The 2024 World Junior A Challenge kicks off Monday in Camrose, Alberta, marking the 16th edition of the event since its 2006 inception. 

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Team USA is aiming for its 10th gold and its 16th all-time medal, while Canada West hopes to defend its gold. Canada is once again split into two teams – East and West – and will be joined by Sweden to round out the four-team tournament field.

While the event will not be streaming on FloHockey, many of the players competing in the event play all season long on FloHockey including participants from the CJHL and USHL.

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s event.

When is the WJAC?

The 2024 WJAC will take place from Dec. 9-15 with two preliminary-round games scheduled for each of Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The semi-finals will take place on Saturday before culminating with the gold and bronze medal games on Sunday.

The event kicks off at 4 p.m. CDT on Monday as Team USA takes on Canada East, and the full WJAC schedule can be found here.

Who Is Competing At The World Junior A Challenge?

Canada East

Canada East has never won the WJAC but finished second in each of the past three events and has seven all-time silver medals. Perhaps this is the year they break through.

Matthew Souliere has been one of the OJHL’s top rookies and has put up 34 points (18-16-34) over 26 games with Ryder Cali right behind at 33 (15-18-33), both of which are among Canada East’s forward contingent.

Forward Shaan Kingwell is also off to a strong start in the CCHL with 39 points (18-21-39) through 23 games and Nolan Turnbull has been one of the CCHL’s top defensemen, especially in the offensive zone. He’ll be joined on the blue line by Cameron Eke, who is averaging nearly a point per game for the OJHL’s Collingwood Blues.

Canada West

The defending champs have enjoyed plenty of success over the years, winning five gold medals and winning an additional five medals – three silver and two bronze. And they’re primed to add another this year.

Jack Plandowski currently leads the AJHL in scoring as the left-shot forward has 37 points (18-19-37) over 26 games for the Calgary Canucks after having 21 points (12-9-21) over 52 total games last season.

Nolan DuPont is the older brother of 2027 prospect Landon DuPont, but Nolan has made a name for himself this season as well. The fellow Canuck is currently tied for third in the AJHL with 29 points and has points in seven of his last nine games.

Hudson Sedo and Sean Cootes have also been two of the AJHL’s top goaltenders and rank third and fourth with 2.20 and 2.21 GAA’s respectively.

Sweden

The Swedish roster is headlined by forwards Anton Frondell and Jakob Ihs-Wozniak. The two are among the best Swedish prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft with many considering Frondell a potential top-5 pick.

The left-shot center has showcased his offensive ability and has plenty of international experience while Ihs-Wozniak represented Sweden at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this past summer. The right-shot forward has 28 points (7-21-28) through 22 games for Lulea HF J20 and is a potential first-round pick.

Swedish forward Eric Nilson is also an intriguing prospect while Mans Goos and Love Harenstam will occupy the crease.

USA

Team USA features four NHL picks – Austin Baker (DET), Luke Osburn (BUF), Lucas Van Vliet (VGK) and Will Zellers (COL) – and a trio of intriguing 2025 draft prospects in Ben Kevan, Ryker Lee and Mason Moe.

Zellers ranks third in the USHL with 15 goals through 17 games for the Green Bay Gamblers, while Lee has 24 points through 20 games in his USHL rookie campaign. Moe also enters the tournament hot with 10 points (4-6-10) over his last eight games.

The American goaltending tandem of Kam Hendrickson and Caleb Heil – Team USA’s lone returner from last December – is also very intriguing. Despite playing for an Omaha team that sits at the bottom of the USHL’s Western Conference, Hendrickson owns a .918 save percentage and 2.58 GAA. Heil is 8-2-1 with an .897 and 2.63 respectively for Madison.

The U.S. has won the WJAC nine times, including three of the last six, but finished third last year.

How To Watch The World Junior A Challenge

Hockey Canada will be streaming all games except the medal games from the World Junior A Challenge with their livestream partner. Visit the World Junior A Challenge site for details here.

TSN will broadcast the World Junior A Challenge bronze-medal and gold-medal games live on TSN2. It is unclear at this time if a U.S. carrier will pick up Team USA's games, though NHL Network occasionally simulcasts TSN's broadcast in the United States for various international events.

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