Team Canada begins its journey to repeat as gold medalists at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championships tonight in Victoria.
Even though it’s only a pre-tournament game, this will be the first time the squad competes against another country that will also be in the annual event.
It's the final countdown. One week away until Boxing Day! #REPRESENT pic.twitter.com/CY7QibZLRX
— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) December 19, 2018
Thirty-four players were invited to the national junior selection camp in Langford last week, and the team has now been whittled down to a roster of 22 players for when the tournament begins on Boxing Day.
Tonight’s game will not be the only chance to see Canada on home ice, they have another game in Victoria on Friday against Slovakia.
The tournament begins on Boxing Day with two Group B games in Victoria featuring the United States against Slovakia at 3:30 p.m. and Finland facing off with Sweden at 7:30 p.m. The gold medal game will be played Jan. 5, 2019 in Vancouver.
Other countries playing round-robin games in Victoria include Kazakhstan, while Group A teams playing in Vancouver will include Russia, Denmark, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, along with the host Canadians.
- With files from the Canadian Press
