Brooks Bandits forward Mathis Dufour will play for France at the IIHF U20 World Junior Championship Division 1 in Slovenia. Courtesy/Brooks Bandits

By Jesse Gill

SPORTS

Brooks Bandits Dufour to play for France at IIHF U20 World Junior Championship Division 1, Group A

Dec 4, 2025 | 12:57 PM

Brooks Bandits forward Mathis Dufour will play for France at the 2026 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship Division 1, Group A in Slovenia from Dec. 7-13, 2025.

The tournament is a step below the World Junior tournament being held in Minnesota, starting Boxing Day, which Team Canada competes in.

The winner of the Division 1, Group A tournament will advance to the 2027 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship hosted by Red Deer and Edmonton.

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READ: Edmonton and Red Deer to host 2027 world junior hockey championship (Nov. 18, 2025)

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The 18-year-old Dufour from Briancon, France, is in his second season with the Bandits.

Through 13 games played in 2025-26, he has three goals and six assists for nine points.

During the Bandits’ BCHL championship season in 2024-25, Dufour had 17 points in 41 regular-season games and seven points in 21 playoff games.

The tournament will be his fourth time representing France at a World Junior event and a third time at the U20 level, having previously played in a U18 Division 1 B tournament.

France kicks off the tournament against Norway on Sunday.