SASKATOON, Sask. – The preliminary round of the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship is over and Canada’s National Junior Team has clinched first place in Pool A in Saskatoon.

Canada defeated the United States 5-4 in a shootout on Thursday in Saskatoon to earn the first seed in Pool A going into the medal round. Meanwhile, Sweden clinched first in Pool B, thanks to a 7-1 win over Finland in Regina.

Both Canada and Sweden automatically advance to semifinal play at the championship. Four other teams – Finland, Russia, Switzerland, and the United States – will play quarterfinal games on January 2.

Here is a breakdown of games over the next few days at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship. Note that all games from here on in will be held at Saskatoon’s CUC.

January 2 schedule

Game 21 (relegation): Slovakia (A4) vs. Austria (A5), 12:00

Game 22 (quarterfinal): Russia (B2) vs. Switzerland (A3), 16:00

Game 23 (quarterfinal): United States (A2) vs. Finland (B3), 20:00

January 3 schedule

Game 24 (relegation): Czech Republic (B4) vs. Latvia (A5), 12:00

Game 25 (semifinal): Canada (A1) vs. W(Russia-Switzerland), 16:00

Game 26 (semifinal): Sweden (B1) vs. W(USA-Finland), 20:00

Group A Final Standings

Canada

United States

Switzerland

Slovakia

Latvia

Note: Slovakia enters the relegation round with three points, while Latvia enters with zero.

Group B Final Standings

Sweden

Russia

Finland

Czech Republic

Austria

Note: Czech Republic enters the relegation round with three points, while Austria enters with zero.