2021 IIHF World Junior Championship Preview

It's a holiday tradition in many households - and while the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship may look the same as previous years on the ice, it will be anything but the same off of it.
Winnipeg Jets fans can keep an eye on three prospects who will play in the tournament. The 10th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, Cole Perfetti, will lace up his skates for Canada, while Ville Heinola and Henri Nikkanen - both selected in the 2019 NHL Draft - will play for Finland.

Inside the Bubble
Ten teams will converge on Edmonton, AB for this year's event. However, before any of those teams can enter the bubble around Rogers Place, they all have to isolate in single rooms for four days. This comes after being quarantined in their own bubble before flying to Edmonton (in the case of teams coming from overseas).
Once in Edmonton - and following five negative Covid-19 tests in the four days - the teams can come together for practice, but will not interact with other teams for another three days.
Masks will be required at all times within the bubble, with the exception of during games and practices.
In addition, Hockey Canada has partnered with TraceSafe - a contact tracing and physical distancing technology - to help all attendees stay safe. This works by placing a beacon within an individual's credential, which must be worn at all times. The credential then helps with contact tracing and prompts physical distancing reminders.
The IIHF has already reported 10 positive cases, eight within the German team and an additional two with Sweden. The IIHF provided this statement on how the next week will play out:
Team Germany will remain in quarantine until 24 December, while Team Sweden will remain in quarantine until 21 December, with the exception of players and staff who are exempt from serving a longer quarantine period based on previous PCR positive COVID-19 test that provide a personal immunity and no threat of infection to others.
Perfetti Earns his Spot
About a year ago, Perfetti had just found out he didn't crack Canada's final roster. He used that as motivation to finish his OHL season with the Saginaw Spirit, finishing second in the OHL with 111 points.
He earned an invitation to last month's 28-day bubble camp in Red Deer, AB despite - like many other players on the selection camp roster - not playing a game since March.
The 18-year-old admitted there was a bit of rust early, but he finished the four intrasquad games with four assists. It was perhaps even more impressive considering the camp was shut down for 14 days (between Nov. 23 and Dec. 7) as two players tested positive for Covid-19.
The final two games came after that quarantine, where the players kept in touch with three formal Zoom calls per day to keep them mentally and socially connected.
One day after the final intrasquad game, Perfetti found out he made Canada's roster with a knock on his door. He opened it to see his coaches standing there with his family on FaceTime.
"It was pretty cool to have them break the news and celebrate. It's been a family goal and something we've all wanted," Perfetti said at the time. "My family has been really supportive of me, so to be able to share the news from them and hear it from them, it was pretty cool."
Back for More
Ville Heinola had five assists in seven games at last year's World Junior Championship (his second appearance at the event), but he and his Finland squad lost in the semifinal to the eventual gold-medal winning team from Canada. Finland then fell in the bronze medal game against Sweden.
In 12 career games at the World Juniors, Heinola has one goal, seven points, and one gold medal (2019).
Heinola, now 19, has played in 19 Finnish Liiga games for Lukko Rauma in 2020-21. He racked up 13 assists and 14 points overall in those games and is expected to be one of Finland's top defencemen in the tournament.
Joining Heinola is fellow Jets prospect Henri Nikkanen, who will be making his World Junior Championship debut.
Like Heinola, Nikkanen has played in Liiga this season. The 6'4", 209-pound centre had two goals and seven points with Jukurit before the league suspended its season on Dec. 2.
Pre-tournament Schedule
Due to the positive tests within the teams from Germany and Sweden, the IIHF revised the pre-tournament schedule.
Eight of the teams involved in the tournament will play one game each. Perfetti and Canada will play Russia on Dec. 23 at 4 pm MST. Meanwhile, Finland will play USA on Dec. 22.
Tournament Schedule
The day Jets fans may want to circle on the calendar is New Year's Eve. That's when Perfetti and Canada drop the puck against Heinola, Nikkanen, and Finland at 4 pm MST.
Canada's tournament begins on Boxing Day against Germany at 4 pm MST. After that, Canada's schedule looks like this:
Dec. 27 vs Slovakia (4 pm MST)
Dec. 29 vs Switzerland (4 pm MST)
Dec. 31 vs Finland (4 pm MST)
Finland's tournament opens up on Christmas Day with a match-up with Germany at 4 pm MST. The rest of the schedule is as follows:
Dec. 27 vs Switzerland (12 pm MST)
Dec. 30 vs Slovakia (12 pm MST)