2025 World Juniors: Top standouts from Canada vs. Sweden pre-tournament game

Credit: (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)

Canada completed a third-period comeback to win their second pre-tournament game ahead of the 2025 World Junior Championship, beating Sweden 4-2 on Saturday in Ottawa.

Canada will play Czechia for their final tune-up game on Monday, while Sweden will take on Germany to wrap up their two-game slate.

Luca Pinelli, who sat out the first game against Switzerland, scored the 1-0 goal for Canada – a lead that almost lasted the rest of the first period. Instead, Felix Unger Sorum found himself in the right spot to score in tight with just 0.2 seconds left, beating Jack Ivankovic to make it 1-1. Rasmus Berqvist scored the lone goal in the second period to make it 2-1, only for Canada’s Oliver Bonk to tie it up just before the halfway point in the third.

Canada was the more dangerous team, outshooting the Swedes 44 to 24. It eventually led to Calum Ritchie scoring the game-winning goal with about three minutes to go, with his shot deflecting off Victor Eklund and in. Easton Cowan scored with under two minutes to go to add an insurance marker.

Here’s a look at the top performers from Saturday night’s action:

Canada

#2 Andrew Gibson, D (Nashville Predators): Gibson had another excellent showing for Canada, with his shot through traffic leading to the 1-0 Canadian goal. Everything he’s known for – defensive awareness and brute force – was on display in spades today. The assist was a nice bonus after scoring on Thursday. I honestly think he’s been Canada’s best defenseman dating back to selection camp after being a bubble player heading in.

#23 Tanner Howe, LW (Pittsburgh Penguins): After an impressive selection camp earned him a spot as a bottom-six player, I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Howe. He battles so hard at both ends of the ice and even drew a second-period penalty to help give Canada some momentum. The Canadians have their fair share of point producers, but Howe will be counted on to bring the energy throughout the tournament like he did today.

#25 Matthew Schaefer, D (2025 NHL Draft): After playing a more reserved game throughout most of the battle against the Swiss, I thought Schaefer looked more engaged and involved with the puck. Schaefer is the youngest defender on the team, but the projected No. 1 prospect looks a step ahead of most players in pre-tournament play with just how smart he is with the puck.

#21 Calum Ritchie, C (Colorado Avalanche): Ritchie scored the game-winning goal, but it was a bit fluky. What wasn’t, however, is how many quality opportunities he created in the offensive zone. He also won the faceoff to Easton Cowan that led to the 4-2 goal – clean, quick and on point. Ritchie is a smart two-way center who sees the ice as well as anyone and today was a tremendous showing for him.

Sweden

#2 Rasmus Bergqvist, D (Montreal Canadiens): Berqvist isn’t going to be leaned on in important situations for Sweden, but he’s a prototypical shutdown defenseman who can hit and push opponents away from the net. He didn’t lose many battles in front of the Swedish net, and he even scored the 2-1 goal with a solid shot from the point. It was his first of any kind this year so don’t expect much of that over the next few weeks but you almost always noticed him doing something smart on the ice today.

#16 Felix Unger Sorum, RW (Carolina Hurricanes): He would have been on this list even if he didn’t score the 1-1 goal. That play was solid, picking up a loose puck and scoring with 0.3 seconds left in the first period. But it was his physicality, his two-way play and pure energy that caught my eye again, as it often has when watching him play. FUS is the lone AHLer on the Swedish team, and he was better than his Chicago Wolves teammate, Bradly Nadeau.

#35 Melker Thelin, G (Utah Hockey Club): Thelin was great for the Swedes when needed – especially in the second period when the Canadians kept pummeling him with opportunities. There weren’t a ton of high-end chances in close, but Thelin still held his own and kept rebounds at bay. There wasn’t much he could have done on the 1-0 goal – that was a great tip. But beyond that, Thelin looked dialed in.