The waiting is over. The 2023 World Juniors kick off today with four games on tap for Boxing Day. Closing out the action is a matchup between Canada and Czechia.
Canada enters the winter tournament coming off a gold medal at the 2022 World Juniors. The Canadians won a thriller against Finland 3-2 in overtime thanks to Kent Johnson’s game-winning goal. It was the country’s 19th gold medal at the IIHF event, the most out of any country.
Leading the way for the returners from the championship squad are 2023 top draft prospect Connor Bedard, Stars draft pick Logan Stankoven and No. 1 defenseman and Ducks prospect Olen Zelleger. The newcomers that are headlining the team included Kraken forward Shane Wright, Coyotes winger Dylan Guenther and 2023 top prospect Adam Fantilli.
MORE: Watch the 2023 World Juniors live with fuboTV (free trial, U.S. only)
Czechia had an up-and-down 2022 tournament that ultimately ended in a fourth-place finish. The Czechs disappointed in pool play, winning just one of their four games to end in the fourth seed. Among their losses included an upset to Latvia, giving the country its first preliminary-round victory in World Juniors history.
However, the Czechs bounced back by handing the USA a stunning loss in the quarterfinals. Czechia went on to lose to Canada in the semifinals before falling again to Sweden in the bronze-medal game. Czechia brings back a ton of skaters from the 2022 team, including 2022 first-rounders David Jiricek and Jiri Kulich.
The Sporting News has a complete guide on how to watch Canada vs. Czechia in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, including the start time and TV channels for viewers in both the United States and Canada.
MORE: 2023 World Juniors schedule, standings, results
What channel is Canada vs. Czechia on today?
- Canada: TSN 1/4/5
- United States: NHL Network
TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada. In the United States, viewers can find the games on NHL Network.
Gord Miller and Mike Johnson will be on the call. James Duthie, Bob McKenzie and Cheryl Pounder will provide analysis during intermissions.
How to live stream World Juniors hockey games
- Canada: TSN.ca, TSN app
- United States: fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors games at TSN.ca or the TSN app.
U.S. fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.
Canada vs. Czechia start time
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. AST)
The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. ET from the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, N.S., the home of the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads.
MORE: Team Canada 2023 World Juniors roster, results
This is the first game for both clubs at the 2023 World Juniors.
Canada vs. Czechia odds
- Canada: -2.5 (-159)
- Czechia: +2.5 (+115)
- O/U: 6.5
Canada is a 2.5-goal favorite on the puckline for the contest against Czechia at the World Juniors, according to Sports Interaction.
Canada World Juniors schedule 2023
(All times Eastern)
| Date | Opponent | Result | Time (ET) | TV Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 26 | Czechia | — | 6:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Dec. 28 | Germany | — | 6:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Dec. 29 | Austria | — | 6:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Dec. 31 | Sweden | — | 6:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Jan. 2 | TBD (Quarterfinals) | — | TBD | TSN, NHLN |
| Jan. 4 | TBD (Semifinals) | — | TBD | TSN, NHLN |
| Jan. 5 | TBD (Gold-Medal Game) | — | TBD | TSN, NHLN |