After the 2022 World Junior Championship took place in August after the tournament had to be postponed, the tournament returns to where it rightfully belongs — with the action kicking off on Boxing Day.
This year's competition heads back to Canada, this time with two East Coast cities — Halifax and Moncton — hosting. Before round-robin action begins next Monday, check out the full odds below for the 2023 World Junior Championship:
| Team | Odds to win |
|---|---|
| Canada | -120 |
| Finland | +300 |
| USA | +380 |
| Sweden | +650 |
| Czech Republic | +1,600 |
| Slovakia | +3,500 |
| Switzerland | +10,000 |
| Germany | +15,000 |
| Austria | +50,000 |
| Latvia | +50,000 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of December 21, 2022.
Looking to do some World Juniors betting? Here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users at FanDuel can get a no-sweat first bet of up to $1,000! Sign Up Now
B) New users at DraftKings can bet $5 and get $150 in free bets! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only. Also, check out our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2022.
Team Canada (-120)
After dominating their way to the Gold medal in the summer, Canada opened the tournament as the favorite, bolstering an incredibly skilled roster led by captain Shane Wright and Connor Bedard.
Team Canada’s roster for the 2023 IIHF #WorldJuniors!???????????? pic.twitter.com/6l1AC5SvLK
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 12, 2022
Canada went 7-0-0 in the summer with the only real challenge coming against Finland in the final. This is a squad that has plenty of offensive firepower and will be able to score with the best of them in the tournament. It's no secret why they're so heavily favored over the rest of the field.
Canada will open up their tournament against Czechia on Monday night.
Team Finland (+300)
Coming in at the No. 2 spot on the odds board are the runner-ups in 2022. Although Finland has a very competitive roster, they don't have as much skill as they've had in years past.
Oliver Kapanen is a very solid player, but he doesn't possess the type of game-breaking skill that a team like Canada possesses. Make no mistake, Finland is second on the board for a reason, but Canada may be just too good.
The rosters are beginning to take shape for the 2023 World Juniors... Meet Team Finland!
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) December 14, 2022
????: https://t.co/rOvilS35kk pic.twitter.com/J01EISi7AA
Team USA (+380)
Rounding out the Top 3 is Team USA, who will be looking to recoup after finishing without a medal in the summer. USA have a fairly strong top line, but they'll be counted on to do most of the heavy lifting as depth projects to be an issue.
Their starting goalie is also yet to be decided, so it'll be interesting to watch that storyline play out.
We've got our squad that's heading to Canada. ????????
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 16, 2022
Full #WorldJuniors insider → https://t.co/pFEFPq2ZNR pic.twitter.com/qF3s20Kl9e
Past World Junior Championship winners
Here is a list of the WJC winners of the past decade, with Canada, the USA, and Finland all having won it three times.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Canada |
| 2021 | USA |
| 2020 | Canada |
| 2019 | Finland |
| 2018 | Canada |
| 2017 | USA |
| 2016 | Finland |
| 2015 | Canada |
| 2014 | Finland |
| 2013 | USA |
| 2012 | Sweden |
World Junior Championship 2023 FAQ
The 2023 World Junior Championship will take place in Moncton, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia, starting on December 26.
Team Canada won the 2022 World Junior Championship by beating Team Finland in the finals.
Team Canada (-120) is the favorite to win the 2023 World Junior Championship.
