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Two Scandinavian rivals lock horns with a spot in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship Gold Medal Game on the line, as Sweden takes on Finland.
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.
Finland has now made it to the semifinals in seven of the past nine World Juniors. The team came into the quarterfinals as a slight underdog, going up against the hosts, Team USA. However, the Finns put together a gutsy effort, coming away with a 4-3 win in overtime to advance to the final four.
Suomi is trying to get back to the championship game for the second year in a row.
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.
2026 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPSemifinals
Sweden vs. Finland
When: Sunday, January 4
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Where: Grand Casino Arena (St. Paul, Minn.)
Channel: NHL Network