The IIHF World Junior Championship is an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 teams worldwide. It typically runs from late December to early January. The tournament features the Top Division with ten highest-ranked nations competing for the world championship. Additionally, there are three lower divisions, Divisions I, II, and III where teams compete for promotion to higher levels, while the lowest-placed teams face relegation. The first official IIHF WJC was held in 1977. As of 2024, 48 official tournaments have taken place, with the 2022 edition postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada has dominated the WJC with 20 gold medals followed by the Soviet Union/CIS/Russia, which has collectively won 13 golds.
Most IIHF Junior Championship Best Defenceman winner
The IIHF World Junior Championship annually honors the tournament's top defenseman with the Best Defenseman award. This has been awarded since 1977, recognizing exceptional defensive play among participants. Viacheslav Fetisov from the Soviet Union is the only player to have received the Best Defenseman award twice, in 1977 and 1978 as per Sporting News.
| Year | Player Name | Country |
| 2024 | Axel Sandin Pellikka | Sweden |
| 2023 | David Jiříček | Czech Republic |
| 2022 | Kasper Puutio | Finland |
| 2021 | Topi Niemelä | Finland |
| 2020 | Rasmus Sandin | Sweden |
| 2019 | Alexander Romanov | Russia |
| 2018 | Rasmus Dahlin | Sweden |
| 2017 | Thomas Chabot | Canada |
| 2016 | Zach Werenski | United States |
| 2015 | Vladislav Gavrikov | Russia |
| 2014 | Rasmus Ristolainen | Finland |
| 2013 | Jacob Trouba | United States |
| 2012 | Brandon Gormley | Canada |
| 2011 | Ryan Ellis | Canada |
| 2010 | Alex Pietrangelo | Canada |
| 2009 | Erik Karlsson | Sweden |
| 2008 | Drew Doughty | Canada |
| 2007 | Erik Johnson | United States |
| 2006 | Marc Staal | Canada |
| 2005 | Dion Phaneuf | Canada |
| 2004 | Sami Lepistö | Finland |
| 2003 | Joni Pitkänen | Finland |
| 2002 | Igor Knyazev | Russia |
| 2001 | Rostislav Klesla | Czech Republic |
| 2000 | Alex Riazantsev | Russia |
| 1999 | Vitali Vishnevsky | Russia |
| 1998 | Pavel Skrbek | Czech Republic |
| 1997 | Joe Corvo | United States |
| 1996 | Mattias Öhlund | Sweden |
| 1995 | Bryan McCabe | Canada |
| 1994 | Kenny Jönsson | Sweden |
| 1993 | Janne Grönvall | Finland |
| 1992 | Darius Kasparaitis | CIS |
| 1991 | Jiří Šlégr | Czechoslovakia |
| 1990 | Alexander Godynyuk | Soviet Union |
| 1989 | Ricard Persson | Sweden |
| 1988 | Teppo Numminen | Finland |
| 1987 | Calle Johansson | Sweden |
| 1986 | Mikhail Tatarinov | Soviet Union |
| 1985 | Vesa Salo | Finland |
| 1984 | Alexei Gusarov | Soviet Union |
| 1983 | Ilya Byakin | Soviet Union |
| 1982 | Gord Kluzak | Canada |
| 1981 | Miloslav Horava | Czechoslovakia |
| 1980 | Reijo Ruotsalainen | Finland |
| 1979 | Alexei Kasatonov | Soviet Union |
| 1978 | Viacheslav Fetisov | Soviet Union |
| 1977 | Viacheslav Fetisov | Soviet Union |
Related: Most IIHF Junior Championship Best Goaltender Winner
FAQs on IIHF Junior Championship
A. Yes, Wayne Gretzky helped Canada win the bronze medal at the 1978 IIHF World Junior Championship in Montreal.
A. Canada have won the most IIHF World Juniors with 20 medals.
A. The USA won the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship for the sixth time in Gothenburg, Sweden.
A. Ottawa, Canada is hosting the World Junior Championship 2024-25.
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