COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The International Ice Hockey Federation today announced the schedule for the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will take place Dec. 26, 2014 – Jan. 5, 2015, in Montreal and Toronto, Canada. The U.S. was placed in Group A alongside host Canada, defending-champion Finland, Germany and Slovakia. 

Team USA will begin preliminary-round play against Finland on Dec. 26. After a day off, the U.S. will take the ice for back-to-back games against Germany on Dec. 28 and Slovakia on Dec. 29.

The U.S. will conclude Group A play with a New Year’s Eve matchup against Canada. All four of Team USA’s preliminary round games will be played at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

The quarterfinal round is scheduled for Jan. 2, and the semifinals will take place on Jan. 4. The gold-medal and bronze-medal games will be held on Jan. 5. All semifinal and medal games will be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Last Meeting: Team USA and Finland met at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, where Finland played to a 4-1 victory.

World Junior History: The U.S. trails in the all-time series, 11-2-0-16-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T). The U.S. had a four-year winning streak until Finland snapped it during the 2012 tournament. Complete series game-by-game results

Last Meeting: The U.S. defeated Germany, 8-0, in the preliminary round of the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship. 

World Junior History: Team USA is 9-0-1-0-0 all-time against Germany. Over the last four tournaments, Team USA boasts a 3-0 record against the Germans. Complete series game-by-game results

Last Meeting: The U.S. defeated Slovakia, 6-3, in the preliminary round of the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.

World Junior History: Team USA has a 10-0-0-3-1 mark over Slovakia, including an active four-game winning streak that dates back to the 2010 tournament. Complete series game-by-game results

Last Meeting: Canada downed the U.S., 3-2, in the preliminary round finale that decided first place in Group A at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship. 

World Junior History: Team USA and Canada will meet at least once for the 10th consecutive tournament. Starting with the 2006 championship, they have played each other 12 times, with seven games being decided by one goal. The U.S. beat Canada, 6-5, in overtime of the 2010 gold-medal game. All-time, the U.S. is 6-1-3-28-3. Complete series game-by-game results