Team Canada Heavy Favourites in World Juniors Championship -- USA, Russia, Finland, and Sweden Round Out the Top Five

SPREADS.CA makes Canada +140 favourites to win the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

After dominating the last World Juniors Championship but ultimately losing 2-0 in a crushing defeat to the United States last January, oddsmakers (and apparently many bettors) are convinced that Team Canada will rebound in a big way.

The Canadian U-20 national team is listed as prohibitive favourites to win the championship series, set to begin on Thursday, Dec. 23rd.  

This will be the 46th edition of the Ice Hockey World Junior Championships, which will end with the gold medal game being played on January 5, 2022.

Here's are the latest odds at SPREADS.CA to win the finals:

The odds reflect a huge gap in talent and expectations.  Team Canada is in a class all by themselves.  Team USA, Russia, Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic make up the list of formidable challengers.  Then, there are the longshots – including Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Austria.

UPDATE:  On December 18, 2021, citing the "changing epidemiological situation" involving COVID-19 and Omicron variant, and consultation with the IIHF and Alberta Health Services, Hockey Canada announced that the pre-tournament schedule (which was to feature each team playing at least two exhibition games) would be reduced, and be delayed to December 23.  Organizers have stated that their goal was to hold a "safe and successful event", and that 90% of tickets had been sold.  There were no stated plans to reduce spectator capacity, although all spectators must present proof of full vaccination in order to attend.