U.S., Canada in same group for 2014 WJC

The 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation host committee announced Monday the preliminary-round schedule for the 2014 World Junior Championship, slated for Malmo, Sweden.

The United States, which won gold at the 2013 WJC in Russia, will be in Group A, along with Canada, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany, and play its preliminary-round games at Isstadion Arena. Host Sweden, which won the silver medal after a 3-1 loss to the United States in the 2013 WJC title game, will play in Group B, along with Finland, Russia, Switzerland and Norway. Their preliminary-round games will be played at Malmo Arena

The highlight games of the preliminary round will be New Year's Eve, when the United States plays Canada and Sweden battles Russia.

The tournament will run Dec. 26 through Jan. 5, 2014.The quarterfinals will be played Jan. 2 and the semifinals will on Jan. 4. The bronze- and gold-medal games will be Jan. 5. All medal-round games will be played at Malmo Arena.

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mikemorrealeNHL

2014 WJC PRELIM SCHEDULE

Dec. 26

DEU vs. CAN; NOR vs. RUS

CZE vs. USA; SUI vs. SWE

Dec. 27

SLV vs. DEU; FIN vs. NOR

Dec. 28

USA vs. SLV; SWE vs. FIN

CAN vs. CZE; RUS vs. SUI

Dec. 29

DEU vs. USA; NOR vs. SWE

Dec. 30

CZE vs. DEU; RUS vs. FIN

CAN vs. SLV; SUI vs. NOR

Dec. 31

SLV vs. CZE; SWE vs. RUS

USA vs. CAN; FIN vs. SUI