadiens forward vents frustration after Game 2 loss, sends clear message to teammates $60,800,000 Montreal Canadiens forward vents frustration after Game 2 loss, sends clear message to teammates
$60,800,000 Montreal Canadiens forward vents frustration after Game 2 loss, sends clear message to teammates 
Leon Draisaitl shares his honest reaction to Connor McDavid’s 4 Nations win with Canada Leon Draisaitl shares his honest reaction to Connor McDavid’s 4 Nations win with Canada
Leon Draisaitl shares his honest reaction to Connor McDavid’s 4 Nations win with Canada
1d
How to watch Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Game 2: Live streaming, TV channel, puck-drop and more | Stanley Cup Playoffs, April 24, 2025 How to watch Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Game 2: Live streaming, TV channel, puck-drop and more | Stanley Cup Playoffs, April 24, 2025
How to watch Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Game 2: Live streaming, TV channel, puck-drop and more | Stanley Cup Playoffs, April 24, 2025
1d
3 least impressive Edmonton Oilers players from 6-2 blowout loss to LA Kings feat. Stuart Skinner 3 least impressive Edmonton Oilers players from 6-2 blowout loss to LA Kings feat. Stuart Skinner
3 least impressive Edmonton Oilers players from 6-2 blowout loss to LA Kings feat. Stuart Skinner 
1d
Lightning star Brandon Hagel casually brushes off concern over blowout loss to Panthers in Game 1 Lightning star Brandon Hagel casually brushes off concern over blowout loss to Panthers in Game 1
Lightning star Brandon Hagel casually brushes off concern over blowout loss to Panthers in Game 1
Maple Leafs lineup tonight: Toronto's projected lineup for Game 3 against Ottawa Senators | Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1, April 24, 2025 Maple Leafs lineup tonight: Toronto's projected lineup for Game 3 against Ottawa Senators | Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1, April 24, 2025
Maple Leafs lineup tonight: Toronto's projected lineup for Game 3 against Ottawa Senators | Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1, April 24, 2025
1d
Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils: Game 3 preview, predictions and odds | Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1, April 25, 2025 Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils: Game 3 preview, predictions and odds | Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1, April 25, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils: Game 3 preview, predictions and odds | Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1, April 25, 2025
14h
Senators lineup tonight: Ottawa's projected lineup for Game 3 against Toronto Maple Leafs | Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1, April 24, 2025 Senators lineup tonight: Ottawa's projected lineup for Game 3 against Toronto Maple Leafs | Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1, April 24, 2025
Senators lineup tonight: Ottawa's projected lineup for Game 3 against Toronto Maple Leafs | Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1, April 24, 2025
1d
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications