The 2026 World Junior Championship gets underway with four games from Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN on the slate today.
The Florida Panthers have two prospects who will participate in the tournament. Linus Eriksson, Florida’s second-rounder (58th overall) in 2024 will represent Sweden. Eriksson currently has two assists in 25 games with Timrå IK of the Swedish Hockey League. Also taking part is 2025 fourth-round selection (112th overall) Mads Kongsbak Klyvø, who will skate for Denmark. Klyvø has yet to suit up this season due to injury. He had 29 points in 42 J20 Nationelle games for Frölunda HC during the 2024-25 campaign.
This year’s tournament consists of the following ten teams that will play out of Grand Casino Arena, home of the Minnesota Wild, and 3M Arena at Mariucci, which is located on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
Group A: United States, Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland and Germany (Saint Paul)
Group B: Finland, Czechia, Canada, Lativa and Denmark (Minneapolis)
The United States is both the host and defending champions. They beat Finland 4-3 in overtime in last year’s Gold Medal game at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
Today’s games
- Sweden vs. Slovakia (Group A) 1 p.m.
- Denmark vs. Finland (Group B) 3:30 p.m.
- Germany vs. United States (Group A) 6 p.m.
- Czechia vs Canada (Group B) 8:30 p.m.
All games will be broadcast on NHL Network