The Finns have been the most successful team in the under-20 competition in recent years, with three gold medals in the last six years.

They have been drawn into Group A this time round along with Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Petr Hubáček, the former Czech forward who spent a total of five seasons with JYP Jyväskylä where he won a Finnish Liiga title in 2012, will be the ambassador of the Finnish team at the Championship.

"The strengths of the Finnish junior team are speed, commitment, dynamics, great skating and, especially, the Finnish work ethic and team cohesion," Hubáček said.

"It was exactly these aspects, which I mentioned, on which the Finnish national men’s team at this year’s World Championship in Slovakia was built.

"That’s how they had success."

Group B is made up of Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Russia and the United States, who Finland beat in the final of the last edition.

Group A matches are due to be played at the Werk Arena in Třinec, while Group B games will be played at the Ostravar Aréna in Ostrava.

The top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, which are due to take place on January 2 following the conclusion of the round-robin stage on Tuesday (December 31).

The semi-finals are scheduled to be held on January 4, with the gold and bronze medal games set for the following day.

Tomorrow's action in Group A is scheduled to see Switzerland face Kazakhstan before Sweden meet Finland.

In Group B, Czech Republic go up against Russia prior to Canada doing battle with the US.

This year marks the fourth time that Czech Republic has hosted the IIHF World Junior Championship, having previously done so in 1994, 2002 and 2008.