One of the most exciting hockey events of the year is set to kick off on Wednesday with the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship getting underway in Vancouver and Victoria, Canada. The annual tournament features fun, fast-paced play and gives hockey fans a look at some of the elite young prospects who will be making their way to the NHL soon.It might be the most fun event on the hockey calendar behind the Stanley Cup Jarrell Brantley Jersey Playoffs, so if you're in need of a primer for this year's tournament, we've got you covered.What is the World Junior Championship?The WJC, or more simply the World Juniors, is an annual international ice hockey tournament that features some of the best under-20 players in the world. A large number of NHL prospects participate in the event every year, both in the form of players who have already been drafted and players who are expected to be drafted this summer. The main tournament features the top-ten ranked hockey nations in the world, but there are also several lower divisions that play separate WJC tournaments for the purpose of promotion/relegation.How does the format work?The event typically runs from the day after Christmas until early January, with a round-robin preliminary round preceding an elimination three-round playoff. The 10-team field is split evenly into two groups (Group A and Group B), with every team playing one prelim game against each of the four other teams in their group. The preliminary round uses a 3-2-1-0 point structure (3 points Mike Conley Jersey for a win, 2 points for an OT win, 1 point for an OT lo s, 0 points for a regulation lo s). At the conclusion of the preliminary round, the top four teams from each group will move on to the playoff round, while the last place teams from each group will face off in a best-of-three series to determine who gets relegated for next year's tournament. Which countries are competing this year?Here is this year's group layout:Group ACanadaCzech RepublicDenmarkRu siaSwitzerlandGroup BUnited StatesFinlandSwedenSlovakiaKazakhstanWho is the reigning champ?Canada won last year's tournament and did so in pretty dominant fashion, only losing once all tournament -- a preliminary round overtime lo s to the United States. It was Canada's 17th gold medal in tournament history -- the most of any country. (Ru sia has the second-most with 13.)Who are the players to watch this year?There are a number of players worth keeping an eye on as we head into this year's tournament, but the most notable player to watch will be 17-year-old United States forwardJack Hughes, who is the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Hughes will also be playing alongside his older brother, Quinn Hughes-- a promising 19-year-old defenseman who was taken No. 7 overall by the last year. , 19, of the Czech Republic had a great tournament last year, scoring seven times. The forward was taken No. 6 overall by the in last year's draft and he'll be looking to impre s with his shooting Rudy Gobert Jersey ability once again this year. Finnish forward, 19, is well-traveled at this point -- he's already had an NHL stint, two prior WJC runs and was a standout in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The forward prospect has show-stopping offensive skill.Canada's Alexis Lafreniereis only 17 years old, but the winger is already being looked at as the potential first overall Georges Niang Jersey pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Canadian defenseman, 19, is a promising two-way blue liner that has excellent puck skills. He was taken 10th overall by the last summer and should be a strong leader on Canada's squad this year., 19,of Ru sia is a big forward presence and had a standout performance in last year's tournament. The St. Louis prospect should have even more of an opportunity to be a difference-maker as one of Ru sia's elder players this year. Swedish defenseman, 19, is a smooth, exciting, puck-moving playmaker and the ' first-round pick should be an integral part of Sweden's attack. TableGroup ATeamGPWOTWOTLLPGoal diff.Ru sia4400012+9Canada430019+18Czech Republic4110250Switzerland410124-1Denmark400040-26Group BTeamGPWOTWOTLLPGoal diff.Sweden4310011+8USA4301010+9Finland420026+5Slovakia410033+1Kazakhstan400040-23How do I watch?Here is the full schedule for the tournament, along with the North American TV broadcast options in parentheses.Wednesday, Dec. 26Czech Republic 2, Switzerland 1 (OT)United States 2, Slovakia 1Canada 14, Denmark 0Sweden 2, Finland 1Thursday, Dec. 27Ru sia 4, Denmark 0Sweden 5, Slovakia 2Canada 3, Switzerland 2Finland 5, Kazakhstan 0Friday, Dec. 28Ru sia 2, Czech Republic 1United States 8, Kazakhstan 2Saturday Jeff Green Jersey , Dec. 29Switzerland 4, Denmark 0Finland 5, Slovakia 1Canada 5, Czech Republic 1Sweden 5, United States 4 (OT)Sunday, Dec. 30Ru sia 7, Switzerland 4Slovakia 11, Kazakhstan 2Monday, Dec. 31Czech Republic 4, Denmark 0Sweden 4, Kazakhstan 1Ru sia 2, Canada 1United States 4, Finland 1Wednesday, Jan. 2Kazakhstan 4, Denmark 3 -- Relegation Game 1QuarterfinalsSwitzerland 2, Sweden 0Finland 2, Canada 1 (OT)United States 3, Czech Republic 1Ru sia 8, Slovakia 3Friday, Jan. 4Kazakhstan 4, Denmark 0 (Relegation Game 2)United States 2, Ru sia 1Finland 6, Switzerland 1Saturday, Jan. 5Bronze-medal game: Ru sia 5, Switzerland 2Gold-medal game: Finland 3, United States 2