The IIHF World Under-20 Championships (colloquially known as the World Junior Hockey Championship) is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world. It is traditionally held from late December to the beginning of January. The main tournament features the top ten ranked hockey nations in the world, comprising the "Top Division", from which a world champion is crowned. There are also three lower pools—divisions I, II and III—that each play separate tournaments playing for the right to be promoted to a higher pool, or face relegation to a lower pool.[1]
The first official tournament was held in held in 1977. Prior to that, there had been invitational tournaments in 1974, 1975 and 1976 that were not sanctioned by the IIHF.[2] One of the most infamous incidents in tournament history occurred in 1987 in Piestany, Czechoslovakia, where a massive brawl involving all players on both teams occurred between Canada and the Soviet Union. It began when Pavel Kostichkin took a two–handed slash at Theoren Fleury and the Soviet Union's Evgeny Davydov came off the bench, eventually leading to both benches clearing. The officials, unable to break up the fight, walked off the ice and eventually tried shutting off the arena lights, but the brawl lasted for 20 minutes before the game was declared null and void. An emergency IIHF meeting resulted in the delegates voting 7–1 to disqualify both teams from the tournament. While the Soviets were out of medal contention, Canada was playing for the gold medal, and were leading 4–2 at the time of the brawl. The gold medal ultimately went to Finland, hosts Czechoslovakia took the silver and Sweden, who had previously been eliminated from medal contention, was awarded the bronze.[3] The brawl helped raise the profile of the tournament in Canada where the tournament now ranks as one of the most important events on the hockey calendar.[4][5]
As of 2009, 33 official tournaments have been staged. Eight nations have won a gold medal and eleven have won medals. Historically, the tournament has been dominated by the Soviet Union/Russia and Canada, together accounting for 27 of the 33 gold medals awarded. Canada leads the all-time gold medal count with 15 and have won a total of 25 medals.
Contents |
Champions
Unofficial tournaments
| Year |  Gold |
 Silver |
 Bronze |
Host city (cities) | Host country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 |  Soviet Union |
 Finland |
 Canada |
Leningrad | Soviet Union |
| 1975 | Soviet Union |
Canada |
 Sweden |
Winnipeg | Canada |
| 1976 | Soviet Union |
Canada |
 Czechoslovakia |
Tampere | Finland |
Official tournaments
- Key
- (#) Number of tournaments won at the time.
Future tournaments
These tournaments have been announced, but have not been played yet.
| Year | Host city (cities) | Host country |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Saskatoon and Regina | Canada[7] |
| 2011 | Buffalo |  United States[8] |
| 2012 | Calgary and Edmonton | Canada[9] |
Medal table
The unofficial tournaments held prior to 1977 are not included in this table.
Countries in italics no longer compete at the World Championships.
| Country | Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Medals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada |
15 | 6 | 4 | 25 |
 Russia Soviet Union |
3 9 12 |
6 3 9 |
5 2 7 |
14 14 28 |
 Czech Republic Czechoslovakia |
2 0 2 |
0 5 5 |
1 6 7 |
3 11 14 |
| Finland |
2 | 4 | 6 | 12 |
| Sweden |
1 | 8 | 4 | 13 |
| United States |
1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
 Slovakia |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Switzerland |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
See also
References
- Footnotes
- α During the final game of the tournament, Canada and the Soviet Union became engaged in a bench-clearing brawl while Canada was leading 4–2. Consequentially, the game was cancelled and both teams were disqualified. While the Soviets were out of medal contention, Canada was playing for the gold medal and was guaranteed at least a bronze.[10][11]
- β Canada will host the tournament every 3 or 4 years. In 1990 Canada decided to switch years with Finland.
- General
- "IIHF World U20 Championships". International Ice Hockey Federation. http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/all-medallists/u20.html. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- "World Juniors–medal Winners Since 1974". TSN. http://www.tsn.ca/World_jrs/feature/?fid=1264. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- "Team Canada > National Junior Team > Past Results". Hockey Canada. http://www.hockeycanada.ca/3/5/6/8/index1.shtml. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- "Medal standings". worldjuniors2008.com. http://www.worldjuniors2008.com/clanek.asp?id=2418. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- Specific
- ^ "Tournament playing format". worldjuniors2008.com. http://www.worldjuniors2008.com/clanek.asp?id=2388. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ "International hockey timeline". International Ice Hockey Federation. http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/the-iihf/timeline.html. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "World Junior Hockey Championship–History; 1987–Piestany, Czechoslovakia". TSN. http://www.tsn.ca/World_jrs/feature/?fid=3845&hubname=. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ Joyce, Gare (2006), When the Lights Went Out, Random House, p. 254, ISBN 978038566275
- ^ The Canadian Press (2006-05-03). "Ottawa to Host 2009 World Junior Tourney". TSN. http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/story/?id=164709. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "IIHF World U20 Championships" International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
- ^ Switzerland was originally awarded the right to host the tournament, but they withdrew their commitment. As a result, the tournament was awarded to Canada.
Daniel Bonner (2008-06-08). "Halifax-Moncton shoot for 2010 world junior hockey event". Halifax Chronicle-Herald. http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9007142.html. Retrieved 2008-06-11. - ^ The Canadian Press (2008-06-11). "'Unbelievable task' ahead for Hockey Canada". Edmonton Sun. http://www.edmontonsun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2008/06/11/5838566-sun.html. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "Calgary, Edmonton to host 2012 world junior hockey championship". Calgary Herald. 2008-08-28. http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=361fa8a6-4e8a-454e-b3c6-7db6ab80111a. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ^ Doug Harrison. "Backgrounder–2008 World Junior Hockey Championship". CBC Sports. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/backgrounder-world-juniors.html. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Team Canada > National Junior Team > History". Hockey Canada. http://www.hockeycanada.ca/3/5/6/7/index1.shtml. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
External links
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