The traditional eight best U18 national teams in the world are once again divided into two groups:

Group A, Břeclav: Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, USA.
Group B, Bratislava: Slovakia, Canada, Finland, Russia.

Tournament format

The tournament is open to players born in 2000 and younger. The maximum number of players per team is 22 – 20 skaters and 2 goaltenders. All players must also receive entry visas into the Czech and Slovak Republics.

Statistics will be kept by the Czech and Slovak ice hockey associations. The tournament will be officiated by qualified referees and linesmen with international licenses.

Each team plays once against the other three teams teams within its group. The winner of each game receives three points and the loser receives no points. If the game tied after 60 minutes, both teams get one point, with the winner in overtime or penalty shootout receives another point. During the Preliminary Round, overtime will consist of a five-minute sudden-death period, with teams skating 3-on-3 at full strength. If no goal is scored, a three-round penalty shootout will be played, with additional rounds added as needed until a winner is determined.

At the end of the group stage, the third- and fourth-placed teams in each group play cross-over games to determine fifth to eighth places in the final standings. The first- and second-placed teams in each group play cross-over semi-finals, followed by final and third-place games that will determine first to fourth places. During playoff games (semi-finals, bronze- and gold-medal games), overtime will be 10 minutes sudden-death with teams skating 4-on-4 at full strength, followed by a five-round penalty shootout if the game is still tied.

There will be two exhibition games before the start of the tournament - Saturday, 5 August between Czech Republic and Canada in Břeclav and at the same day Slovaks will face USA in Bratislava.

Games

game		day	team 1	team 2	start / result	live	stats
1	1	Monday 7th, 2017	USA	Sweden	15:30
2	2		Canada	Russia	15:30
3	1		Czech Rep.	Switzerland	19:00
4	1		Slovakia	Finland	19:00
5	1	Tuesday 8th, 2017	Switzerland	USA	15:30
6	1		Finland	Canada	15:30
7	1		Czech Rep.	Sweden	19:00
8	1		Slovakia	Russia	19:00
9	1	Wednesday 9th, 2017	Sweden	Switzerland	15:30
10	1		Russia	Finland	15:30
11	1		Czech Rep.	USA	19:00
12	1		Canada	Slovakia	19:00