One of the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship's main events takes place on the very first day of the tournament: perennial front-runners for gold — Canada and the United States — drop the puck at 1 p.m. ET on Boxing Day.
As always, the hockey powerhouses brings some of the top young prospects in hockey to the competition, which is hosted by the Czech Republic this year. Canada has the edge on 2020 NHL draft-eligible prospects, with names like Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield expected to lead the way. The United States boasts a lineup full of 2019 NHL draftees: goaltender Spencer Knight (Florida, 13th overall) and forwards Alex Turcotte (Los Angeles, fifth) and Cole Caufield (Montreal, 15th); eight first-round picks from recent draft years are suiting up for the Americans.
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In what many are calling the "Group of Death" with Germany, Russia and the Czech Republic, the two countries own the best odds to win the gold medal in this year's tournament. The United States took home the silver medal last year after falling to Finland in the gold medal game. Canada lost to the Finns in the quarterfinals and finished sixth out of 10 teams in the overall standings.
Here's how to catch the action between Canada and the United States on Thursday:
How to watch Canada vs. United States
- TV channel (Canada): TSN 1/4/5 (Canada)
- TV channel (U.S.): NHL Network
- Live stream (Canada): TSN Live
In the United States, Stephen Nelson will provide the play-by-play on NHL Network and will be joined by analyst Dave Starman and reporter Jill Savage. Gord Miller (play-by-play) and Ray Ferraro (analysis) will have the call for TSN.
Canada vs. United States: When is puck drop?
- Date: Thursday, Dec. 26
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
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Full World Junior Championship schedule
| THURSDAY, DEC. 26 | ||
| Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan | 9 a.m. | TSN 1/3 |
| Czech Republic vs. Russia | 9 a.m. | TSN 4/5, NHLN |
| Sweden vs. Finland | 1 p.m. | TSN3 |
| Canada vs. United States | 1 p.m. | TSN 1/4/5, NHLN |
| FRIDAY, DEC. 27 | ||
| Slovakia vs. Kazakhstan | 9 a.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Germany vs. United States | 1 p.m. | TSN 1/3/4, NHLN |
| SATURDAY, DEC. 28 | ||
| Finland vs. Slovakia | 9 a.m. | TSN 1/3, NHLN |
| Czech Republic vs. Germany | 9 a.m. | TSN 4/5 |
| Switzerland vs. Sweden | 1 p.m. | TSN3 |
| Russia vs. Canada | 1 p.m. | TSN 1/4/5, NHLN |
| SUNDAY, DEC. 29 | ||
| Kazakhstan vs. Finland | 9 a.m. | TSN 3/4/5, NHLN |
| United States vs. Russia | 1 p.m. | TSN 4/5, NHLN |
| MONDAY, DEC. 30 | ||
| Kazakhstan vs. Sweden | 9 a.m. | TSN3 |
| Germany vs. Canada | 9 a.m. | TSN 1/4/5, NHLN |
| Slovakia vs. Switzerland | 1 p.m. | TSN 1/3 |
| United States vs. Czech Republic | 1 p.m. | TSN 4/5, NHLN |
| TUESDAY, DEC. 31 | ||
| Sweden vs. Slovakia | 9 a.m. | TSN 1/3, NHLN |
| Russia vs. Germany | 9 a.m. | TSN 4/5 |
| Finland vs. Switzerland | 1 p.m. | TSN3 |
| Canada vs. Czech Republic | 1 p.m. | TSN 1/4/5, NHLN |
| THURSDAY, JAN. 2 | ||
| Quarterfinal | 6:30 a.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Quarterfinal | 9 a.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Quarterfinal | 11:30 a.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Quarterfinal | 2 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| SATURDAY, JAN. 4 | ||
| Semifinal | 9 a.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Semifinal | 1 p.m. | TSN 1/4/5, NHLN |
| SUNDAY, JAN. 5 | ||
| Bronze-medal game | 9 a.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Gold-medal game | 1 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
(All times Eastern)