After the pre-tournament schedule was reduced from three games, each team at the World Junior Hockey Championship will have just one game to prepare for the tournament on Thursday.

Canada, looking to avenge last year's loss in the gold-medal game, will face long-time rivals Russia at 7p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT in Edmonton on TSN5 and TSN Direct.

Canada has three players returning from last year's roster, including newly anointed captain Kaiden Guhle, winger Cole Perfetti and goaltender Dylan Garand.

The Canadian squad, however, may be highlighted by the promise of 17-year-old star Shane Wright and 2023 NHL draft prospect Connor Bedard, the first 16-year-old since Connor McDavid to make the Canadian World Juniors roster after a standout camp.

Ranked as the consensus No. 1 prospect for the 2022 NHL Draft, Wright was cut by Canada last year, but could be a key contributor as he plays in the tournament for the first time.

“He’s so precise,” said TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button. “I rarely see that in a young player. Such a precision of positioning, purpose, planning, execution.”

While it's unclear exactly what role Bedard will play, he has already joined an exclusive club. The other 16-year-old forwards to play for Team Canada at the World Juniors are Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Jason Spezza, Eric Lindros and Wayne Gretzky. 

"You hear the list of names and you can't really believe it," Bedard said. "For me to be a part of that group is pretty surreal. I'm grateful they picked me. It's a lot to pick a 16-year-old. I'm grateful to be part of that group."

Bedard scored two goals and picked up an assist during regulation time in the team's Dec. 11 game against U Sports players and added an assist during a dominant shift in three-on-three overtime to secure his roster spot. He's expected to open as Canada's 13th forward, but his role could grow throughout the tournament.

"He's a special player and more than deserving to make the team," Wright said of Bedard last week. "He's a guy who can score from almost anywhere."

Russia last won gold at the world juniors in 2011 and was held off the podium for the just the second time in the past years in 2021, falling 4-1 to Finland in the bronze medal game.

Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Sergei Zubov will be behind the bench for Russia this time around, being named to the post last month as Oleg Bratash, who was only named head coach of the team in October, was moved to the role senior coach.  

Russia is expected to lean heavily on Nashville Predators prospect goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, as he plays in the world juniors for the third straight year. Selected 11th overall by the Predators in 2020, Askarov in the highest-drafted goaltender in the past decade. 

The 19-year-old went 3-3 at the world juniors last year, posting a .914 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average. He has a 1-1-2 record this season with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg with a .904 save percentage and a 2.01 GAA. 

Also included on Team Russia is forward Danila Yurov, who Button ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the 2022 NHL Draft in his November list.

“He’s a power player,” Button said of the 18-year-old. “Marian Hossa, that’s what I see. That type of player.

“Penalty kill, power play, low-scoring game, high skill game, fast game, pivotal game, he can do it all.”

The full pre-tournament schedule for Thursday is as follows:

Finland vs. United States 2 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. PT in Edmonton
Slovakia vs. Germany 4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT in Red Deer
Russia vs. Canada 7 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. PT in Edmonton
Czechia vs. Switzerland in Red Deer (cancelled)
Austria vs. Sweden 10 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. PT in Red Deer

The World Juniors officially begin on Dec. 26 with two games in both Red Deer and Edmonton, including Canada taking on Czechia at 7 p.m. ET on TSN1/4.