The 1979 tournament divided participants into two divisions of four teams, each playing three games.

The top three teams in the championship round won the gold, silver and bronze medals.

Norway was relegated to Pool B for the 1980 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

A second tier of the World Junior Championship was contested in Caen, France, from 5 to 9 March 1979.

Switzerland was promoted to Pool A for the 1980 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.