World Juniors Semifinals Recap: Canada, Finland advance to gold medal game

Teams Canada and Finland will square off in the gold medal game at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Junior Championship on Saturday after prevailing in their respective semifinal matchups at Rogers Place on Friday.

As was also the case in the quarterfinals, Dallas Stars prospect Logan Stankoven led the way for Team Canada in their semifinal game against Team Czechia.

The 2021 second-round pick scored the deciding goal for the Canadians, sniping the puck past Czech goaltender Tomas Suchanek midway through the second period to make it a 3–0 hockey game. Team Canada would ultimately win by a 5–2 score.

Logan Stankoven makes it a 3-0 hockey game! #WorldJunior pic.twitter.com/0Gsb5YwRk3

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 19, 2022

Stankoven also went 21-for-23 in the faceoff dot on Friday. The 5’8″, 170-pound forward subsequently received a Tissot watch for being named one of Team Canada’s top three players of the tournament, along with Anaheim Ducks prospects Mason McTavish and Olen Zellweger.

Kent Johnson, Connor Bedard, McTavish, and Joshua Roy also scored for Team Canada in the victory. The Canadians narrowly outshot the Czechs 35–32.

Team Finland defeated Team Sweden in the other semifinal game, with Florida Panthers defense prospect Kasper Puutio scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win.

🚨 POWER PLAY GOAL! Kasper Puutio pushes past the Swedes to get @leijonat up 1-0!#WorldJuniors #SWEFIN pic.twitter.com/jT3ymaMf3A

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 20, 2022

The Finns generated 29 shots in the contest while holding the Swedes to just 23. Finnish goaltender Juha Jatkola was named his team’s player of the game after successfully posting his first World Juniors shutout.

After Jatkola’s excellent performance, it remains to be seen whether Team Finland elects to start him or Leevi Meriläinen in the gold medal game against Team Canada. Meriläinen has made four appearances for the Finns at this year’s tournament, posting a 3–1–0 record and an .893 save percentage.

Semifinal results

Team Canada 5, Team Czechia 2

Team Sweden 0, Team Finland 1

Medal games (August 20)

Bronze: Team Sweden vs. Team Czechia — 2:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. ET

Gold: Team Canada vs. Team Finland — 6:00 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. ET