The World Junior Championships (WJC) have a history of lopsided scores, reflecting the varying levels of competition present in the annual tournament. While such blowouts are becoming less common, they remain a part of the event's history, often occurring when a dominant team faces a weaker opponent.

One of the most memorable high-scoring games in World Junior Championship history was Sweden's 20-1 victory over Japan in 1993. In that game, Peter Forsberg set a WJC record with 10 points. Forsberg concluded the tournament with a record 31 points in seven games. Sweden, however, despite their offensive prowess, lost to Canada in the final.

Czechoslovakia holds the record for the most goals scored against a single team in a WJC game, with a 21-4 victory over Austria in 1981. At the time, the final score set a World Junior record for the most goals scored against a single team.

Other significant blowouts include Finland's 18-1 victory over Switzerland in 1978 and the USSR's 17-0 win against Norway in 1979. Sweden also recorded a 17-0 victory over Switzerland in 1982. Canada has also been involved in some of the most significant goal differences, including an 18-2 win over Germany in 1986.

These one-sided games often occur when newly promoted teams from lower divisions face top-tier teams, or when significant disparities exist in team development and resources.

While blowouts can be uncomfortable to watch, they sometimes provide learning experiences for the developing teams. For dominant teams, goal differential can be a tie-breaker.

The World Junior Championship has grown in prestige since the first official tournament in 1977. Canada has won the gold medal twenty times since its inception. The United States is the defending champion, having defeated Finland to win the 2025 edition in Ottawa, Ontario.