List of IIHF World Junior Championship medalists
The IIHF World Junior Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for national under-20 ice hockey teams. Traditionally held from late December to the beginning of January, the main tournament features the top ten ranked hockey nations in 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 with the last place team facing relegation to a lower pool.[1]
Prior to the first official tournament held in 1977, there had been invitational tournaments in 1974, 1975 and 1976 not sanctioned by the IIHF.[2] There have been 49 official tournaments as of 2025, while the 2022 tournament was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Historically, the tournament has been dominated by Canada (20 gold medals) and the Soviet Union/CIS/Russia (13 gold medals). The USSR won the first four official tournaments, while the Canadians put together five consecutive championships between 1993 and 1997, and another five consecutive from 2005 to 2009.
Since the tournament moved to a championship-game format, just three gold medal games have not featured Canada, the United States, or Russia (2001, 2014 and 2026). 1987 remains the only year in which none of the three won a medal, due to the disqualification of Canada and the Soviet Union.
Medalists
The winners by season listed below.
Unofficial tournaments
| Year |  Gold
|
 Silver
|
 Bronze
|
4th place | Host city (cities) | Host country (countries) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 |  Soviet Union
|
 Finland
|
.svg.png){kind=small} Canada
|
 Sweden
|
Leningrad | Soviet Union
|
| 1975 | Soviet Union
|
Canada
|
Sweden
|
 Czechoslovakia
|
Winnipeg and Brandon Minneapolis, Bloomington and Fargo |
Canada.png){kind=small} United States
|
| 1976 | Soviet Union
|
Canada
|
Czechoslovakia
|
Finland
|
Tampere, Turku, Pori and Rauma | Finland
|
Official tournaments
- Key
- (#) Number of tournaments (or 2nd, 3rd or 4th places) won at the time.
.svg.png){kind=small}
In 2024, the IIHF announced that Canada will host the tournament every odd year until their agreement with Hockey Canada runs out in 2034.[16]
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
|
20 | 10 | 6 | 36 |
 Russia Soviet Union CISTotal |
4 8 1 13 |
10 3 0 13 |
9 2 0 11 |
23 13 1 37 |
 United States
|
7 | 2 | 7 | 16 |
| Finland
|
5 | 6 | 7 | 18 |
| Sweden
|
3 | 12 | 7 | 22 |
| Czechia Czechoslovakia Total |
2 0 2 |
2 5 7 |
3 6 9 |
7 11 18 |
 Slovakia
|
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
.svg.png){kind=small} Switzerland
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 50 | 50 | 50 | 150 |
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c During the final game of the tournament, Canada and the Soviet Union became engaged in a violent bench-clearing brawl while Canada was leading 4–2. Consequently, the game was declared null and void, and both teams were ejected from the tournament; while the Soviets were out of medal contention, Canada was playing for the gold medal and were guaranteed at least a bronze.[5][6]
References
- General
- "IIHF World U20 Championships". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
- "Medals History Since 1974". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
- "National Junior Team: Past Results". Hockey Canada. Archived from the original on 28 April 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
- "Medal standings". World Juniors 2008. International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
- Specific
- ^ "Tournament playing format". 2008 World Juniors. International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
- ^ "International hockey timeline". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
- ^ Steiss, Adam (29 December 2021). "World Juniors cancelled". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Schedule/Results/Rosters". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ Harrison, Doug (1 January 2007). "Backgrounder–2008 World Junior Hockey Championship". CBC Sports. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
- ^ "National Junior Team: History". Hockey Canada. 26 May 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
- ^ "Story #59: Team with no name wins Olympic gold". International Ice Hockey Federation. 23 February 1992. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ Merk, Martin (1 January 2013). "Brotherly but divided". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ Szemberg, Szymon (13 December 2010). "2011 IIHF World U20 Championship". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010.
- ^ "Toronto and Montreal to host 2015 and 2017 world juniors". The Sports Network. Toronto, Ontario. 19 June 2013. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ Seravalli, Frank (3 December 2015). "Outdoor game planned for 2018 World Juniors in Buffalo". The Sports Network. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ Clark, Ryan (5 January 2024). "Minneapolis-St. Paul to host 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship". ESPN. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "2027 World Junior Championship to be played in Edmonton, Red Deer". National Hockey League. 18 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ "2028 IIHF World Junior Championship will be played in Tampere and Turku". International Ice Hockey Federation. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ "Quebec City to host World Juniors, Women's World Championship". The Sports Network. Toronto, Ontario. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ Podnieks, Andrew (5 January 2024). "President Tardif meets the press". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
