International Ice Hockey Federation

Information

Tournament Format

 

The 10 teams are divided into two, five-team groups in the Preliminary Round.

After a single round-robin series in each group, the top four teams from each group advance to the Playoff Round while the fifth-placed team in each group moves to the Relegation Round.

 

The top four placed teams from the Preliminary will play a cross-over Quarterfinal game: 1A vs. 4B, 1B vs. 4A, 2A vs. 3B and 2B vs. 3A. The winner of each Quarterfinal moves onto the Semi-Finals.

The winner of each Semi-Final game will move onto the Gold Medal Game, while the losers will play in the Bronze Medal Game.

The quarter-final losers will be ranked 5th to 8th according to 1. their position in the group, 2. their preliminary-round record (1. points, 2. goal difference, 3. goals scored).

Relegation format

The two last-placed teams play a best-of-three Relegation Round series. The third game is only played if needed. The winner of the series plays again at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, while loser is relegated to Division I Group A.

Three Point System

For all games points shall be awarded as follows:

  • 3 points for the winning team at the conclusion of regulation time
  • 1 point for both teams at the conclusion of regulation time if the game is tied
  • An additional point earned for the team winning the game in a 5-minute overtime period, or the Penalty-Shot Shootout if the teams are still tied following conclusion of the overtime period
  • 0 points for the team losing the game in regulation time

Overtime Operations

If a game is tied at the end of regulation time, a five-minute overtime period shall be played. The teams will change ends for the overtime period. The game will end when the five minutes has expired or when a goal is scored; the scoring team will be declared the winner. If no goal is scored in the overtime period then the Game Winning Shots Procedure will apply. All overtime periods of any IIHF game shall be played with each team at the numerical strength of three (3) skaters and one (1) goalkeeper for games of the preliminary round.

Overtime procedure in Play-Off Games:

  • In case of a tie at the conclusion of regulation time in a Relegation Playoff, Placement Playoff, Quarter Final, Semi Final and Bronze Medal Game, there will be a 10-minute sudden-death overtime period played.
  • The teams will change ends for the overtime period.
  • The overtime period shall be played with each team at the numerical strength of four (4) skaters and one (1) goalkeeper.
  • The team, which scores a goal during this period is the winner.
  • In the Gold Medal game there will be a 20-minute sudden-death overtime period, following a 15-minute intermission during which the ice will be resurfaced.
  • The teams will change ends.
  • The overtime period shall be played with each team at the numerical strength of five (5) skaters and one (1) goalkeeper.
  • The team which scores a goal during this period is declared winner.
  • If no goal is scored during the sudden-death overtime, there will be Penalty-Shot Shootout (PSS) according to the Penalty-Shot Shootout Procedure.

Penalty-Shot Shootout Procedure

If no goal is scored in the overtime period then the Penalty-Shot Shootout (PSS) procedure will apply. The following procedure will be utilized:

  • Three different shooters from each team - five in playoff and medal games - will take alternate shots, until a decisive goal is scored.
  • If the game is still tied after three shots (respectively five in playoff and medal games) by each team, the PSS will continue with a tie-break shoot out by one player of each team, with a reversed shooting order. The same or new players can take the tie-break shots.
  • The same player can also be used for each shot by a team in the tie-break shoot-out.
  • Only the decisive goal will count in the result of the game.
  • Shots will be taken at both ends of the ice. The area of the ice to be used will be dry scraped.
  • A coin toss will determine which team takes the first shot, with the winner of the toss having the choice whether his team will shoot first or second.
  • Any player whose penalty was not over when overtime ended cannot take the shots and must stay in the penalty box or in the dressing room.
  • Once named, players may only be replaced in the event of injury or penalty.
  • The substitute stand-by player is placed last in the shooting order.
  • The goalkeepers will defend the same goal, as determined by the Referee. The goalkeepers from each team may be changed after each shot.
  • The players of both teams will take the shots alternately until a decisive goal is scored.
  • The decisive goal will be credited to the player who scored and to the goalkeeper concerned.

Tie breaking formula

The tie-breaking system for two teams with the same number of points in a standing will be the game between the two teams, the winner of the game taking precedence. 

Due to the fact that the three-point system does not allow a game to end in a tie, then the following tie breaking procedure is applicable when three or more teams are tied in points in a Championship standing.

Should three or more teams be tied on points, then a tie breaking formula will be applied as follows, creating a sub-group amongst the tied teams. This process will continue until only two or none of the teams remain tied. In the case of two tied teams remaining, the game between the two would then be the determining tie-breaker as the game could not end as a tie. In the case of none of the teams being tied, the criteria specified in the respective step applies.

Step 1: Taking into consideration the games between each of the tied teams, a sub-group is created applying the points awarded in the direct games amongst the tied teams from which the teams are then ranked accordingly.

Step 2: Should three or more teams still remain tied in points then the better goal difference in the direct games amongst the tied teams will be decisive. 

Step 3: Should three or more teams still remain tied in points and goal difference then the highest number of goals scored by these teams in their direct games will be decisive

Step 4: Should three or more teams still remain tied in points, goal difference and goals scored then the results between each of the three teams and the closest best-ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied. In this case the tied team with the best result (1. points, 2. goal difference, 3. more goals scored) against the closest best ranked-team will take precedence

Step 5: Should the teams still remain tied, then the results between each of the three teams and the next highest best-ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied.

Step 6: Should the teams still remain tied after these five steps have been exercised then Sport considerations will be applied and the teams will be ranked by their positions coming into the Championship (seeding).

Final Ranking

The gold medal game and bronze medal game will determine the final ranking for the top-4 teams. The eliminated teams from the preliminary round plus the losing teams of the quarter-finals will be ranked following their positions in the groups preceding the quarter-final round.

The final ranking will follow the following procedure:
1. Higher position in the group,
2. Higher number of points,
3. Better goal difference,
4. Higher number of goals scored for,
5. Better seeding number

More information

Click here to download the IIHF’s Rule Book and Sport Regulations.

Player Entry

  • The teams submit the names of the participating players at the first Championship Directorate.
  • The maximum number of players allowed on a Team Registration Form at the beginning of the World Junior Championship is 20 skaters and 3 goalies. The minimum is 15 skaters and 2 goalies.
  • At the first Directorate meeting, the teams must name at least the minimum number of 15 skaters and 2 goalkeepers. The players entered must be present at the championship venue by the time of the Directorate meeting.
  • The remaining players up to the allowed maximum of 20 + 3 must be submitted for players' control two hours before any of the following championship games. Players can be added throughout the tournament until the roster is full.
  • During a game, a team may enter (dress) 20 skaters and 2 goalkeepers on the Official Game Sheet, with the emergency goalkeeper standing by if a goalie entered to the Official Game Sheet is unable to play.

Eligibility

To play in the IIHF World Championship, the Olympic ice hockey tournament and the qualifications to these competitions, players must fulfill the following qualification requirements:

- Each player must be under the jurisdiction of an IIHF member national association

- Each player must be a citizen of the country he represents. 


Acquiring a new national eligibility (The ‘two-year’ case)

When a player has changed his citizenship or has acquired another citizenship and wants to participate for the first time in an IIHF competition representing his new country he must:

- Prove that he has participated for at least two consecutive hockey seasons and 16 consecutive months (480 days) in the national competitions of his new country after his 10th birthday during which period he has neither transferred to another country nor played ice hockey within any other country.

- Have an international transfer card (ITC) that shows the transfer to the national competition of his new country and which was approved and dated at least 16 months (480 days) prior to his proposed participation.

 

Change of national eligibility (The ‘four-year’ case)

A player, who has previously participated in IIHF competition, can switch national eligibility (but only once in a player's life) if:

- He is a citizen of the new country of his choice.

- He has participated for at least four consecutive years (1460 days) in the national competitions of his new country, during which period he has neither transferred to another country nor played ice hockey within any other country and has not played for his previous country in an IIHF competition during this four year period.

- He has an international transfer card (ITC) that shows the transfer to the national competition of his new country and which was approved and dated at least four years before the start of the IIHF competition in which he wishes to participate.

History

Year Gold Silver Bronze Venue
1977 Soviet Union Canada Czechoslovakia B. Bystrica, Zvolen
1978 Soviet Union Sweden Canada Montreal
1979 Soviet Union Czechoslovakia Sweden Karlstad
1980 Soviet Union Finland Sweden Helsinki
1981 Sweden Finland Soviet Union Füssen
1982 Canada Czechoslovakia Finland Minnesota
1983 Soviet Union Czechoslovakia Canada Leningrad
1984 Soviet Union Finland Czechoslovakia Norrköping, Nyköping
1985 Canada Czechoslovakia Soviet Union Helsinki, Turku
1986 Soviet Union Canada USA Hamilton
1987 Finland Czechoslovakia Sweden Piestany
1988 Canada Soviet Union Finland Moscow
1989 Soviet Union Sweden Czechoslovakia Anchorage
1990 Canada Soviet Union Czechoslovakia Helsinki, Turku
1991 Canada Soviet Union Czechoslovakia Saskatoon
1992 Soviet Union Sweden USA Füssen, Kaufbeuren
1993 Canada Sweden Czechoslovakia Gävle
1994 Canada Sweden Russia Ostrava, Frydek.Mistek
1995 Canada Russia Sweden Alberta
1996 Canada Sweden Russia Boston
1997 Canada USA Russia Geneva, Morges
1998 Finland Russia Switzerland Helsinki, Hämeenlinna
1999 Russia Canada Slovakia Winnipeg
2000 Czech Republic Russia Canada Skelleftea, Umea
2001 Czech Republic Finland Canada Moscow, Podolsk
2002 Russia Canada Finland Pardubice, Hradec Kralove
2003 Russia Canada Finland Halifax, Sydney
2004 USA Canada Finland Helsinki, Hämeenlinna
2005 Canada Russia Czech Republic Grand Forks, Thief River Falls
2006 Canada Russia Finland Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops
2007 Canada Russia USA Leksand, Mora
2008 Canada Sweden Russia Pardubice, Liberec
2009 Canada Sweden Russia Ottawa
2010 USA Canada Sweden Saskatoon, Regina
2011 Russia Canada USA Buffalo, Niagara
2012 Sweden Russia Canada Calgary, Edmonton
2013 USA Sweden Russia Ufa
2014 Finland  Sweden Russia  Malmö
2015 Canada Russia Slovakia Toronto, Montreal
2016 Finland Russia USA  Helsinki
2017 USA Canada Russia Montreal, Toronto

TV Listings

 

The 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship is broadcast in several countries.

 

Canada: TSN and RDS
Czech Republic: Ceske Televize
Finland: YLE
Latvia: Viasat Sport Baltic
Russia: MatchTV
Slovakia: RTVS
Sweden: SVT and TV4
Switzerland: SRG (highlights)
United States: NHL Network

Exhibition Games

 

Find below a list of pre-competition games involving the U20 national teams that will play in the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.

 

7 Dec.   Riga (LAT)   Latvia  -  Kazakhstan   1-4
8 Dec.   Riga (LAT)   Latvia  -  Kazakhstan   3-0 
12 Dec.   Blainville (CAN)   Canada  -  U Sports   5-3
13 Dec.   Blainville (CAN)   Canada  -  U Sports   3-0
14 Dec.   Blainville (CAN)   Canada  -  Czech Rep.   8-0
19 Dec.   Montreal (CAN)   Canada  -  Finland   5-0
19 Dec.   Cornwall (CAN)   Slovakia  -  Sweden   3-4
20 Dec.   Kingston (CAN)   Russia  -  Denmark   2-1 OT
21 Dec.   Oshawa (CAN)   USA  -  Switzerland   4-3
21 Dec.   Ottawa (CAN)   Canada  -  Czech Rep.   5-0
22 Dec.   Chateauguay (CAN)   Latvia  -  Denmark   2-3
22 Dec.   Sherbrooke (CAN)   Slovakia  -  Finland   1-8
22 Dec.   Kingston (CAN)   Russia  -  Sweden   0-4
23 Dec.   Kingston (CAN)   USA  -  Czech Rep.   4-0
23 Dec.   Toronto (CAN)   Canada  -  Switzerland   4-3 OT
23 Dec.   Hawkesbury (CAN)   Latvia  -  Hawkesbury   3-0

Media Accreditation

 

Media accreditation for the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in Montreal and Toronto, Canada, can be requested until 1st December 2016.

 

Click here to access the application form.