It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, which means that 2021 World Junior Hockey Championships betting is just around the corner. The annual tournament is the biggest competition of under-20 hockey players on the globe and will be attended by 10 countries (two divisions), hosted this year in the Canadian city of Edmonton.
All teams have entered the bubble in Edmonton but positive COVID tests have forced some countries to quarantine right up to Dec. 24. It’s been a lot of work for organizers and teams to pull this off, but we’re just a few sleeps away from some of the best and – most entertaining – hockey out there.
Preliminary round games will kick off on Christmas day and proceed till New Year's Eve. After the round-robin play, the Top-4 teams in each division will head to the quarterfinals beginning on January 2. The gold-medal game will be played on Tuesday, January 5 at 9:30 p.m. EST.
Odds To Win The 2021 WJHC
| Team (Group) | Odds to win 2021 WJHC | Odds to win group |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (A) | -111 | -303 |
| Russia (B) | +336 | +165 |
| United States (B) | +446 | +175 |
| Sweden (B) | +568 | +200 |
| Finland (A) | +1,000 | +250 |
| Czech Republic (B) | +2,900 | +1,200 |
| Switzerland (A) | +3,800 | +2,000 |
| Germany (A) | +4,500 | +2,200 |
| Slovakia (A) | +8,700 | +4,000 |
| Austria (B) | +25,600 | +15,000 |
Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction.
Who Is The Favorite To Win The 2021 WJHC?
When your roster is filled with 20 first-round picks from the previous two NHL drafts, it’s easy to see why Team Canada is the betting favorite. Canada will look to win the gold in back-to-back years for the first time since 2009 and collect its 19th overall title.
Obviously, having the 2020 first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere suit up again would have been a major plus. But even without the budding superstar, Team Canada has more than enough top-level talent to spare.
Leading the way for the Canucks is their captain, and member of the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, Kirby Dach. The No. 3 pick in the 2019 NHL draft, Dach had 23 points in 64 games with the NHL club and will be making his first appearance in the tourney. Dach centered a line with Connor Zary (Calgary Flames) and Philip Tomasino (Nashville Predators) in the tournament tuneups and dominated a pair of intra-squad games. This could be Canada’s go-to line on Boxing Day.
Canada has the deepest roster on paper and sports enough offensive talent to score at will, but this could very well be one of the best defensive teams in the competition. Last year, Team Canada allowed two goals or less in five of its seven games and goalie Joel Hofer led the tournament in goals-against average and save percentage. Hofer won’t return this year, but a trio of Canadian goalies, all with international experience, will have a chance to shine on home ice as coaches are still feeling which goalie to ride.
It also doesn’t hurt when all 14 officials for the tournament are Canadians, too. It’s not so much favoritism as it is that these officials are trained in the same game style that Team Canada is used to. There will be a lot of pressure on these kids, but one would think that playing in a bubble would decrease the pressure. At -110 to win it all, we may have to drop some Christmas dollars on the tournament's best team.
Who Is An Underdog To Watch At The 2021 WJHC?
Team USA finished 3-1 SU in the prelims last year (the only loss was to Canada) but was knocked out by Finland 1-0 in the quarter-finals. Not having star forward Nick Robertson (Toronto Maple Leafs) hurts, but the Stars and Stripes have the most experienced roster in the tournament and boast the strongest goaltending, as well.
Center Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks) led Team USA in points last year with a tournament-leading nine helpers in five games. He will be joined by Montreal Canadiens prospect RW Cole Caufield and center Alex Turcotte (L.A. Kings). Team USA has one of the best Top-6 forward groups in the tourney and has seven forwards who are returning from last year.
Team USA only has one returning defenseman and will be without Alex Vlasic (Chicago), but what they lack in blueline experience they make it up in the crease. Goalie Spencer Knight (Florida Panthers) will be playing in his third U20 tourney and posted a .914 SV% in 2020. He comes into the competition having recorded two straight shutouts for Boston College.
At plus-money to win their division (+175) and a decent +447 to win the tourney, Team USA boasts some reasonable odds for a team with experience and a motive as it looks to undo 2020’s poor results.
Who Is A Live Longshot To Win The 2021 WJHC?
Team Finland finds themselves in the easier of the two divisions and should coast to the quarterfinals, likely finishing ahead of Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia. The Fins are +250 to win the division, which are the second-best odds next to Team Canada.
Finland came one win away from the finals last year and could have a favorable matchup in the quarterfinals this time if they can, in fact, finish second in the division. We’re only two years removed from Finland’s most recent championship that came in 2019 after beating the Russians in the finals — a tournament that was also held in Canada.
Goalie Joel Blomqvist (Pittsburgh Penguins) will be a big part of the team’s success. The Finnish 18-year old was the third goalie taken in this year’s draft and is 2-0 SU with a 1.50 GAA and a .914 SV% for Karpat of SM Liiga this season, the best league in Finland.
Leading the offense is 2020 12th-overall pick Anton Lundell (Florida) who, as a 19-year-old forward, is fourth in Liiga scoring playing against men. There isn’t a lack of talent on this Finnish team as a great mix of draft-eligible players and returning skaters could have Team Finland getting to the final-four or beyond. At +1,000 to win it all, it might be the best longshot bet on the board.
What Team Should You Pass On Betting For The 2021 WJHC?
Only two other teams have won more golds at the World Juniors than Team Sweden. An 11-point preliminary round had them as the best team heading into the playoff round last year. They eventually lost in the semifinal to Team Russia – in overtime – to deny them a trip to the gold-medal game. Team Sweden comes into Edmonton with the fourth-best odds (+562) to win the gold.
Thanks to COVID, however, Team Sweden has had to replace its entire coaching staff after the initial group tested positive and were unable to travel to Canada. On top of the coaches, Team Sweden also had to leave four important players at home, including 2021 top prospect William Eklund.
The Swedes are anchored by 2020 WJC star goalie Hugo Alnefelt (Tampa Bay Lightning) who posted a 2.12 GAA and .924 SV%. He will not be entering the bubble with his best stuff as he owns a 3.04 GAA with a 4-6 SU record this year for HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League this season.
Team Sweden hasn’t won a gold medal since 2012, will be playing in the most difficult preliminary division and is a mess with COVID effects. At +562 to win gold, we feel there are better places to put our money.
Where Can I Bet On 2021 WJHC Odds?
Some online books and casinos will offer bets on 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship odds and props. In Canada, Sports Interaction is our favorite sportsbook for 2021 WJHC odds. Check it out now to find 2021 WJHC odds.
