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Sweden looks to continue its strong performance on Friday, as they get set to face Latvia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The World Juniors have officially been around since the 1970s, giving hockey fans the chance to see the next wave of talent perform on the big stage. From stars of yesteryear like Wayne Gretzky and Peter Forsberg, to the likes of Sidney Crosby, Connor Bedard and Connor McDavid, NHL greats – past and present – have competed in the tournament.
Sweden comes into the knockout stage as the heavy favorites, thanks to a convincing effort in the opening round. They were the only team to win all four of its games in regulation, including a big 6-3 victory over the host United States on New Year’s Eve. Now, Juniorkronorna looks to advance to the semifinals for the fifth year in a row, as they have not missed the final four since 2021.
Latvia is simply happy to be in this spot. The team managed to grab a win over Denmark, which was enough to get them into the quarterfinals for the third year in a row. The country has never made it to the semifinals at the WJC.
Sweden beat Latvia in last year’s quarterfinals, 3-2.
2026 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPQuarterfinals
Sweden vs. Latvia
When: Friday, January 2
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Where: Grand Casino Arena (St. Paul, Minn.)
Channel: NHL Network