Canada, Czechia to play for gold at 2023 World Junior Championship

Canada and Czechia will battle it out for gold at the World Junior Championship on Thursday after victories on semifinal Wednesday in Halifax.

The Canadians beat USA 6-2, while the Czechs came from behind to win 2-1 in overtime over Sweden. Canada and Czechia will play at 6:30 PM ET, while Sweden and USA will fight at 2:30 PM.

Canada has won gold in two of the past three years, and finished second to the Americans in 2021. They’ll play Czechia in the gold medal game on Thursday in a rematch of Czechia’s 5-2 win to open up the tournament on Dec. 26. Czechia last made it to the final in 2001, winning gold.

The Americans absolutely flew early in the game, with USA scoring on just the second shift of the game. At 1:19, Ryan Ufko’s shit bounced off a body in front and Logan Cooley was able to stop it from bouncing away. He quickly turned and put it between the legs of Thomas Milic and made it 1-0, quickly quieting the Canadian crowd.

Canada was unable to score on a power play chance a few minutes later, and it ended up hurting them. At 10:30, Charlie Stramel’s shot was stopped, but Kenny Connors was in the right spot for the rebound and made no mistake to the right of the Canadian net.

Canada would eventually cut the lead in half, and if it was going to be anyone, it had to be Connor Bedard. Ethan Del Mastro found the 2023 draft phenom near the net, and Bedard tapped it in for the 2-1 goal, giving Canada some life.

The Canadians entered the second with a chip on their shoulder, and they made the most of it. Just 47 seconds into the period, Logan Stankoven got the last touch on the puck near the net and made it 2-2. Then, at 25:46, Adam Fantilli – a 2023 draft prospect – scored a huge goal when he jammed it past the goal line from in close to give Canada it’s first lead of the game.

Jackson Blake scored for the United States a few minutes later to shift the momentum, but the Canadian coaching staff challenged it. That paid off for the Canadians, as goalie interference on the play took the goal back and kept Canada in front. At 32:20, Canada added some salt to the wound when Joshua Roy scored – his third point of the night – and made it 4-2, giving Canada a solid lead heading into the second intermission.

The Americans had yet another goal taken away, this time just under 40 seconds into the third. Rutger McGroarty beat Milic, but a coach’s challenge argued that McGroarty shoved the puck from under Milic’s pad and in. The review worked, and Canada held on to its two-goal lead.

The game was intense at both ends, with USA had many close chances against Milic, but it was Canada that ultimately scored next. At 49:45, Adam Fantilli found a streaking Brandt Clarke on the rush, who made no mistake with the wrister. The Americans pulled their goalie with four minutes to go, but Roy potted an empty-netter to close the game out.

In the Czechia/Sweden game, it was a true goaltending duel. Czechia’s Tomas Suchanek stopped 21 shots, while Carl Lindbom, a Vegas Golden Knights prospect, turned away 29 shots sent his way for the Swedes.

The lone goal came early in the second. With some heavy pressure in the Czech zone, Ludvig Jansson’s shot went through the legs of a Czech player and over top of Suchanek’s right arm, giving Sweden a 1-0 lead.

Czechia hadn’t had to trail for most of the tournament, and the Swedes did an excellent job of taking opportunities away. But with just over 30 seconds to go, David Jiricek’s blast from the point went right through the legs of Lindbom and in to make it a 1-1 game.

The game needed overtime, and just like in the third, the Czechs waited until the last minute to spoil Sweden’s evening. At 69:10 – with 50 seconds to go in regulation – Jiri Kulich’s shot beat Lindbom’s seven hole and secured the victory, sending the Czechs off to the final and getting revenge for last year’s bronze medal loss.

Three Stars

1. Thomas Milic, G (Canada, 2023): With 43 saves, Milic was the difference-maker for Canada. USA peppered him all game, and he was up for the challenge.
2. Joshua Roy, F (Canada, Montreal): Roy finished with two goals and two assists for his best game in a Canadian uniform.
3. David Spacek, D (Czechia, Minnesota): Another multi-point performance for the Czech defender. The Wild are in good hands here.

Final Schedule (Jan. 5)

USA vs. Sweden – 2:30 PM ET
Canada vs. Czechia – 6:30 PM ET