The 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship odds feature the two North American giants at the top. Canada and the USA top the latest prices, but is backing one of the favorites the best bet for this highly anticipated ice hockey event?
Team USA will seek a second consecutive gold medal after winning their second title in four years, while Canada will be eager to return to the top.
Continue reading to find the latest odds to win the tournament and my 2025 WJC predictions.
World Junior Hockey Championship 2025 Odds
World Jr. Hockey Championship winner odds are courtesy of Bovada:
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| USA | +130 |
| Canada | +130 |
| Sweden | +600 |
| Finland | +900 |
| Czech Republic | +2500 |
| Slovakia | +2800 |
| Germany | +10000 |
| Switzerland | +10000 |
| Kazakhstan | +20000 |
| Latvia | +20000 |
Team USA (+130) and Team Canada (+130) are co-favorites to win the World Juniors in 2025. They have the same implied probability of 43.5% to win the gold medal this year, according to the latest hockey betting markets.
With the 2025 WJC odds heavily favoring North America, Sweden (+600) has the best chance of pulling off the upset. Currently, Sweden has an implied probability to win of 14.3%, which is a significant drop from Canada and the USA at 43.5%. The gold medal match is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2025, at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON.
You can find up-to-date World Junior Hockey Championship odds at Bovada by navigating to All Sports > Hockey > World Junior Championship > Futures.
World Junior Hockey Championship 2025 Betting Favorites
The favorites at sports betting sites aren’t a surprise to any hockey pundits. The Americans and Canadians have won seven of the last eight championships, including the previous four.
Let’s break down the top three WJC betting odds favorites to win the gold medal this year in Ottawa:
Team USA (+130)
The Americans are looking for back-to-back gold medals for the first time in World Junior Hockey Championship history. Team USA defeated host Sweden for a 6-2 win a year ago. They are bringing a talented squad back to the World Juniors with them to Ottawa.
Expectations are sky-high for a roster loaded with superstar players projected to contribute in the NHL. There weren’t any real surprises announced to the Team USA roster. The likely top line of Ryan Leonard, James Hagens, and Gabe Perrault is a dangerous trio that can provide the Americans with instant offense.
Perrault was drafted by the New York Rangers with the 23rd overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft. Meanwhile, Leonard went off the board as the eighth selection to the Washington Capitals. Eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft, Hagens might be the most promising star on this roster, though.
James Hagens is coming into his own as an #NCAA hockey player. He is a consensus #1 pick in the 2025 #NHL draft. He scored the overtime winner for BC tonight against UConn. Listen to our call and his answer when asked how it made him feel to score such an ELECTRIC goal. 👂👂 pic.twitter.com/6qSf0fEpGQ
— WZBC Sports (@WZBCSports) December 5, 2024
According to Sportsnet, the explosive Hagens is currently mocked as the first overall selection of the next draft. He is one of six BC Eagles on the Team USA preliminary roster.
Chemistry and continuity shouldn’t be a problem for this team at all. I expect another huge push from the Americans in enemy territory in Ottawa this year.
Team Canada (+130)
The storyline for the Canadians isn’t who made the roster, but more so who was left off. Team Canada’s issue is typically narrowing down an insane talent pool to put together the best team possible.
This year, however, there have been some head-scratching decisions from the Team Canada brass. It’s difficult to leave Andrew Cristall off the team, but for some reason, the standout Capitals prospect will not be on the roster.
In addition to Cristall, the Oshawa Generals’ right winger Beckett Sennett and Flames defenseman prospect Zayne Parekh were left off the preliminary list. Blue Jackets’ forward Luca Pinelli was a questionable player to make the cut instead of Cristall or Sennett.
"You just got to wait it out. So, hopefully a dream comes true."
Hear from @Capitals prospect and @Kelowna_Rockets forward Andrew Cristall following the conclusion of Team Canada's #WorldJuniors selection camp. pic.twitter.com/00JFeCPWHD
— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 13, 2024
The top two scoring lines for the Canadians will be potent. Despite leaving the above-mentioned players off the team, Canada still has a plethora of scoring talent on the first and second lines. That being said, they could have had three explosive scoring lines if they went in another direction.
Experience won’t be a problem for Canada, though. Six members from the 2024 team, including Easton Cowan, Brayden Yager, and Carson Rehkopf will be back for Canada at the 2025 tournament.
However, are Team Canada’s World Junior Hockey Championship odds justified at the short price of +130? I argue again this could have been a stronger team.
Team Sweden (+600)
The Swedes most recently won the World Junior Championship in 2012. Despite being known for its hockey, Sweden has only won the title twice in 1981 and 2012. They’ve finished as a runner-up 12 times, including after a final loss to the USA last year.
Head coach Magnus Havelid has talent to work with on this squad. 19-year-old defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka provides Sweden with an elite player on the blue line for this tournament. The Detroit Red Wings’ 17th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft is one to watch in Ottawa.
Currently with the Malmö RedHawks, the St. Louis Blues’ 25th overall selection, Otto Stenberg, is likely going to be a noisemaker in this event. Stenberg’s pro run in the SHL affords Team Sweden with a mature and experienced playmaker at center. He was also a key cog on Sweden’s 2024 junior team.
Hometown boy Otto Stenberg ties it for @trekronorse!🇸🇪🚨 #WorldJuniors #USASWE pic.twitter.com/uchgRiyyvu
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 5, 2024
However, the primary concern with Sweden has to be with their scoring depth. They can generate scoring on their top line, but Canada and the USA can outlast the Swedes over a 60-minute contest. Don’t be surprised if Sweden is close at the end, though, as the talent level drops off following these three squads.
Best World Junior Hockey Championship 2025 Longshot Bets
While it’s going to be tough to knock off the favorites, the World Junior Hockey Championship 2025 winner odds reveal a couple of underdogs to take a flier on at NHL betting sites!
Team Finland (+900)
Several highly touted NHL Draft picks made Finland’s World Junior Hockey Championship roster. They aren’t going to be short of talent on their top lines in Ottawa.
Konsta Helenius, Emil Hemming, Aaron Kivharju, and Kasper Halttunen are all top NHL prospects. In the case of Helenius and Hemming, they were both drafted in the first round. Halttunen was a second-round selection, while 18-year-old Kivharju went off the board this year in the fourth round.
There is more talent on Finland than offshore sportsbooks and the public is giving them credit for this year. They haven’t won since 2019, but I think this is their best chance in six years.
It’s a well-assembled squad equipped with a good amount of playmakers! Give Finland a look at +900 odds to win the World Hockey Junior Championship.
Czech Republic (+2500)
The Czechs won the gold medal in 2000 and 2001. During this era, Czech Republic hockey was on fire after winning the gold medal at the 1998 Nagano Games. The juniors were able to follow up with more gold not long after.
However, Czechia has gone through a drought since dominating over two decades ago. They had to wait until 2023 to return to the gold medal match. In any case, the Czechs have to be the team to like among the longshots.
Despite not finishing with golds recently, the Czech Republic has reached the medal rounds in three straight years. A year after capturing silver, the Czechs took home bronze at the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship.
The Kraken’s Eduard Sale and Maple Leafs’ Miroslav Holinka have some star appeal on this roster and have a chance to impress. The Czech Republic will need to catch a break or two, but they have strong betting value to win gold at +2500!
2025 World Junior Hockey Championship Predictions and Betting Pick
The World Juniors should be another competitive tournament this year. According to the WJC winner odds, it’s a toss-up between the USA and Canada. The Canadians had a chance to gain the edge with their roster selection, but I’m not impressed.
They could have added at least one of Cristall, Sennett, or Parekh and been in a better position than they are now. Cristall is the big head-scratcher to me, so while I like Canada’s top two lines, they missed out on an opportunity to bring three dominant forward combinations to Ottawa.
Hagens and the top line for Team USA is likely the most dangerous unit at the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship. Given their preliminary rosters, the Americans have the edge defensively and a little more firepower than Canada.
Team USA is correctly priced at +130, but Canada should be closer to +160 for the gold medal. Look for the USA to handle Canada’s questionable defense, so they are your best option for a 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship pick!
Where to Bet on the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship?
The World Junior Hockey Championship winner odds can be found at Bovada for the 2025 tournament! As well as the gold medal prices, bettors can place wagers on individual matchups from the opening puck drop on Dec. 26 to the gold medal game on Jan. 5.
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