For this year's World Junior Hockey Championship, with game schedule, television coverage, and updated results, plus the tournament format and history, see the World Junior Hockey Page.
January 5, 2004 - With a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over Canada, the United States won the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championship in Helsinki, Finland. It is the USA's first ever world junior title.
Final Standings
- USA
- Canada
- Finland
- Czech Republic
- Russia
- Slovakia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Austria
- Ukraine
January 5
USA wins gold medal
Finland wins bronze medal
January 4
January 3
January 2, 2004
Tournament Awards
All Star Team:
Most Valuable Player:
Round-Robin Scores
December 31
December 30
December 29
December 28
December 27
December 26, 2003
Pre-Tournament Team Histories
Russia is now the dominant junior hockey nation, with three gold, three silver and three bronze medals in the last 10 years. The Russians also have the upper hand on their archrivals, having snuffed out Canadian championship hopes in 2003, 2002, 1999 (gold medal games) and 2000 (semifinal game).
The 1990s belonged to Canada. Between 1990 and 1997, the Canadians won World Junior gold seven times, including five straight. Although still seeking its first gold medal since the end of that streak, Canada remains among the top teams, finishing second or third in each of the last five years.
The United States has never won the World Junior Hockey Championship, finishing third in 1986 and 1992, and second in 1997. Team USA lost 3-2 to Finland in the 2003 bronze medal game.
Finland won bronze in 2003 and silver in 2002. The country has twice been crowned World Junior Champion. In 1987, the Finns were awarded first place after Canada was disqualified for a brawl against the Soviet Union. In 1998, Finland defeated Russia in overtime of the gold medal game.
After winning consecutive gold medals in 2000 and 2001, the Czech Republic has finished seventh and sixth in the last two years. The Czech Republic has competed as a separate country since 1994.
With the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Slovakia was assigned to the “C” pool of junior hockey. The Slovaks quickly worked through the ranks, returning to the “A” pool in time for the 1996 tournament. Their best finish since then is a bronze medal in 1999. Slovakia placed fifth in 2003.
Sweden has fared poorly at recent World Junior Championships. Since winning gold in 1996, the Swedes have finished no higher than fourth. They placed eighth in 2003. Sweden’s only previous gold medal came in 1991. The country has placed second or third on 10 occasions.
Switzerland has been a regular qualifier for the World Junior tournament since the mid-1990s, finishing third in 1998 and fourth in 2002. The Swiss were seventh last year.
The Ukraine previously qualified in 1995, 1996 and 2000, finishing last on each occasion.
This is Austria’s first appearance in the “A” pool since 1981, when it placed eighth out of eight teams.
FINAL GROUP STANDINGS
| Group A | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| United States | 4 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 | 8 |
| Slovakia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| Russia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 5 |
| Sweden | 1 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 2 |
| Austria | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 0 |
| ------- | ||||||
| Group B | ||||||
| Canada | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 4 | 8 |
| Finland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 6 | 6 |
| Czech Republic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 9 | 4 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 2 |
| Ukraine | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 0 |
