The Next Generation: Rielly and Reinhart lead TELUS Cup alumni as the future stars of the game
For most elite Midget hockey players in this country, the first point of contact on the national stage is the TELUS Cup.
It is also a valuable point of reference as their careers move along in the game, especially if the tournament ends in team triumph or personal success.
Seven days in length every April, Canada’s National Midget Championship celebrates its 40th anniversary this year in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., with teams representing five regionals and a host side all vying for national supremacy.
Over its history, the tournament has provided a forum for great players like Steve Yzerman, Joe Sakic, Ron Francis, Patrick Roy and Sidney Crosby to elevate their game against the best competition in the country.
And by the time another decade passes and the TELUS Cup turns 50, it’s likely other names will be added to the list and eventually be as household as those that have come before them.
For instance, notable TELUS Cup alumni like 2012 tournament MVP Laurent Dauphin and NHL first-round draft picks Slater Koekkoek and Malcolm Subban, both of whom played in 2010, have not only absorbed a great hockey experience, but used the tournament as a springboard to the next level of the game.
From Major Junior opportunities to national team duty with Hockey Canada to the professional ranks, the TELUS Cup is a solid stepping stone along that pathway.
For Morgan Rielly, the TELUS Cup became a memorable waypoint in his career when he helped the Notre Dame Hounds to the second of back-to-back national championships in Lévis, Que., in 2010.
Now a member of the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies, the highly-skilled defenceman considers his experience at the tournament to be a game changer in what’s transpired in the last three seasons of his career.
“We were all treated like pro hockey players and the level of hockey was tremendous,” said the West Vancouver, B.C., product. “All around it was a great hockey experience and is certainly a highlight in my career for sure.”
A 15-year-old during the 2009-10 season, Rielly turned 16 just a month prior to his Hounds qualifying for the tournament. They advanced to the gold medal game after finishing the round-robin undefeated (2-0-3) and beat the St. John’s Fog Devils in the semifinals. In the end, they outlasted the Subban and the Mississauga Reps 3-2 in the final to become only the third team in the history of the tournament to repeat as champions.
It was the importance of each tournament game that resonated with Rielly as the week progressed. He admits the culture and emphasis on winning nightly to better your team’s chances of advancing to Sunday’s final aided in his development and growth as a player.
“I think we all benefitted from the experience,” said the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-round draft pick last summer. “We knew as a team we had to play well every game, like it was the championship game. Plus, you’re always playing against the best players in the country. It was a huge step and it helped me make the jump to junior hockey.”
The following season Rielly, now 19, graduated to the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors, spending three seasons there before moving on this spring to the Baby Leafs.
Another West Vancouver product, Sam Reinhart, tells a simliar story about his TELUS Cup journey.
As the youngest of three brothers in a hockey-playing family that includes his father, Paul, a former NHL defenceman, Reinhart felt privileged to participate in the 2011 event in St. John’s, N.L., as a member of the Vancouver North West Giants.
Older brothers Max and Griffin were never fortunate enough with their midget teams to qualify for the national championship. But that didn’t mean their youngest sibling didn’t appreciate the exclusive experience, even though he spent a lot of time using their hockey exposure as a guideline for his own career.
“They were never fortunate enough to play in the tournament, although they did get close to getting there,” said Reinhart, a forward with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice. “Most things that I’ve been able to do in my career so far I’ve been able to watch them go through it before. So this was a little different to do it myself.”
Even though Reinhart’s experience at the TELUS Cup didn’t produce a national title for his team, he and linemate Alex Kerfoot nearly cleaned up on the individual awards that spring. Reinhart won the Top Scorer award and was also selected as the tournament’s Top Forward, while Kerfoot took the event’s MVP hardware.
Obviously having that type of success in late April at a national tournament and being resilient enough to play nearly 80 games brings with it more opportunities to ascend in the game going forward.
That is clearly the case for Reinhart, who is highly touted as a top-five prospect for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
However, back in 2011 after his club lost in the TELUS Cup bronze medal game to Lions du Lac St. Louis, he finished the season as a 15-year-old with Kootenay and contributed to their run to a WHL championship and a Memorial Cup appearance.
“It was right around that time that I was going to make the jump to the WHL,” said Reinhart, 17. “So it was a great experience for me in terms of preparing for that. It was a big step for sure in me progressing to that level of competition.”
Furthermore, the past two years Reinhart has closed out his hockey season playing with Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence and Canada’s National Men’s U18 Team. This includes a current posting with the team as its captain, as it vies for gold at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in Sochi, Russia.
Schedules announced for spring national championships
Tickets for Esso Cup, TELUS Cup and Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, available now
CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has unveiled the schedules and ticket package details for the 2025 editions of the Esso Cup, TELUS Cup and Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.
"We are grateful to the three amazing communities who have dedicated countless hours and put forward an immeasurable effort to play host to these three major events,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact. “The passion, teamwork and unwavering commitment has brought these events to life, that will create memories that will last a lifetime for the athletes, coaches, officials and fans.” “We are also grateful to BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) for their efforts and support to deliver these events and look forward to continuing to work with them into the spring.” Anyone interested in volunteering at the Esso Cup, TELUS Cup or Centennial Cup can now sign up here to support the delivery of three of Hockey Canada’s marquee national championships.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada, will air select tournament games, with a full broadcast and streaming schedule to be announced at a later date. 2025 Esso Cup – Lloydminster, Alberta
The Esso Cup returns to Alberta for the first time since 2022, with the Lloydminster Steelers set to host Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship, April 20-26 at the Centennial Civic Centre.
Joined by five regional champions from across Canada, the Steelers will play their first game on April 20 at 7 p.m. MT against the Atlantic Region winners, following matchups between the Pacific and Quebec champions and Ontario and West titlists earlier in the day.
After each team plays five preliminary-round games, the top four clubs will advance to the semifinals on April 25, with the medal games scheduled for April 26.
Tickets for the 2025 Esso Cup can be purchased here.
2025 TELUS Cup – Fraser Valley, British Columbia
The host Fraser Valley Thunderbirds will welcome five regional champions to the West Coast for the 2025 TELUS Cup, Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship, April 21-27 at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
The Thunderbirds open their schedule against the West Region champions on April 21 at 7 p.m. PT to finish a three-game opening day that also sees the Central winners face the Atlantic champs and Quebec titlists play the Pacific champions.
Semifinals are scheduled for April 26, before the medal games on April 27.
Tickets for the 2025 TELUS Cup can be purchased here.
2025 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons – Calgary, Alberta
In partnership with the CJHL and AJHL, Canada’s top Junior A teams will compete for the 2025 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, May 8-18 at the Max Bell Centre. The host Calgary Canucks will be joined by nine champions from across the CJHL.
Teams will be separated into two groups and each play four preliminary-round games, with the quarterfinals scheduled for May 16, semifinals on May 17 and championship game on May 18.
Group A will include the champions from the AJHL, Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and Superior International Hockey League (SIHL).
The host Canucks and champions from the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec (LHJAAAQ), Maritime Hockey League (MHL) and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) comprise Group B.
Tickets for the 2025 Centennial Cup can be purchased here.
For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
11 days in Ottawa, by the numbers
A facts-and-figures look at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, on and off the ice
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.
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Czechia
Thursday, January 2 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Ottawa, Ontario | Quarterfinal
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
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. United States
Tuesday, December 31 | 8 p.m. ET | Ottawa, Ontario | Preliminary Round
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
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Germany
Sunday, December 29 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Ottawa, Ontario | Preliminary Round
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
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Latvia
Friday, December 27 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Ottawa, Ontario | Preliminary Round
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. LATVIA (DEC. 27)
Canada’s National Junior Team is right back to action at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, riding the momentum from a tournament-opening win into a Friday face-off against Latvia at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Last Game
Canada opened the preliminary round in style on Thursday, getting a 31-save shutout from Carter George and a goal and an assist from Matthew Schaefer in a 4-0 win over Finland. Gavin McKenna, Easton Cowan and Luca Pinelli rounded out the scoring for the Canadians, who outshot the Finns 41-31.
The Latvians capped off pre-tournament play on Monday with a 5-1 loss to Switzerland in Arnprior. Olivers Murnieks scored the lone goal late in the third period, while Linards Feldbergs made 38 saves in a losing cause.
Last Meeting
The Canadians and Latvians faced off a year ago to the day in Gothenburg in what finished as a 10-0 victory for Canada. Macklin Celebrini was the offensive star for Canada, scoring once and adding four assists, while Conor Geekie and Carson Rehkopf had two goals apiece. Mathis Rousseau turned aside all 22 shots he faced for the shutout as the Canadians pulled away with five goals in the third period.
What to Watch
The first 17-year-old defenceman to make Team Canada since Jamie Drysdale in 2020, the only thing that sets Schaefer apart from his older teammates is the cage he’s wearing as an under-18 player. The Hamilton product was terrific against the Finns, helping set up McKenna’s ice-breaker in the first period and capping the win with a 200-foot empty-net goal in the dying seconds. Schaefer has done nothing but win in his international career – gold at the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge (as captain), gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship (as an underager) and gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (as captain). Not bad, kid. Not bad at all.
The Latvians have a sizeable youth movement (even in a tournament for teenagers), rostering four 16-year-olds – all of whom are plying their trade in North America this season. Murnieks has 15 points (9-6—15) in 25 games with the Sioux City Muskateers of the USHL, Rudolfs Berkalns plays for Muskegon of the USHL, Martins Klaucans is with the St. Cloud Norsemen of the NAHL and Roberts Naudins is with the U18 Prep team at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School.
A Look Back
The all-time history between the Canadians and Latvians is a short one, with just four meetings in World Juniors history. The Canadians have controlled all four, hitting double digits in goals in three of them.
The first-ever matchup, at the 2010 World Juniors in Saskatchewan, provided the most fireworks ; in the Boxing Day opener in Saskatoon, Gabriel Bourque tied the Canadian single-game scoring record with seven points (3-4—7), Brandon Kozun added five (2-3—5), and Jordan Eberle, Patrice Cormier, Nazem Kadri and Luke Adam provided two goals apiece in a 16-0 win.
All-time record: Canada leads 4-0-0 Canada goals: 41 Latvia goals: 4
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Finland
Thursday, December 26 | 7 p.m. ET | Ottawa, Ontario | Preliminary Round
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. FINLAND (DEC. 26)
Let the games begin! Canada’s National Junior Team opens the preliminary round of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship against Finland on Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Last Game
Canada wrapped up a perfect pre-tournament schedule with a 3-2 win over Czechia on Monday night. Bradly Nadeau opened the scoring early in the first period before Czechia responded before the end of the opening frame. Gavin McKenna scored twice—including the game-winner with 2:29 to go—to seal the win. The Canadians outshot Czechia 39-23 and Carter George made 21 saves.
Finland was in action Monday night in Cornwall, falling 5-2 to the United States. Kasper Halttunen got the Finns on the board with a power-play goal in the second period, cutting the American lead to 2-1. Halttunen added his second goal on a penalty shot in the third period, while Noa Vali and Kim Saarinen combined for 25 saves.
Last Meeting
The Canadians and Finns opened up the tournament exactly a year ago in Gothenburg, Sweden, with Canada earning a 5-2 win. Nate Danielson and Owen Allard gave Canada a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes. Macklin Celebrini got the game-winner to start the third period, and empty-netters by Matthew Poitras and Maveric Lamoureux sealed the win. Canada threw 29 shots on net and Mathis Rousseau made 24 saves.
What to Watch
Let’s hear it for McKenna! He celebrated his 17th birthday last week and has already made an impact on the ice for Canada. The Whitehorse, Yukon, native—who has 19 goals and 60 points in 30 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers this season—is the eighth-youngest player in National Junior Team history, but comes into the tournament with plenty of international experience—he recorded a record-setting 10 goals and 20 points on the way to gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, and added three goals and six points when Canada won gold at this summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Finland has six returning players from last year’s fourth-place team. In addition to his two goals against the United States, Halttunen (36th overall in 2023 to San Jose) also added a goal and an assist against Slovakia in pre-tournament action. The Finns have two first-round NHL picks—Konsta Helenius (14th overall to Buffalo in 2024) and Emil Hemming (29th overall to Dallas in 2024). Helenius has registered six goals and 17 points this season with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, while Hemming has put up five goals and 20 points with the OHL’s Barrie Colts.
A Look Back
Other than the United States, Finland is Canada’s most frequently-faced opponent at the World Juniors. The two countries have met 42 times, with the Canadians winning 27 of those games. The matchup has been even more favourable when Canada is on home ice, with the Canadians owning a 13-1 record.
The most recent home game was the gold medal game of the August 2022 tournament in Edmonton, a thrilling 3-2 overtime win for Canada. Joshua Roy and William Dufour scored for a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes, but the Finns evened the score in the third period to send the game to overtime. In a now iconic World Juniors moment, Mason McTavish knocked a Finnish shot out of the air to prevent it from going in during overtime, and Kent Johnson notched the game-winner a few moments later.
All-time record: Canada leads 27-9-6 (1-1 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 168 Finland goals: 107
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Czechia
Monday, December 23 | 7 p.m. ET | Ottawa, Ontario | Pre-Tournament
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CZECHIA (DEC. 23)
With two pre-tournament wins under its belt, Canada’s National Junior Team faces Czechia on Monday night for one final tune-up at the Canadian Tire Centre ahead of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Last Game
A strong third period powered Canada to a 4-2 win over Sweden on Saturday night. Luca Pinelli opened the scoring for Canada to the delight of Ottawa 67s fans in attendance. Sweden responded to take a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes, but Oliver Bonk, Calum Ritchie and Easton Cowan scored in the final 10:45 of the third period to erase the deficit and give Canada its second pre-tournament win. Canada racked up 40 shots on goal, while Jack Ivankovic and Carson Bjarnason combined for 22 saves.
Czechia was in action Friday night in Brockville, earning a 5-1 win over Latvia. Matej Mastalrisky got the Czechs on the board in the first, Petr Sikora scored twice and Adam Jecho added one of his own for a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes. Patrik Volas recorded the final goal in the third period and Jan Kavan made 21 saves for the Czechs.
Last Meeting
It was a quarterfinal heartbreaker last year in Gothenburg, with Canada falling 3-2 to the Czechs. After Czechia took a 2-0 lead after the first period, Matthew Wood and Jake Furlong got Canada even in the middle frame. With overtime looming, Jakub Stanci’s goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation was the difference, with Czechia moving on to eventually claim the bronze medal.
What to Watch
Ritchie had a strong showing Saturday, with the Colorado Avalanche prospect recording a goal and two assists against the Swedes. The Oakville, Ontario, native began his season with the Avs, scoring a goal in seven games before rejoining the Oshawa Generals. Selected as an alternate captain for Canada at this tournament, Ritchie’s leadership and experience will have an impact on Canada—he won gold at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and led the tournament in scoring with four goals and six assists in five games.
Czechia has made it to the medal round of the World Juniors for the past three tournaments, and have eight returning players coming to Ottawa. The St. Louis Blues have four prospects on the Czechs’ pre-tournament 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). Jiricek has not played with the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs since Nov. 6 due to injury and had another injury-shortened season last year with HC Plzen. Forward Miroslav Holinka made a splash at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ development camp this summer. The 19-year-old was drafted 151th overall in 2024 and has 10 goals and 21 points with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings this season.
A Look Back
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. In addition to last year’s quarterfinal, 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
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Sweden
Saturday, December 21 | 7 p.m. ET | Ottawa, Ontario | Pre-Tournament
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SWEDEN (DEC. 21)
After an opening-game win on its pre-tournament schedule, Canada’s National Junior Team has a Saturday showdown with Sweden at TD Place ahead of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Last Game
Canada started its pre-tournament preparations with a bang, earning a 7-1 win over Switzerland on Thursday night. The Canadians got off to a hot start in the first period as captain Brayden Yager opened the scoring before Andrew Gibson, Caden Price and Easton Cowan recorded goals in a span of 1:22. Cowan completed his hat trick with two goals in the third period, and Berkly Catton added a goal in the final frame. Canada racked up 40 shots on goal, while Carter George and Carson Bjarnason combined for 14 saves.
The Swedes’ last international contest was the finale of the 5 Nations Tournament in Finland in mid-November, a 2-0 win over the hosts. Both goals came in the final 12 minutes—from Noel Fransen and Otto Stenberg—while Melker Thelin posted a 21-save shutout for the Swedes, who finished the event with two regulation-time wins, an overtime victory and a shootout loss.
Last Meeting
The Canadians and the Swedes met during the preliminary round a year ago in Gothenburg, Sweden, with the Canadians dropping a 2-0 decision to the tournament hosts. Canada threw 21 shots towards Hugo Hävelid and Mathis Rousseau made 22 saves for the Canadians, but goals from Tom Willander and Noah Östlund were the difference.
What to Watch
How about Cowan? The first-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2023 NHL Draft (28th overall) is one of four returning players from the 2024 World Juniors roster and he made his presence known against Switzerland. The 19-year-old has had an excellent season with the London Knights, registering 15 goals and 28 points in 20 games and carrying on a 56-game point streak in the Ontario Hockey League—unofficially tying the OHL record with the streak spanning over two seasons.
Sweden’s roster has plenty of international experience, with nine players back from 2024, 15 owning medals from the last three IIHF U18 World Championships and 18 who are NHL draft picks. Returnees Theo Lindstein and Otto Stenberg are players to watch for the Swedes; Lindstein recorded two goals and eight points from the blue-line and was a media all-star in 2024, while Stenberg posted five goals, nine points and a plus-seven a year ago. The Swedes finished with silver on home ice, ranking second on the power play (45.5%) and penalty kill (83.3%).
A Look Back
The history between Canada and Sweden stretches all the way back to the inaugural World Juniors in 1977. In 36 all-time meetings, Canada has won 25 times, including four for the gold medal—1996, 2008, 2009 and 2018.
The 2009 gold medal game was also in Ottawa—Canada won that game 5-1 thanks to goals from P.K. Subban, Angelo Esposito, Cody Hodgson and Jordan Eberle, claiming its record-tying fifth-consecutive gold medal.
All-time record: Canada leads 25-11-1 (2-1 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 160 Sweden goals: 114
Brayden Yager to captain Canada’s National Junior Team at 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship
Tanner Molendyk, Calum Ritchie to serve as alternate captains
OTTAWA, Ontario – Hockey Canada has announced that Brayden Yager (Saskatoon, SK/Lethbridge, WHL) will wear the ‘C’ for Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa.
Joining Yager on the leadership group are Tanner Molendyk (McBride, BC/Saskatoon, WHL) and Calum Ritchie (Oakville, ON/Oshawa, OHL), who will serve as alternate captains.
“I am honoured to be named captain of Team Canada for the World Juniors on a team with so many great leaders, and I am excited for our group to take the ice in Ottawa and continue working towards our goal of winning a gold medal on home ice,” Yager said. “Tanner and Calum are great players and teammates that are deserving of this honour, and I look forward to serving on the leadership group with them and wearing the Maple Leaf with pride in front of Canadian fans.”
The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day with four games, which includes Canada taking on Finland at the Canadian Tire Centre at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. Canada’s National Junior Team will also face off against Switzerland on Dec. 19, Sweden on Dec. 21 and Czechia on Dec. 23 in pre-tournament action on the Road to the World Juniors.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will once again provide extensive coverage of the event, broadcasting all 29 tournament games and all three Team Canada pre-tournament games.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
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