2023 World Junior Hockey Championship: Canada vs. Austria Odds, Prediction

Following a humbling tournament-opening loss to Czechia, Canada responded on Wednesday night with an 11-2 rout of Germany. It will be a quick turnaround for the Canadians as they prepare to face Austria on Thursday night in Halifax. It’s been a tough first two games for Austria after an 11-0 blowout loss to Sweden and 9-0 loss against Czechia.

Canada is a heavy favourite to win on the IIHF odds.

2023 World Junior Championship Betting Odds

Canada and Austria have met just twice in the World Juniors. Canada won both games, outscoring Austria a combined 22-3. They last met almost exactly a year ago on Dec. 28, 2021 in an 11-2 Canadian victory before the tournament was ultimately delayed until August. Connor Bedard became the youngest Canadian to score a World Juniors hat trick in that game and just the sixth Canadian to score four goals in a World Junior game. Canada outshot Austria 64-22.

Canada remains a -115 favourite to win the tournament, which would make them the first repeat winners in 14 years. Austria has the longest odds to win the tournament at +50,000 and sits as -294 favourites to be relegated.

Team Canada

Through two games, the story of this tournament so far has been Bedard, who continues to smash records for Canada at the World Juniors. His seven-point (3G, 4A) effort on Wednesday tied the Canadian record for most points in a World Juniors game. Bedard now has 21 points in 11 career World Junior games, the seventh-most ever by a Canadian, and his 12 career World Junior goals is two short of matching Jordan Eberle for the all-time Canadian record.

Bedard is just one part of a Canadian offence that found its groove against Germany. Dylan Guenther also recorded a hat trick on Wednesday and eight total Canadians recorded multi-point efforts. The power play was a big factor against Germany as Canada capitalized with seven goals on 10 opportunities and outshot the Germans 52-16 overall.

Thomas Milic got the start in net for Canada after Benjamin Gaudreau was pulled after allowing five goals on 17 shots in the first game against Czechia. Milic stopped all 10 shots faced in relief against Czechia and made 14 saves against Germany. Prior to the tournament, head coach Dennis Williams said he plans to rotate the goalies evenly, so Gaudreau will likely get the start on Thursday in the back-to-back situation.

Team Austria

It’s been a tough tournament for Austria as they’ve failed to score a goal through two games and they are sitting on a tournament-worst minus-20 goal differential. Overall, the Austrians have failed to record a win in 29 all-time World Junior games and they look destined to head to the relegation round once again. They were outshot 47-8 against Czechia on Tuesday and 51-13 against Sweden on Monday.

It’s unclear who will get the start in net against Canada. Thomas Pfarrmeier started the first game against Sweden, allowing six goals on 29 shots before being pulled. Benedikt Oschgan allowed goals on the first two shots he faced in relief of Pfarrmeier and ultimately gave up five goals on 17 shots. Michael Sicher started the second game against Czechia, making 38 saves on 47 shots faced.

One Austrian skater to look out for is captain Vinzenz Rohrer. A third round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2022, Rohrer has 11 goals and 32 points in 26 games with the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s this season.