The 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships have erupted into an electrifying knockout stage, with powerhouse teams Sweden and Canada positioning themselves as frontrunners in a tournament packed with extraordinary talent and national pride.

Sweden enters the elimination rounds as the top seed, having achieved a perfect preliminary round by winning all four of their games in regulation. Their defensive prowess has been remarkable, conceding just eight goals in a tournament characterized by high-scoring matches. The team is hungry to secure their first championship since 2012, bringing a combination of strategic play and youthful determination to the ice.

Canada has emerged as an offensive juggernaut, dramatically rebounding from their recent tournament struggles. After failing to reach the semifinals in the past two years, the Canadian squad has unleashed a scoring onslaught, netting an impressive 25 goals during the group stage. The team's balanced attack is led by standout performers Zayne Parekh (four goals, four assists), Gavin McKenna (three goals, five assists), and Michael Hage (two goals, six assists).

The defending two-time champion United States remains a formidable contender, despite dropping their final group match to Sweden. Led by sharp-shooter Will Zellers, who has already netted five goals, the American team possesses the skill and championship experience to potentially claim another title.

The tournament's knockout rounds will unfold across two Minnesota venues: Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul and 3M Arena in Minneapolis. Quarterfinal matchups feature intense competitions including Sweden versus Latvia, Czechia versus Switzerland, and anticipated contests between the USA and Finland, and Canada and Slovakia.

Hockey fans can catch all the action live on TSN, with primary play-by-play coverage from veteran commentators Gord Miller and Mike Johnson. Streaming will be available through TSN+, ensuring fans don't miss a moment of this thrilling international competition.

As the tournament progresses, the stakes continue to rise. With each game, these young athletes represent not just their teams, but their entire nations, transforming the World Junior Championships into a celebration of international hockey talent and competitive spirit.