Canada out early as Sweden, USA, Czechia and Finland advance to world junior semifinals
What a day in Sweden.
Czechia, Sweden, USA and Finland are the four teams moving on to the World Junior Championship semifinal on Saturday, with Canada, Switzerland, Latvia and Slovakia getting sent home early.
Here’s a look at how each game broke down:
Canada stunned as Czechia wins with late-game goal
Canada came into their quarterfinal game as favorites to beat Czechia – but if we’ve learned anything in recent years, those matchups never come easy.
The two-time defending champions dominated the second half of the game, but Jakob Stancl’s second of the game with 11 seconds left put an end to Canada’s gold-medal reign with a 3-2 win.
Czechia will move on to the semifinal, with their win today being the first against Canada in a quarterfinal game.
It started off ugly for Canada, with Stancl and Tomas Cibulka put the Canadians in a tough hole in the worst period of Canada’s tournament. But that all changed in the second period. After playing just 52 seconds in the second period, Matthew Wood came up huge early in the second. Brayden Yager started the play with a good pass from his own zone, with Easton Cowan directing the quick pass up to Wood on the breakaway. The Nashville Predators prospect made no mistake with a perfectly placed wristed, going top shelf on Michael Hrabal to make it 2-1.
Then, late in the frame, San Jose’s Jake Furlong scored his first of the tournament when his point shot blasted past traffic and in to give Canada some momentum heading into the final frame of play. Canada controlled the third period, outshooting Czechia 9-3 once the third period hit the 15-minute mark.
Canada’s inability to finish on their scoring chances ended up biting them in the behind. With just 11 seconds left, Stancl’s shot bounced off Canadian defenseman Oliver Bonk and in to make it 3-2, eliminating Canada in the process.
Canada
#17 Macklin Celebrini, C (2024 NHL Draft): Usually, it’s Celebrini’s offense that gets him on this list. Today, it was his defensive game, especially with how he blocked shots all over the ice. He still generated chances and passed the puck as well as anyone, as expected, but Celebrini is playing a similar complete game that allowed Connor Bedard to play so dominant last year.
#18 Matthew Wood, RW (Nashville Predators): Wood didn’t play much, getting just one shift in the first period. But he was well-rested for his breakaway chance early in the second, sniping it past Hrabal to end his shutout. Wood led all Canadians with shots through the first 40 minutes while playing just four minutes total, making the most of his limited opportunities – just like he did against Latvia.
#27 Easton Cowan, LW (Toronto Maple Leafs): This was Cowan’s best game of the tournament – which wasn’t a huge bar to clear after the run he’s had. But the London Knights standout made a nice tap pass to Wood on the first Canadian goal and then looked as energized as ever, doing a great job of chasing guys down and even landing some hits. Maybe that empty-netter against Germany – his first point of the tournament – helped him find his confidence.
#9 Nate Danielson, RW (Detroit Red Wings): It won’t show up on the scoresheet, but Danielson was a big reason why the Canadians controlled the puck possession. Few players battled as hard on the boards as he did, he got in the way of the Czech rush and landed some hits, too. Danielson will never be flashy, but he plays a smart, simple game with very few noticeable flaws.
Czechia
#28 Eduard Sale, LW (Seattle Kraken): Sale was motivated to do whatever it took to beat Rousseau, sending five shots his way after 40 minutes. Sale has been one of Czechia’s most active shooters, even though he has had a more difficult time scoring since his hat-trick against Norway. For whatever reason, teams have had a difficult time tracking him around the net.
#21 Jakob Stancl, RW (St. Louis Blues): Hard to beat the guy with two goals. Even though the last one was a lucky bounce, Stancl made it happen with his best game of the tournament. He was engaged throughout, so it was only fitting he finished things off.
#23 Tomas Galvas, D (2024 NHL Draft): After initially missing the first game as an extra man on the roster, Galvas has gotten better with every single game. He just looks so confident on Czechia’s third-pairing, blocking shots and making some good heads-up passes. Once he adjusted to the pace, I felt like Galvas unlocked the ability to show what has made him so good against his own age group for years – calm, smart decision-making.
#30 Michael Hrabal, G (Arizona Coyotes): When the Czechs needed him to step up, he didn’t disappoint. He’s been prone to falling apart late in international games, but this was easily one of his best performances in an elimination scenario. He was especially good when Canada heightened the pressure early in the third period, looking sharp despite the onslaught.
#12 Dominik Rymon, LW (Undrafted): Rymond had an eventful first period, setting up Jakub Stancl for the opening goal and drawing a penalty shot on a breakaway a few minutes later. Despite an off-game against the Swiss, Rymon has been one of Czechia’s best set-up guys.
Americans crush Latvia to advance
There was never really a doubt that the United States was going to pull through against Latvia, and they never relented in a 7-2 victory to win their quarterfinal matchup.
USA will await official word on their next playoff opponent following the Sweden vs. Switzerland game later today. Latvia will return for the 2025 tournament, their fourth consecutive event, after replacing Russia in the 2022 summer tournament.
The Americans scored three times in the first period, with Drew Fortescue, Gabe Perreault and Seamus Casey all beating Deivs Rolovs. Dans Locmelis scored his first of two goals to keep things close in the first period, but a three-goal second period by the Americans put things way out of reach. Add in a goal from Oliver Moore in the third, and it didn’t matter that Locmelis had another goal as the United States skated to an easy win.
USA
#34 Gabe Perreault, LW (New York Rangers)/#6 Will Smith, C (San Jose Sharks)/#9 Ryan Leonard, RW (Washington Capitals): It wouldn’t be a USA world junior game with the Boston College line popping off. Nobody played as well as Perreault, who scored two goals and added an assist in the best game the trio has played this tournament. Leonard has a pair of good stretch passes, Smith was dangerous around the net, and Perreault’s bunt to score the sixth goal was one of the nicest of the tournament.
#26 Seamus Casey, D (New Jersey Devils): Casey had three assists in the lopsided affair while also making himself a pain in the behind to try and get past. We know Casey can generate chances, but he’s one heck of physical defender, too.
#11 Oliver Moore, LW (Chicago Blackhawks): Moore is making a case to stay on that top line. He replaced Jimmy Snuggerud when the Blues’ prospect went down with an illness and remained on the line, bringing his trademark speed to the equation. That was especially noticeable against a weaker Latvian team today, outracing two defenders to score a goal.
#19 Cutter Gauthier, C (Philadelphia Flyers): Gauthier’s shot makes him so dangerous, but his playmaking has taken over in Sweden. His behind-the-goal-line feed to Moore was great, and he helped set up the first goal, too. Gauthier probably could have had another 2-3 if his linemates could have finished.
Latvia
#11 Dans Locmelis, C (Boston Bruins): Locmelis seemed to be the only Latvian that gave it his all today. He scored to make it 2-1 and then added a second goal on the power play late in the going. Locmelis played his two best of the tournament at the end as the team finally started to find some life, but he can’t do it all on his own.
Finland beats Slovakia in overtime
After a difficult 2-0 start to the tournament, Finland will fight for a medal after beating Slovakia 4-3 in the first quarterfinal game on Tuesday.
The Finns will play in the semifinal on Thursday, with its opponent to be determined. Slovakia, meanwhile, will focus on 2025 after finishing the round-robin in second place in Group B.
It looked like the first period would end quietly tied at 0-0, but Adam Sykora had a different idea. After Filip Mesar managed to get the puck on net with a second to go off a faceoff, Adam Sykora jumped in and beat goaltender Niklas Kokko on the rebound to make it 1-0 with 0.2 seconds left on the clock.
The Finns had 18 minutes to think it through, and at 2:36 into the second, they found back. This time, Tommi Mannisto scored to make it 1-1 after jamming in a chance in tight on Adam Gajan to get the Finns back in it. Finland scored even earlier in the third to make it a 2-1 game, with Lenni Hameenaho scoring just 36 seconds into the frame. But Dalibor Dvorsky answered back seven minutes later, setting up a wild end to a solid quarterfinal matchup.
It looked like the game was destined for overtime, but Aleksanteri Kaskimaki had different plans. After Konsta Helenius won the puck battle along the boards, Kaskimaki fired a hard one-timer past Gajan and in, giving Finland a 4-3 advantage with just under two minutes later.
But Slovakia had no interest in going down easy. With 44 seconds left, Filip Mesar took Maxim Strbak’s feed and blasted it past Kokko, forcing the extra frame. But overtime barely even got started before Jerer Lassila scored on the breakaway, beating Gajan with the deke to the blocker side just 24 seconds in to clinch the victory.
Finland
#34 Tommi Mannisto, LW (Undrafted): Mannisto’s drive to make things happen has made him valuable for the Finns in this tournament, and his early goal in the second was huge. He does a great job of driving to the net and working his tail off, so dirty, hard-working efforts are to be expected.
#33 Jani Nyman, RW (Seattle Kraken): Nyman looked like a man on a mission in the first period with four shots, even though nothing went in. Nyman was the hero from the game against Sweden on Sunday so you could tell he was extra motivated around the net today. The Finns needed someone to step up, and Nyman was one of the better players.
#29 Lenni Hameenaho, RW (New Jersey Devils): Hameenaho hasn’t dominated the scoring charts like he did at the World Junior Summer Showcase, but that go-ahead goal early in the third was huge. The Finns weren’t able to build off the momentum immediately after, but Hammenaho has seemed a bit snakebitten.
#19 Konsta Helenius, C (2024 NHL Draft): It hasn’t been an easy tournament for Helenius, but his work to set up the 3-2 goal was huge. Helenius put in the work along the boards to get it to Kaskimaki, finally getting rewarded for one of the better games he played in the tournament.
#28 Jere Lassila, C (Undrafted): One of the best-undrafted players in the tournament, Lassila assisted on the first goal and then scored on the breakaway to send Finland to the semis. He’s quick, works his rear-end off and has quick hands, but he’s best known for getting the puck into scoring lanes around the net.
Slovakia
#14 Adam Sykora, LW (New York Rangers): Sykora came up huge with the late first-period goal, beating the buzzer to make it 1-0 Slovakia. We’ve come to see that type of energy from Sykora, fighting for the puck every chance he could possibly get. The lead didn’t last long, but that was still important for a Slovak team that was outshot in the first period.
#15 Dalibor Dvorsky, C (St. Louis Blues): When the Slovaks needed a big goal to get back in the game, Dvorsky delivered. This wasn’t the classic dominant tournament we’ve seen from Dvorsky in his third run, but he deserves some positive attention for how he attacked the play and forced turnovers with simple stick checks all game long. Dvorsky then nabbed an assist on the game-tying goal that forced overtime, creating some havoc in front of the Finnish net.
#10 Filip Mesar, RW (Montreal Canadiens): Yet another good game from the 2022 first-rounder. He assisted on the first goal and then scored the 4-4 goal in the final minute of play, forcing overtime. You need your biggest stars to show up in the biggest minutes and Mesar delivered, much like he did in the early stages of this tournament.
#4 Maxim Strbak, D (Buffalo Sabres): It was a great game for Strbak, but he didn’t have anything on the scoresheet to show until the 3-3 goal. Strbak finished his tournament as one of the biggest standout defenders, mostly for how his great decision-making. He’ll be back next year.
Sweden edges Switzerland to advance
Sweden will play Czechia in the World Junior Championship semifinal on Thursday after beating Switzerland 3-2 in overtime.
The Swedes have made it to the medal round 16 times in the past 18 years, with early quarterfinal exits back in 2019 and 2021. They have not won gold since 2012, and will look to win bronze for the first time since 2022 after falling in a crazy game to the United States for third last year.
The game was controlled by the boys in yellow early on, limiting the Swiss to just four shots through 25 minutes of play. Sweden scored quickly when Otto Stenberg tipped in Mattias Havelid’s point shot at 1:34 to make it 1-0. Jonathan Lekkerimaki then doubled up the advantage on the power play at 18:00, a lead that would stay that way until Jan Hornecker scored with under three minutes to go in the second frame to make it 2-1.
And just when it looked like the Swedes might have skated away mostly unscathed, the Swiss answered back. At 49:10, defenseman Nick Meile used traffic in front of goaltender Hugo Havelid and scored to make it a 2-2 game.
For the second time today, a quarterfinal game needed overtime. The Swedes looked nervous, with the Swiss forwards getting a couple of close looks. But with Rodwin Dionicio in the penalty box, Axel Sandin Pellikka’s point shot went through traffic and beat Beglieri, helping the Swedes avoid a major upset.
Sweden
#23 Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW (Vancouver Canucks): The only guy that can compete with Lekkerimaki in clear space on the man advantage might be Finland’s Kasper Halttunen. Lekkerimaki’s wrister was perfectly placed to make it a 2-0 game, capitalizing on what had been a solid game from the future Canucks winger. When Lekkerimaki is scoring, Sweden’s in a good spot.
#22 Anton Wahlberg, LW (Buffalo Sabres): Wahlberg planted himself in front of the net often in the first period and led to the Swedes scoring twice. He doesn’t get feisty in front; he just gets there he needs to be and takes space away. And nobody seems to want to move him out of the way, either.
#24 Tom Willander, D (Vancouver Canucks): Theo Lindstein has received a ton of attention this tournament, and for good reason. But I thought Willander was more noticeable today. He’s a high-end skater who diligently patrols the blueline, waiting for the right time to make a mass. He’s strong physically and makes it his mission to keep you to the perimeter when rushing in. Today felt like a very complete effort from the 11th pick in 2023.
#25 Otto Stenberg, LW (St. Louis Blues): Stenberg had a quiet few games since nabbing a hat-trick against Germany. Today, he was in the right spot at the right time when he tipped in a shot from Mattias Havelid that was otherwise going high. Stenberg showed some flashes of high-end hand-eye coordination in this tournament, but that was big for the Swedes.
#4 Axel Sandin Pellikka, D (Detroit Red Wings): He was on this before the goal, I swear. The one thing ASP does well is waiting for traffic to form before sending a wrister, and it led to the crucial overtime goal. But he had some other looks in that game where he showed how gifted of a puck-mover he is. With Sweden moving on, they’ll look for him to continue flying high on home ice.
Switzerland
#29 Alessio Beglieri, G (Undrafted): Beglieri hasn’t always had it easy in this tournament, but he’s been one of Switzerland’s most valuable players. He allowed the one tip early from Stenberg but was near lights out the rest of the way. There wasn’t much he could do on that power-play goal with how good of a shot Lekkerimaki has. This could have easily been a 4-0 game early in the second, but instead he kept his team in it all night long.
#28 Nick Meile, D (Undrafted): After not getting named to the roster until Dec. 31, Meile scored a massive goal by using Swedish traffic in front of Hugo Havelid to make it 2-2. He had an opportunity to pass it seconds early but waited long enough to know the Swedish defenders were going to try and get in front of Havelid for a block. It paid off.
#5 Leo Braillard, C (Undrafted): It really seemed like no matter what the result, this game was personal for Braillard. Passed over for the draft last year, this was one of the hardest I had seen him play all tournament long. He was especially noticeable in his first three shifts in the third period as the Swiss needed a goal desperately.
#6 Jamiro Reber, LW (2024 NHL Draft): Honestly, I was hoping for more from Reber at this tournament, but I liked his game today. He was skating well, made some nice plays and set up the late second-period goal for the Swiss.
Jan. 4 Schedule
Norway vs. Germany – 5:00 AM ET
Czechia vs. Sweden – 9:00 AM ET
Finland vs. USA – 1:30 PM ET
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