Steam reforming of methane (SRM) is the primary method to produce hydrogen. Commercial Ni-based catalysts have been optimized for SRM with excess steam ($H_2O/CH_4$ > 2.5) at high temperatures (> $700^{circ}C$). However, commercial catalysts are not suitable under severe conditions such as stoichiometric steam over methane ratio ($H_2O/CH_4$ = 1.0) and low temperature ($600^{circ}C$). In this study, 15wt.% Ni catalysts supported on $Ce_{0.8}Zr_{0.2}O_2$ were prepared at various calcination temperatures for SRM at a very high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of $621,704h^{-1}$. The calcination temperature was systematically varied to optimize 15wt.% $Ni-Ce_{0.8}Zr_{0.2}O_2$ catalyst at a $H_2O/CH_4$ ratio of 1.0 and at $600^{circ}C$. 15wt.% $Ni-Ce_{0.8}Zr_{0.2}O_2$ catalyst calcined at $500^{circ}C$ exhibited the highest $CH_4$ conversion as well as stability with time on stream. Also, 15wt.% $Ni-Ce_{0.8}Zr_{0.2}O_2$ catalyst calcined at $500^{circ}C$ showed the highest $H_2$ yield (58%) and CO yield (21%) among the catalysts. This is due to complex NiO species, which have relatively strong metal to support interaction (SMSI).