Prior to the host’s game against the Danes, hockey fans will be able to watch the Czech Republic against Switzerland in Vancouver where games will be played at the Rogers Arena, home of the Vancouver Canucks and the main venue of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Group A in Vancouver also includes Russia, which will open on 27 December against Denmark while host Canada will play Switzerland in the evening game of the second day. The group stage in Vancouver will end with the Canada-Russia rivalry on New Year’s Eve.
For hockey fans in Victoria, the provincial capital, the tournament will start on Boxing Day with recent bronze medallist USA taking on Slovakia before recent silver medallist Sweden will play archrival Finland in the evening game. Group B in Victoria also includes the promoted team, Kazakhstan, which will give its World Juniors comeback against Finland on 27 December.
The group stage will be played 26-31 December 2018 in both cities. The top-four teams of each group will advance to the quarter-finals on 2nd January 2019 that will be played in both cities. If qualified, Canada will play the earlier quarter-final game in Vancouver. All semi-final and medal games as well as the best-of-three relegation round of the two last-ranked teams will be played in Vancouver. The 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship will end in the evening of Saturday, 5th January with the gold medal game.
Click here for the full game schedule.
Going to the World Juniors is a big holiday tradition for Canadians. Thousands of fans have already secured their tickets to this bucket-list event.
“The announcement of the tournament schedule is another indication of how close we are to puck-drop on Boxing Day,” said tournament director Riley Wiwchar. “Excitement has been building for months in the province, and that now extends across the country and around the world as fans get set to enjoy some of the best international hockey the world has to offer.”
Currently a limited amount of full venue packages is still offered for both Vancouver and Victoria for the 2019 World Juniors starting at $655.13 and $353 respectively. For Vancouver also half-tournament packages are offered for as of $499 (plus fees) that include nine or ten games respectively. Click here to order tickets.
World Juniors preview in Kamloops
Four of the 10 participating nations – Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States – are on the ice this week in the province in Kamloops for the Sport Chek World Junior Showcase, a summer preview of the high-calibre hockey fans will see this December.
Hosted at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, four games remain on the schedule including a Canada-USA match-up on Saturday. All remaining scheduled games are available on TSN, with individual game tickets available online or at the Sandman Centre Box Office for $24.90 plus fees.