Canada, winners of this year's Championship in Buffalo in the United States, are set to take on Denmark in the match at Rogers Arena, home of the Vancouver Canucks and the main venue for the ice hockey during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The first match of the tournament is scheduled to be the Czech Republic against Switzerland, which will take place before Canada's game. 

Group A in Vancouver also includes Russia, due to open on December 27 against Denmark, while Canada will play Switzerland in the evening game of the second day. 

The group stage in Vancouver is scheduled to conclude with Canada meeting Russia in a match between the sport's two oldest rivals.

The United States, winners of this event in 2017 when it was last held in Canada in Montreal and Toronto, will be based in British Columbia's capital Victoria. 

They will also start their campaign on December 26 against Slovakia before this year's silver medallists Sweden play neighbours Finland later that day. 

Group B in Victoria also includes the promoted team, Kazakhstan, who are set to open their campaign against Finland on December 27.

The top-four teams of each group will advance to the quarter-finals on January 2 that will be held in Vancouver and Victoria. 

If qualified, Canada will play the earlier quarter-final game in Vancouver. 

All semi-final and medal games as well as the best-of-three relegation round of the two last-ranked teams will be played in Vancouver with the gold medal match due to take place on January 5. 

"The announcement of the tournament schedule is another indication of how close we are to puck-drop on Boxing Day," said tournament director Riley Wiwchar. 

"Excitement has been building for months in the province, and that now extends across the country and around the world as fans get set to enjoy some of the best international hockey the world has to offer."