GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (JAN. 12)

Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team is one win away from an eighth world title, facing off against the United States in the gold medal game Sunday at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

Last Game

Canada gained a measure of revenge in its semifinal, doubling up Czechia 4-2 one year after the Czechs shocked Canada by the same score in the semis. Stryker Zablocki continued her red-hot run, scoring once and adding an assist, as did Caileigh Tiller. Marilou Grenier made 19 saves, while Chloe Primerano chipped in with two assists, becoming the all-time leading scorer in National Women’s Under-18 Team history.

The Americans got a scare from Sweden in their Saturday semifinal, holding on for a 2-1 win to book their place in the final. The defending world champions got two second-period goals from captain Anabella Fanale and 17 saves from Morgan Stickney to advance to their 16th gold medal game.

Last Meeting

The Canadians and Americans clashed in a three-game summer series in Thorold, Ontario, in August, with Canada taking two of three. In the series finale, Stryker Zablocki forced overtime by scoring with just 58 seconds left in the third period, but a seven-round shootout went the way of the U.S. in a 4-3 final.

The last meeting between the rivals at U18 Women’s Worlds came in preliminary-round play at the 2023 tournament in Ostersund, Sweden. Caitlin Kraemer scored twice, Emma Pais had a goal and a helper and the Canadians held the U.S. to only 11 shots on goal in a 3-1 victory that completed a perfect prelims for Canada.

What to Watch

While this space is typically reserved for individual efforts, we would be remiss if we let the tournament end without highlighting the top-to-bottom effort that has allowed Canada to return to the gold medal game. Through three preliminary-round wins and a pair of playoff victories, the Canadians have scored the most goals (37), taken the most shots (250) and allowed the fewest shots (63), while icing the tournament’s best power play (45%) and best penalty kill (94.7%). All 20 skaters have recorded at least one point, with three of the tournament’s top four scorers wearing the Maple Leaf – Zablocki (7-4—11), Primerano (4-6—10) and Maxine Cimoroni (4-6—10). And the goaltenders haven’t been too bad, either – Grenier has a .917 save percentage in her three starts, while Amelia Wilkinson has allowed just one goal across her 120 minutes for a 0.50 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.

The Americans have clamped down defensively and have yet to allow a goal at five-on-five in the tournament, giving up just two in total (both on the power play) across five games. A big reason they’re not allowing many goals? They’re not allowing many shots. The U.S. has given up just 64, with the 18 taken by Sweden the highest single-game total. Morgan Stickney has played every second between the pipes, fashioning a miniscule 0.40 goals-against average and .969 save percentage with three shutouts, while Fanale (5-4—9) and Mary Derrenbacher (2-6—8) have done the heavy lifting up front. And then there’s the experience factor; the Americans have eight players – Derrenbacher, Fanale, Caroline Averill, Margaret Averill, Haley Box, Natalia Dilbone, Megan Healy and Macy Rasmussen – back from the team that beat Czechia 5-1 to win gold a year ago in Zug.

A Look Back

When you include summer series, Canada and the U.S. have met 68 times since the creation of the U18 program in 2007. The Canadians have a 38-30 edge overall, while the Americans have won 13 of 22 at U18 Women’s Worlds.

But if history tells us anything, expect a close game; of the 22 meetings at the world championship, 10 have needed overtime and three others have been one-goal finishes in regulation time. Canada claimed its first-ever gold medal in extra time; current Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell provided the heroics in 2010, scoring the winner to put the Canadians atop the podium in Chicago.

All-time record: United States leads 13-9 (6-4 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 48
United States goals: 62

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CZECHIA (JAN. 11)

After a historic quarterfinal victory, Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team faces a familiar foe in the semifinals when it takes on Czechia on Saturday at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

Last Game

Canada scored early and very often on Thursday, netting seven goals in each of the first two periods en route to a 17-0 win over Japan to equal its single-game scoring record. In the first 16 editions of the tournament, only six times had a Canadian skater recorded five points in a game. Four players did it against the Japanese – Stryker Zablocki (3-2—5), Maxine Cimoroni (3-2—5), Chloe Primerano (2-3—5) and Caileigh Tiller (2-3—5). Canada went 4-for-4 on the power play, tying the tournament record for PPGs in a game, and it finished with a massive 76-4 advantage in shots on goal.

The Czechs secured their place in the final four with a comfortable shutout win of their own, blanking Finland 6-0 on Thursday. Adela Fromova, Viktorie Jilkova, Dana Brezinova and Magdalena Felcmanova recorded a goal and an assist apiece for Czechia, while Daniela Novakova turned away all 18 shots directed her way to earn the clean sheet.

Last Meeting

The Canadians and Czechs clashed in the preliminary-round finale on Tuesday, with the Canadians wrapping up first place on Group B with a 5-0 win. Zablocki led the offence with two goals, Sydney Sawyer had a goal and an assist, and Kate Viel chipped in with two helpers. Marilou Grenier posted the shutout with a 20-save effort, half of those coming in the third period.

What to Watch

With Primerano on the verge of more history, let’s put the focus once again on the Canadian captain. The North Vancouver, B.C., product – who already became the highest-scoring defender in U18 Women’s Worlds history earlier in the tournament – has moved within striking distance of a couple more significant milestones. With her five points against the Japanese (four of those, by the way came in the first period, just the fifth four-point period in tournament history), Primerano needs just one point to become the leading scorer in National Women’s Under-18 Team history (she’s even with Caitlin Kraemer) and three to surpass the iconic Marie-Philip Poulin as the highest-scoring Canadian in tournament history. She also has an outside shot at passing Erin Ambrose for most assists in Team Canada history (she needs five). All in all, just another ho-hum international appearance for Primerano.

The Czechs have their sights set on more history. One year ago, in the semifinals, the Czechs stunned a Canadian team that had been downright dominant; after outscoring its opponents 36-1 in four games, Canada dropped a 4-2 decision to Czechia in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. Twelve months later, 11 players who were part of that win are back for the Czechs, although that list doesn’t include the three players who scored goals in that game or standout goaltender Aneta Senkova (who made 45 saves). Czechia has reached the final four with an offence-by-committee approach; no skater has more than four points, and nine have at least three. Novakova has been a workhorse, playing every second for the Czechs; she has fashioned a 2.24 goals-against average and .919 save percentage.

A Look Back

This is meeting No. 10 between the Canadians and Czechs, with Canada taking eight of the first nine (the only blemish was the semifinal a year ago in Zug) and outscoring Czechia 65-9.

A pair of future Olympic gold medallists made their marks in the first matchup at the inaugural U18 Women’s Worlds in 2008; Marie-Philip Poulin and Natalie Spooner recorded a hat trick apiece in an 11-2 Canadian win in Calgary. Poulin finished with five points in that win, still one of just six such performances by a Canadian in tournament history.

All-time record: Canada leads 8-1
Canada goals: 65
Czechia goals: 9

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. JAPAN (JAN. 9)

Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team is on to the playoffs at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, taking on Japan in quarterfinal action Thursday.

Last Game

Canada closed out a perfect preliminary round with a 5-0 win over Czechia on Tuesday. Stryker Zablocki led the way with two goals, Sydney Sawyer had a goal and a helper and Marilou Grenier turned aside 20 shots for the shutout. Chloe Primerano made more history in the victory; with her assist on Zablocki’s second goal, the Canadian captain became the highest-scoring defender in U18 Women’s Worlds history (19 points).

Japan dropped a heart-breaker in its prelim finale, falling 5-4 to Sweden on Tuesday. Koko Ruike and Nanaho Yamaguchi finished with a goal and an assist apiece for the Japanese, who led 3-1 early in the second period and 4-3 with eight minutes to go but couldn’t find the win column.

Last Meeting

The Canadians and Japanese have met just once before at U18 Women’s Worlds, in the opener of the 2014 tournament in Budapest. In that one, Victoria Bach had two goals and an assist, Sarah Potomak added a goal and two helpers, and Lauren Wildfang chipped in with three assists as Canada outshot Japan 65-22 in a 7-1 win.

What to Watch

Zablocki had three goals in as many prelim games, picking up right where she left off a year ago in Zug, when she posted seven points (2-5—7) in six games as part of Canada’s bronze medal-winning contingent. In between, she had a 2024 to remember. The Prince Albert native earned MVP honours at the Esso Cup, co-leading the tournament with 11 points (8-3—11) in seven games while leading the Regina Rebels to their first national title, and then she was named Top Forward at the U18 Women’s National Championship, recording five points (3-2—5) in six games while helping Saskatchewan to a spot in the bronze medal game.

Youth is the name of the game for the Japanese, who ice the youngest roster in the tournament in Vantaa. Only two players – goaltender Haruka Kuromaru and forward Hina Fukuyama – are in their final year of U18 eligibility, meaning a whopping 21 can return for the 2026 tournament. (Canada, by comparison, has 15 players finishing their eligibility this year.) Offence was hard to find in the prelims for the Asian side; they scored only six goals in three games, with four of them coming against the Swedes (and three of those in a span of just over six minutes late in the first period and early in the second). Nana Akimoto – one of Japan’s 11 15-year-olds – was the lone skater to record more than one goal (she had two).

A Look Back

As mentioned above, just the one previous meeting, 11 years ago in Hungary.

All-time record: Canada leads 1-0
Canada goals: 7
Japan goals: 1

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CZECHIA (JAN. 7)

Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team closes out the preliminary round Tuesday at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, facing off against Czechia with first place in Group B on the line.

Last Game

Canada made it two wins in as many days Sunday, beating Switzerland 5-1. Dorothy Copetti led the charge with a pair of goals as the Canadians took control with a four-goal second period. Sara Manness put together her second-straight two-point effort – scoring once and adding an assist – and Maxine Cimoroni chipped in with two helpers. Chloe Primerano scored her second goal of the tournament, pulling even with Jincy Dunne and Brigette Lacquette as the highest-scoring defender in U18 Women’s Worlds history.

The Czechs stayed unbeaten by doubling up Slovakia 6-3 on Sunday. Linda Vocetkova scored twice in the first period – two of Czechia’s 23 shots in the opening frame – while Barbora Proskova added a goal and two assists to help the Czechs erase a 3-2 second-period deficit.

Last Meeting

The Canadians and Czechs last clashed a year ago in the semifinals in Zug, with Czechia securing a stunning 4-2 victory – its first over Canada at any level of international women’s hockey. Primerano and Stryker Zablocki scored to erase a two-goal lead early in the third period, but the Canadians – who came into the game unbeaten and having outscored opponents 35-1 – missed out on the gold medal game for the first time ever.

What to Watch

Sara Manness has been a force on the top line for Canada, scoring a goal and setting up three others through two games to sit second in tournament scoring alongside linemate Maxine Cimoroni. The MVP of the 2023 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, Manness has had an international coming-out party in Vantaa; she had just six points in 14 games wearing the Maple Leaf prior to arriving in Finland, but earned an assist in the pre-tournament win over the host country , picked up two helpers in the tournament-opening victory over Slovakia and had a goal and an assist against the Swiss. She also gets to do it alongside twin sister Kate; the sisters are the fifth set of first siblings to represent Canada at the U18 Women’s Worlds, but the first to do it together.

For the Czechs, Julia Jebouskova has done the heavy lifting up front. The 16-year-old, who was held off the scoresheet across six games at last year’s U18 Women’s Worlds, netted the overtime winner in the tournament opener against Switzerland before chipping in a goal and an assist to help Czechia pull away from Slovakia on Sunday. Jebouskova has been a scoring machine this season with the U19 program at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Minnesota, potting 22 goals (and adding 12 assists) in 25 games.

A Look Back

This is meeting No. 9 between the Canadians and Czechs, with Canada taking seven of the first eight and outscoring Czechia 60-9.

A pair of future Olympic gold medallists made their marks in the first matchup at the inaugural U18 Women’s Worlds in 2008; Marie-Philip Poulin and Natalie Spooner recorded a hat trick apiece in an 11-2 Canadian win in Calgary. Poulin finished with five points in that win, still one of just six such performances by a Canadian in tournament history.

All-time record: Canada leads 7-1
Canada goals: 60
Czechia goals: 9

The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship officially wrapped up on Sunday after 11 days of competition in the nation’s capital.

Fans at home watching on TSN see the action on the ice, but the action behind the scenes is crucial to help welcome the world to what is one of the most-watched tournaments on the international hockey calendar.

What exactly goes into – and comes out of – hosting the World Juniors? Let’s look at the numbers:

7: Communities in the Ottawa area that hosted pre-tournament games – Arnprior, Belleville, Brockville, Cornwall, Hawkesbury, Kingston and Ottawa.

10: Indigenous artists whose work was on display for Player of the Game awards, volunteer belt bags and a special commemorative jersey.

23: Officials assigned to work the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, representing nine countries – Finland (4), United States (4), Canada (3), Sweden (3), Czechia (2), Denmark (2), Latvia (2), Slovakia (2) and Switzerland (1).

26: People from 14 different countries who took the Oath of Citizenship to become Canadian citizens ahead of Canada’s pre-tournament game against Czechia.

27: Partners who supported Hockey Canada and the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

28: Shooters in the bronze medal game shootout between Czechia and Sweden, the longest in International Ice Hockey Federation history. Goaltenders Michael Hrabal and Marcus Gidlof combined for 23 saves before Eduard Sale scored the winner for the Czechs in the 14th round.

76: Unique puck stacks, created by team services volunteers, ahead of practices.

116: Minor hockey players who participated in the event as flag bearers and Esso Player of the Game presenters in pre- and post-game ceremonies.

121: Accredited media members from 11 different countries, plus 36 accredited photographers.

193: Goals scored in the tournament. The highest single-game total was 16, when Czechia topped Kazakhstan 14-2, while the lowest total was three, done three times (Switzerland vs. Slovakia – 2-1; Canada vs. Germany – 3-0; and Finland vs. Latvia – 3-0).

322: Volunteers who gave their time during the tournament through the TELUS volunteer program.

400: Water jugs consumed throughout the tournament by teams, volunteers and staff.

1,094: Social media posts sent across all Hockey Canada platforms (X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok) from Dec. 19 (when pre-tournament play started) through Jan. 5. The posts earned 45,217,677 impressions and 2,000,899 engagements.

1,964: Minutes of hockey played during the tournament. Seven games went beyond 60 minutes, including the Finland-Sweden semifinal and both medal games. It’s the third time in the last four years that the gold medal game has required overtime.

4,000+: Single-game tickets donated to local community and Indigenous groups, including 150 kids each from the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and Mohawks of Akwesasne who attended a game. As well, 150 newcomers experienced their first hockey game during the tournament.

6,177: Attendance for the relegation-round game between Germany and Kazakhstan in Ottawa on Jan. 2, making it one of the highest-attended relegation games in World Juniors history.

15,000: Meals saved through the Tablée des Chefs food recovery program, as a part of the event’s sustainability initiatives. This effort by the two main venues and two hotels prevented more than 6,842 pounds (three tons) of food from going to waste.

16,700+: Event packages sold between both venues. In total, 13,200 event packages were sold for Canadian Tire Centre and 3,532 packages were sold for TD Place.

80,000+: Attendance for Fan Fest, which was hosted at the historic Aberdeen Pavilion from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. The free event featured close to 50 different community activations, including live watch parties for World Juniors games, free skates, fireworks on New Year’s Eve, a Stanley Cup visit and a meet and greet with the PWHL’s Ottawa Charge. It also included live performances from 10 live bands and DJs.

296,895: Official attendance for all 29 games at the Canadian Tire Centre and TD Place, the eighth-highest total in World Juniors history. The number grows to more than 325,000 when Canada’s three pre-tournament games in Ottawa are included.

3,208,095: Amount, in dollars, generated from Hockey Canada 50/50 ticket sales across all 10 provinces and the Northwest Territories.

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SWITZERLAND (JAN. 5)

Coming off a tournament-opening victory, Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team is right back on the ice Sunday at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, taking on Switzerland in Group B action.

Last Game

Canada opened its preliminary-round schedule with a 6-2 win over Slovakia on Saturday. Despite outshooting the Slovaks 60-7, the game was even at 2-2 heading to the third period before B.C.-born blue-liners Danica Maynard and Chloe Primerano scored 2:11 apart to kick-start the Canadian offence. Maxine Cimoroni finished with a goal and an assist, while Sara Manness and Caileigh Tiller chipped in with two assists apiece.

The Swiss lost a nail-biter in their opener, falling 2-1 in overtime to Czechia on Saturday. Sonja Inkamp gave Switzerland the lead seven minutes into the third period, only for the Czechs to pull even with 2:08 left and win it in overtime. Amaya Iseli was terrific between the pipes, finishing with 36 saves.

Last Meeting

It was a quarterfinal clash a year ago in Zug, with Canada posting a 6-0 victory over the tournament hosts. Sienna D’Alessandro scored a pair of goals, Gracie Graham added a goal and two assists and Primerano continued her romp through the record books with three helpers. Rhyah Stewart was only required to turn away three shots as the Canadians finished with a one-sided 54-3 edge in shots on goal.

What to Watch

Cimoroni was a member of Canada’s bronze medal-winning roster a year ago, recording three points in six games to help the Canadians find the podium. The Toronto product almost matched those numbers in the first period Saturday, helping set up Hayley McDonald for Canada’s first goal of the tournament before scoring herself late in the opening frame. Cimoroni is having a season to remember; after leading Canada with five points (2-3—5) in the three-game summer series against the U.S., the Ohio State commit took home Most Valuable Player honours from the U18 National Women’s Championship in November while helping Ontario Red to another gold medal. She also ranks fifth in OWHA U22 Elite scoring, posting 32 points (17-15—32) in 20 games with the Mississauga Hurricanes.

It was tough to miss Inkamp on Saturday, if only because she never seemed to leave the ice. The Swiss defender played 29:10 in the overtime loss to the Czechs, almost two minutes than any other player. Back for her third U18 Women’s Worlds, Inkamp has spent parts of the last two seasons in the Women’s League, the top league in Switzerland, seeing time with HC Ambri-Piotta last season before getting into six games with the ZSC Lions this year. Inkamp is also somewhat of a rarity on the Swiss roster – a 2007-born player. Switzerland ices one of the youngest rosters in the tournament, with just nine players born in 2007. That’s the second-fewest behind only Japan, which has only two.

A Look Back

This is just the fifth meeting between the Canadians and Swiss, and the fourth to come in the prelims. Canada is perfect through the first four, outscoring Switzerland 44-3.

The first matchup came at the 2009 tournament in Germany; Casandra Langan made history in that one, becoming the first Canadian to score four goals in a game as part of a 16-1 win. Jamie Lee Rattray added a hat trick of her own, while Jessica Wong chipped in with two goals and an assist.

All-time record: Canada leads 4-0
Canada goals: 44
Switzerland goals: 3

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SLOVAKIA (JAN. 4)

The quest for an eighth gold medal at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship begins Saturday as Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team opens the 2025 tournament against Slovakia at Tikkurila Arena.

Last Game

Canada warmed up for the world championship with a 7-0 win over host Finland in pre-tournament action on New Year’s Day. Stryker Zablocki led the offence with two goals and an assist, Kate Manness and Sofia Ismael chipped in with one of each, and Marilou Grenier (14 saves) and Amelia Wilkinson (three saves) combined for the shutout.

The Slovaks were last in action on Dec. 15, closing out the Four Nations Tournament in Füssen, Germany, with a 3-2 loss to Hungary. Blanka Bereczkiova and Vanessa Eibenova scored the goals for Slovakia, which was four minutes away from a tournament title before the Hungarians rallied late.

Last Meeting

Canada and Slovakia have met just once, a quarterfinal matchup at the 2022 U18 Women’s Worlds. Balanced scoring was the name of the game in Wisconsin; seven different players scored goals and 14 recorded points in a 7-0 Canadian win. Four players – Madison Chantler, Ava Murphy, Karel Préfontaine and Mckenna Van Gelder – produced a goal and an assist each, and Mari Pietersen needed to make just five saves for the shutout.

What to Watch

Two words: Chloe Primerano. The 18-year-old (she turned 18 on Thursday) introduced herself to the hockey world with a beautiful shootout winner to help Canada’s National Women’s Team win Game 2 of the Rivalry Series in November, and now Primerano turns her attention back to her continued assault on the Team Canada record book at the U18 level. Already the highest-scoring defender in National Women’s Under-18 Team history, her assist in the pre-tournament win leaves her only eight points behind Caitlin Kraemer for the all-time scoring mark, and seven helpers behind Erin Ambrose. The North Vancouver, B.C., product also needs 11 points to surpass Marie-Philip Poulin as Canada’s all-time leading scorer at U18 Women’s Worlds (she led the tournament with 16 points in 2024). She’s also only three points from becoming the leading scorer among defenders in tournament history, trailing only Brigette Lacquette and Jincy Dunne.

The Slovaks have a phenom of their own in Nela Lopusanova, who is back for her third appearance at the U18 Women’s Worlds. She burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old in 2023, winning MVP honours with a tournament-leading 12 points (9-3—12) in five games, including a ‘Michigan’ goal. Most recently, she dominated at the Olympic qualifying tournament on home ice in Piestany in mid-December; Lopusanova helped Slovakia reach the final qualifying tournament after posting 18 points – 11 of them goals – in just three games, highlighted by four-goal games in wins over Kazakhstan and Slovenia. A University of Wisconsin commit for the 2026-27 season, Lopusanova is plying her trade this season with Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, New York, where she’s a teammate of Canadian forward Stryker Zablocki. Oh, and she is still eligible for one more U18 tournament in 2026.

A Look Back

Not much more to talk about than what we mentioned above – one game, one win.

All-time record: Canada leads 1-0
Canada goals: 7
Slovakia goals: 0

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CZECHIA (JAN. 2)

Let the playoffs begin. It’s win or go home as Canada’s National Junior Team faces Czechia on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre.

Last Game

Canada dropped a 4-1 decision to the United States in its last preliminary-round game on Tuesday night. Bradly Nadeau scored on a Canadian power play early in the third period to briefly tie the game before the American power play restored its lead and added insurance. The Canadians were whistled for 22 minutes in penalties, leading to three U.S. goals with the man advantage. Carter George made 24 saves, with Canada outshooting the United States 39-28.

Czechia lost its final game of the preliminary round, falling 4-2 to Sweden on Tuesday. Petr Sikora cut the Swedish lead to 2-1 midway through the second period, but the Swedes pushed their advantage to 4-1 after 40 minutes. Captain Eduard Sale capitalized on a penalty shot in the third period, but the Czechs would get no closer.. Michael Hrabal made 37 saves in a losing effort.

Last Meeting

Canada wrapped up a perfect pre-tournament schedule with a 3-2 win over Czechia on Dec. 23. Gavin McKenna scored twice in the third period—including the game-winner with 2:29 to go—to give the Canadians the win. Nadeau provided the other goal, while George made 21 saves as the Canadians outshot Czechia 39-23.

What to Watch

The Canadians are the only team in the tournament yet to allow a goal at 5-on-5 (five goals against came on opposition power plays, and one was into an empty net), so keeping the game at even strength will be key. Despite suffering his first loss in a Team Canada jersey (he’s now 12-1), George has been the best goaltender in Ottawa, leading all netminders in goals-against average (1.01), save percentage (.964) and shutouts (2). A Los Angeles Kings prospect (57th overall in 2024), the 18-year-old was very good in playoff games while backstopping Canada to gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship and 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup; in five elimination games (all wins), George has a 2.60 GAA and .919 save percentage with a shutout.

Czechia has played for a medal at each of the last three World Juniors, and have eight players back from the team that won bronze a year ago in Gothenburg. The St. Louis Blues have four prospects on the Czech roster: defenceman Adam Jiricek (16th overall in 2024) and forwards Adam Jecho (95th overall in 2024), Ondrej Kos (81st overall in 2024) and Jakub Stancl (106th overall in 2023). Czechia has three players in the top six point-getters through the prelims: Stancl and Vojtech Hradec have four goals and seven points apiece, while Sale has four goals and six points. The Czechs led the prelims in shooting percentage (25 goals on 127 shots – 19.7%) and go into the playoffs with the No. 4 power play (3-for-13 – 23.1%) and No. 3 penalty kill (16-for-19 – 84.2%).

Since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, Canada and Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic) have faced each other 24 times at the World Juniors, with the Canadians claiming victory in 21 of those meetings.

The two teams have frequently met in decisive games in recent years. It was quarterfinal heartbreak last year in Gothenburg, with Canada falling 3-2 to the Czechs. They also met in the 2023 gold medal game in Halifax (a 3-2 overtime win for Canada), the 2022 semifinals in Edmonton (a 5-2 Canada win) and quarterfinals of the 2021 World Juniors in the bubble in Edmonton (a 3-0 Canada win).

All-time record: Canada leads 21-3-2 (1-1 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 120
Czechia goals: 48

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (DEC. 31)

Preliminary-round action comes to a close in Ottawa as Canada’s National Junior Team faces off against the United States with first place in Group A on the line at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Last Game

Canada bounced back from its loss to Latvia with a 3-0 shutout of Germany on Sunday. Special teams struck early for Canada, with Oliver Bonk scoring a power-play goal in the first period. A shot from Caden Price bounced off the skate of German goaltender Nico Pertuch to double the lead in the third period before Mathieu Cataford added an empty-netter with three seconds to go to round out the scoring. Carter George was fantastic in net, turning aside 25 shots for his second shutout in as many starts and adding an assist on Cataford’s goal.

The United States was also in action Sunday, with the Americans dropping a 4-3 decision in overtime to Finland. Carey Terrance scored in the first period, Cole Hutson gave the U.S. the lead early in the second and Brodie Ziemer tied the game at 3-3 with an early goal in the third period, but Tuomas Uronen netted the winner for the Finns. Trey Augustine made 40 saves for the Americans.

Last Meeting

The last time these teams met was a pre-tournament matchup a year ago, with Canada dropping a 6-5 overtime decision to the Americans in Kungsbacka, Sweden. Macklin Celebrini scored in the first period before a busy second period—featuring Canadian goals from Conor Geekie and Matthew Savoie—gave the United States a 5-3 lead. Celebrini scored his second and Owen Allard sent the game to overtime, but Lane Hutson was the overtime hero for the U.S. Mathis Rousseau and Samuel St-Hilaire split duties in net to combine for 22 saves.

In tournament action, Canada and the United States met for a semifinal showdown in Halifax in 2023, with Canada earning a 6-2 win en route to its 20th gold medal. The Americans took an early 2-0 lead, but it was all Canada after that. Joshua Roy led the way with two goals and two assists for the Canadians, while Connor Bedard, Logan Stankoven, Adam Fantilli and Brandt Clarke added a goal apiece. Thomas Milic had 43 saves for Canada in his semifinal performance.

What to Watch

George has been the best goaltender in the tournament, with a 31-save shutout against Finland preceding his 25-save performance against the Germans. A Los Angeles Kings prospect (57th overall in 2024), the 18-year-old has a .905 save percentage with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack this year and has never lost in a Team Canada jersey (12-0). The netminder also backstopped Canada to gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship and the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. In addition to Canada’s goaltending, the penalty kill has been effective so far this tournament. Canada has only allowed two power play goals so far in the tournament, currently ranking third overall for teams in the tournament.

James Hagens and Cole Hutson have been the top performers for the United States in preliminary play. Eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft, Hagens has two goals, six points and is a plus-four in three games. The 18-year-old opened his tournament with a four-point performance against Germany and has five goals and 20 points with Boston College this season. Hutson has recorded one goal, six points and is a plus-seven through three games. A second-round pick of the Washington Capitals (43rd overall in 2023), the 18-year-old has four goals and 14 points with Boston University.

A Look Back

Canada has historically had the upper hand against the United States, winning 34 of 49 meetings with three ties, but things have been more even in recent history. The Canadians have split the last 10 meetings with the U.S. dating back to 2012.

Prior to the semifinal win in 2023, Canada’s last victory over the Americans came in the 2020 World Juniors opener, when Alexis Lafrenière scored a late game-winner and added three assists in a 6-4 Boxing Day win.

All-time record: Canada leads 34-12-3 (3-3 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 200
United States goals: 136

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. GERMANY (DEC. 29)

Preliminary-round action continues in Ottawa as Canada’s National Junior Team looks to bounce back against Germany at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Last Game

It was a Friday night heartbreaker as Canada was edged by Latvia 3-2 in an eight-round shootout. Jett Luchanko opened the scoring with a shorthanded beauty in the second period and Calum Ritichie gave the Canadians the lead again with a power-play goal in the third, but Linards Feldbergs was spectacular in the Latvian goal, turning aside 55 shots in regulation and overtime, and all eight Canadian shooters in the shootout. Canada also lost 17-year-old defenceman Matthew Schaefer for the remainder of the tournament after he left early with an injury.

Germany was in action Friday afternoon at the Canadian Tire Centre, falling 3-1 to Finland. The Germans kept the game close, with Clemens Sager scoring late in the second period to cut the Finnish lead to 2-1, but couldn’t find the equalizer. Linus Vieillard was very good between the pipes, making 40 saves.

Last Meeting

It was a New Year’s Eve matchup the last time Canada and Germany met, with Canada earning a 6-3 win last year in Gothenburg, Sweden. Macklin Celebrini and Brayden Yager scored in the first period to give the Canadians a lead they would not relinquish before a big third period, with goals from Owen Beck, Jordan Dumais, Celebrini and Easton Cowan, sealed the victory.

What to Watch

Canada has a bright spot in goal, with Carter George and Jack Ivankovic putting up solid performances in the first two games. George posted a 31-save shutout against Finland to open the tournament. A Los Angeles Kings prospect (57th overall in 2024), the 18-year-old has a .905 save percentage with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack this year and has never lost in a Team Canada jersey (11-0). As a 17-year-old, Ivankovic is eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft. The Mississauga, Ontario, native has a 12-7-1 record with the Brampton Steelheads this year with a .898 save percentage. The netminders backstopped Canada to to gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, with Ivankovic also winning gold at this summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, a year after George did the same.

The Germans enter the matchup with one of the tournament’s best penalty kills of the tournament; they were perfect on seven opportunities against the Finns and Americans. Julius Sumpf leads Germany with a goal and an assist through two games. The 19-year-old plays with the Moncton Wildcats and has 16 goals and 37 points in 29 QMJHL games this season. This is Sumpf’s second World Juniors, as he recorded one goal and three points at last year’s tournament.

A Look Back

Canada has won all 17 meetings since Germany’s reunification in 1991. Looking back past 1991 for games against West Germany from 1977-89, Canada boasts an impressive record of 26 wins from 27 meetings.

Canada’s only blip was a 7-6 loss in the consolation round in 1981. The good news from that defeat? It indirectly contributed to the establishment of the Program of Excellence the following year.

All-time record: Canada leads 17-0-0
Canada goals: 108
Germany goals: 26