U.S., Canada to reveal preliminary WJHC rosters this week

It's that time of year again.

USA Hockey will unveil its preliminary roster for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET on NHL Network, the governing body for American hockey announced Monday.

Canada's preliminary roster for the tournament will be revealed Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET, Hockey Canada said in a press release. About 30 players will be chosen to take part in the Canadian squad's final selection camp in St. Catharines, Ontario, which begins one week from Monday.

The U.S. will play pre-tournament games against Belarus and Sweden in Jamestown, N.Y., and Erie, Penn., on Dec. 20 and 22, respectively.

The 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship will begin on Dec. 26 and run through Jan. 5, 2018, in Buffalo.

Canada and the United States will face off in the first-ever outdoor game at a top-level IIHF world championship when they play a preliminary-round game on Dec. 29 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, N.Y., home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills.

The United States defeated Canada for gold at the last tournament, prevailing 5-4 in a shootout in Montreal.