It’s down to four teams in Halifax. The quarterfinal stage at the 2023 World Junior Championship is complete with Finland, Switzerland, Germany and Slovakia having all been eliminated. That leaves host Canada, Sweden, Czechia and the USA left in the running for the championship.
The hosts still hold the best odds to win the tournament at -150 while the Czechs hold the longest odds at +700. Here’s a look at the odds as well as a reason the Czechs shouldn’t be as underestimated as they are.
If you’re unfamiliar with betting on hockey, be sure to check out our How to Bet NHL betting guide. As well, our sportsbook review page can assist you in choosing where to bet on the World Juniors.
Bet On The 2023 World Junior Championships Here
2023 World Juniors Odds
| Team | Current Odds | Sportsbook Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | -150 | -110 |
| USA | +290 | +350 |
| Sweden | +550 | +650 |
| Czechia | +700 | +1600 |
Odds as of January 3 at Sportsbook
2023 World Juniors Best bet
Czechia (+700)
Why are oddsmakers still disrespecting the Czechs? At +700, they hold the longest odds of any team left in the tournament and I can’t for the life of me figure out why.
The Czechs topped Group A with 10 points (3-0-0-1). They beat Canada 5-2 to open their tournament and lost 3-2 in overtime to Sweden after dominating the Swedes 35-24 in shots. They allowed fewer goals (6) than any other team in the group stage and had the second-best offense (24 goals).
In the quarterfinals, the Czechs dispatched the Swiss by a score of 9-1. Why are they being written off as semifinal fodder? With their size, maturity and overall talent, the Czechs could upset the odds here and win it.
Place Your Bet on USA to win 2023 WJC Here
NHL Draft-Eligible Players
Connor Bedard | Canada
The consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft is playing at his second World Junior Championship. Last time out at the World Juniors, Bedard produced eight points in seven games. He’s having a hell of a year in the WHL, averaging nearly 2.3 points per game.
With 21 points in five games, Bedard is having a showcase tournament. The Canadian star is on pace to match a World Juniors record of 31 points in a single tournament set by Peter Forsberg in 1993.
Leo Carlsson | Sweden
The young Swede is having a terrific season in his native country with 14 points in 25 games for SHL side Orebro. That sounds a lot less productive than Bedard’s 2.3 points per game, but remember the SHL is a professional league where full-grown men play. It’s not a junior league like the WHL.
Carlsson is projected to go in the top five of the 2023 NHL Draft and a strong tournament could push him up.
Eduard Sale | czechia
Sale is by no means dominating the tournament, but his five points in five games are certainly enough to continue boosting his 2023 draft standing. The 17-year-old was expected to be drafted in the top 10 at this year’s NHL draft, but a strong tournament, and maybe even a medal, could move him up a few spots.
Last 10 World Junior Champions
| Year | Team | Runner-Ups |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | USA | Sweden |
| 2014 | Finland | Sweden |
| 2015 | Canada | Russia |
| 2016 | Finland | Russia |
| 2017 | United States | Canada |
| 2018 | Canada | Sweden |
| 2019 | Finland | United States |
| 2020 | Canada | Russia |
| 2021 | United States | Canada |
| 2022 | Canada | Finland |
Canada hopes to become the first repeat world junior champion since 2009 when they weren’t just back-to-back Sportsbooks but five-time Sportsbooks, picking up golds from 2005 through 2009.
Finland has won the gold medal three times in 10 years and is looking for a fourth gold medal at this tournament.
World Junior Championships & Appearances
The tournament dates back to 1977. Here’s how each nation has medaled over the past 49 tournaments.
| Team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Last Win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 19 | 10 | 5 | 2022 |
| Russia* | 13 | 13 | 11 | 2011 |
| Finland | 5 | 5 | 7 | 2019 |
| USA | 5 | 2 | 6 | 2021 |
| Sweden | 2 | 11 | 7 | 2012 |
| Czechia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2001 |
| Slovakia | 0 | 0 | 2 | N/A |
| Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A |
*Russia and the Soviet Union have been combined
Canada has medaled 69 percent of the time in the nearly 50-year history of this tournament, winning it a record 19 times. Only Russia, combined with the Soviet Union’s results, has medaled more often at 76 percent.
Sweden is third in terms of medal-winning frequency, winning 20 medals in 49 tournaments for a 41 percent return rate.
Czechia has the longest gold-medal drought. Their last championship was in 2001 when Pavel Brendl put up a tournament-leading 10 points in seven games and goalie Tomas Duba had a 1.14 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage.
