What Sabres fans need to know about the World Junior Championship

The Buffalo Sabres will be well-represented at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, with three first-round picks set to participate: Dylan Cozens (2019), Ryan Johnson (2019), and Jack Quinn (2020).
The fourth Sabres prospect participating, J-J Peterka, was a second-round draft pick but a first-round talent in the eyes of general manager Kevyn Adams and his staff. Buffalo traded down to select the forward with the 34th pick in October's draft.
In other words, it will be a worthwhile tournament for fans to get a glimpse of players who could well be the future of the organization, some of whom could be in camp with the Sabres as soon as next month.
Here is everything you need to know to follow along.

The tournament

In fitting fashion for a tournament beginning at the tail end of 2020, games will be played within a competition bubble in Edmonton. As usual, there will be 10 teams divided into two groups for the preliminary round, with the top four teams advancing from each.
Canada (Cozens & Quinn) and Germany (Peterka) are in Group A. The United States (Johnson) is in Group B.
The preliminary round follows a three-point system: three points for a regulation victory, two points for an overtime/shootout victory, and one point for an overtime/shootout loss.
Playoff rounds will be single elimination, with the championship set for Tuesday, Jan. 5.

The schedule

Here are the preliminary-round games involving Sabres prospects. All games air on NHL Network.
Germany vs. Finland - Dec. 25, 6 p.m.
Russia vs. USA - Dec. 25
Germany vs. Canada - Dec. 26
USA vs. Austria - Dec. 26
Slovakia vs. Canada - Dec. 27
Slovakia vs. Germany - Dec. 28
USA vs. Czech Republic - Dec. 29
Canada vs. Switzerland - Dec. 29
Switzerland vs. Germany - Dec. 30
Canada vs. Finland - Dec. 31
Sweden vs. USA - Dec. 31

The players

Here's a rundown on the four Sabres prospects participating.
Dylan Cozens - C, Canada
Cozens (first round, 2019) is seeking his second straight gold medal after playing an integral role on Canada's team last year, when he tallied nine points (2+7) in seven games.

He will be counted on even more this time around. The 19-year-old has been selected as an alternate captain for Team Canada and has been practicing as first-line center, skating between Quinn and Chicago Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach.

Cozens' performance could serve as a springboard into Sabres camp - set to open as early as Dec. 31 - where he's expected to push for an NHL roster spot.
Jack Quinn - LW, Canada
Quinn (first round, 2020) is representing Canada for the first time, yet another milestone in his rise to becoming a top prospect. The winger detailed his journey after the draft, a unique career arc that saw him progress from being cut from AAA teams as recently as 2015-16 to scoring 52 goals in the OHL.
He could have a major opportunity to further his development at the tournament, particularly if the lines hold and he remains on the first line alongside Cozens. One thing that could work in his favor: Canada coach Andre Tourigny is Quinn's coach with OHL Ottawa.

Ryan Johnson - D, USA
Johnson (first round, 2019) was one of the final cuts from Team USA's roster heading into last year's tournament, a decision he said motivated him through the remainder of the year.
The defenseman made the roster this time around and will look to build on a strong start to his sophomore campaign at the University of Minnesota. Johnson has four assists in six games with the Gophers, already halfway to his 37-game point total as a freshman.

J-J Peterka - LW, Germany
Peterka (second round, 2020) is back for his second go-around at World Juniors after tallying six points (4+2) in seven games at the tournament last year.
The forward - whom the Sabres traded up to select during this year's draft - was off to a scorching start to this season with EC Salzburg in Austria's pro league, where he tallied 16 points (7+9) in 12 contests before the league suspended play due to the COVID-19 outbreak.