Start date 2016 End date January 5, 2016 | Teams 10 | |
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Dates December 26, 2015 – January 5, 2016 Similar 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey C, 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey C, 2014 Men's World Ice Hockey C, 2013 Men's World Ice Hockey C, 2012 Men's World Ice Hockey C | ||
The 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship was the 40th World Junior Ice Hockey Championship. It was hosted in Helsinki, Finland. It began on December 26, 2015, and ended with the gold medal game on January 5, 2016. This marked the sixth time that Finland has hosted the WJC, and the hosts defeated Russia 4–3 in overtime to win their fourth title in history and second in the last three years. Belarus was relegated to Division I-A for 2017 by merit of their tenth-place finish, while Finnish right winger Jesse Puljujärvi earned MVP and top scorer honors.
Contents
Player eligibility
A player is eligible to play in the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships if:
If a player who has never played in IIHF-organized competition wishes to switch national eligibility, he must have played in competitions for two consecutive years in the new country without playing in another country, as well as show his move to the new country's national association with an international transfer card. In case the player has previously played in IIHF-organized competition but wishes to switch national eligibility, he must have played in competitions for four consecutive years in the new country without playing in another country, he must show his move to the new country's national association with an international transfer card, as well as be a citizen of the new country. A player may only switch national eligibility once.
Officials
The IIHF selected 12 referees and 10 linesmen to officiate during the tournament:
Format
The four best ranked teams from each group of the preliminary round advance to the quarterfinals, while the last placed team from both groups play a relegation round in a best of three format to determine the relegated team.
All times are local. (Eastern European Time – UTC+2)
Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalties In Minutes
Source: IIHF
Goaltending leaders
(minimum 40% team's total ice time)
TOI = Time On Ice (minutes:seconds); GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; Sv% = Save Percentage; SO = Shutouts
Source: IIHF
Tournament awards
Reference: [1] Most Valuable Player
All-star team
IIHF best player awards
Final standings
Note that due to the lack of playoff games for determining the spots 5–8, these spots were determined by the preliminary round records for each team.
Group A
The Division I A tournament was played in Vienna, Austria, from 13 to 19 December 2015.
Group B
The Division I B tournament was played in Megève, France, from 12 to 18 December 2015. Prior to the start of the tournament Japan withdrew, and was relegated for 2017.
Group A
The Division II A tournament was played in Elektrėnai, Lithuania, from 13 to 19 December 2015.
Group B
The Division II B tournament was played in Novi Sad, Serbia, from 17 to 23 January 2016.
Division III
The Division III tournament was played in Mexico City, Mexico, from 15 to 24 January 2016.