The 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship kicks off in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, showcasing top players under 20, including draft-eligible talents like Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg. Team USA aims for a three-peat, while Canada faces challenges with key players retained by NHL teams, affecting their gold medal hopes. Notable teams include Denmark, which seeks to avoid relegation, and Latvia, looking to build on last year’s upset over Canada. The tournament promises high-speed action and emotional gameplay as countries vie for medals from Dec. 23 to Jan. 5.
