Coco Gauff has completed her assignment by winning the opening singles rubber in the United Cup semis.
Gauff defeated Karolína Muchová 6-1, 6-4 to give the US a 1-0 lead over Czechia at Ken Rosewall Arena.
Service breaks were traded late in the second set, but Gauff already had one up her sleeve.
Taylor Fritz is up next against Tomáš Macháč.
That’s the official note from the tournament organisers.
Hopefully he’ll be OK to play in the Australian Open.
Coco Gauff is two games away from giving the US a 1-0 lead in its semifinal with Czechia.
Having won the first set 6-1 against Karolína Muchová, Gauff is up 4-2 in the second, with a break in hand.
She did have some trouble holding serve in the sixth game of the second set, with Muchová picking up break points.
But Gauff eventually held to move a step closer to victory.
So, there is a bit of a bottle neck of matches taking place this evening.
For one, Jiří Lehečka, who has just won the men’s singles semifinal, will have a couple of hours off before he plays in the men’s doubles semifinal with Jakub Menšík on Court 1.
Their opponents in that match will be Nicolas Jarry and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the latter of whom will be playing in the other men’s semifinal tonight, which starts no earlier than 8:00pm.
That means he won’t be on court until close to 10:00pm.
The reason that doubles will be on Court 1 is because the women’s doubles final is tonight, which is going to feature Mirra Andreeva.
Andreeva, of course, is in action against Aryna Sabalenka in about 45 minutes.
Confused?
Good.
The first men’s finalist, Jiří Lehečka has been speaking after his win over Grigor Dimitrov.
“This is never the way how you want to finish a match,” Lehečka said.
“Obviously you just want to win, but not like that.
“Hopefully Grigor is fine. Hopefully he’ll be ready for Melbourne.
“I don’t know if it’s something serious or not. I just felt in the last two points he made, he couldn’t move.”
He said that he was very impressed with the level he played.
“The first set and the first half of the second was a good level. I think that we both played good tennis,” he said.
“In the first set I was a bit more solid in the game where I broke his serve, he made two mistakes at the net.
“Overall it was good tennis from my side. I was focusing on keeping the aggressive game style, going for the points, not to be scared to play aggressively. I think that it worked well.”
That didn’t take long!
Coco Gauff has burst from the blocks in her singles match against Karolína Muchová.
The 2023 US Open champion was all over Muchová, winning the first set 6-1.
She almost managed a ‘bagel’, having earned set points when her opponent was serving a 0-5.
As Gauff powered through the first set, her US teammate Taylor Fritz was seen on the TV screens running through the corridors at Ken Rosewall Arena.
He may now need to rush through his warm-up ahead of his clash with Tomáš Macháč.
The second United Cup semifinal in Sydney is upon us, with the US facing Czechia.
The women’s singles is opening the semi, with Coco Gauff up against Karolína Muchová.
The semifinal winner will meet Poland in Sunday’s decider.
Disappointing news for defending champion Grigor Dimitrov, who was forced to retire from his semifinal against Jiří Lehečka.
Dimitrov made the call to withdraw from the match during the second set.
It was not long after the second seed took a medical timeout for a suspected hip injury.
Jiří Lehečka won the first set, with the second level at 4-4 when Dimitrov retired.
We wish Dimitrov the best and hope we see the fan favourite in Melbourne for the Australian Open.
Glad the sun is back out at the Brisbane International. Big ups to the volunteers here who quickly handed out towels to those of us in the stands soaked by the rain.
– Jaime
We agree Jaime!
Thanks to all the volunteers working long hours, not only at the Brisbane International but at all the tournaments being held in Australia and New Zealand at the moment.
Naomi Osaka fans rejoice!
The former world number one will contest the Auckland final, having defeated Alycia Parks in their semi, 6-4, 6-2.
Osaka, seeded seventh in Auckland, will face Clara Tauson in Sunday’s tournament decider.
Grigor Dimitrov’s Brisbane title defence is looking shaky after the second seed conceded the first set to Jiří Lehečka.
Lehečka won the first 6-4.
Games are on serve in the second, with Dimitrov leading 4-3.
Naomi Osaka is close to earning a berth in the Auckland final after winning the first set of her semi.
The two-time Australian Open winner leads Alycia Parks 6-4, 2-1, with a break up her sleeve in the second.
Spare a thought for Parks, who was on court earlier in the day for her quarterfinal.
The first men’s semifinal is underway, featuring two players who have a fair history together in the game.
Number-two seed Grigor Dimitrov is the current world number 10 and defending champion in Brisbane.
He’s looking to join luminaries such as Radek Štěpánek, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Milos Raonic in reaching back-to-back finals.
He has already appeared in the final on three separate occasions.
Jiří Lehečka is looking for back-to-back titles in Australia following his victory at the Adelaide International last year – his maiden ATP crown.
The 23-year-old Czech has got a game that is not all that easy for Dimitrov to handle — he’s won their last two encounters for a 2-1 overall head-to-head record.
In Adelaide, Ajla Tomljanović has lost in the qualifying rounds.
Tomljanović fell to Ashlyn Krueger, with the American winning 7-5, 6-4.
We’ve just been speaking to Brisbane International finalist Polina Kudermetova following her semifinal victory a short time ago.
“I’m so happy for this big tournament and my first
final,” she said.“I’m so excited what I will do good work for this
week.”
She praised the work her coach had done with her over the last year and was looking forward to continuing to progress through the rankings.
“When I was coming to Australia, I say for my coach, ‘hopefully I will win the quallies, the first one,” she said with a broad smile.
“Then I say when I was winning the quallies, I say let’s try to win one game, I will be happy’.
“Then he all the time tell me, just play for your match, what you were doing, your work on the practice [court] and you will be win the match.”
Having already sealed a spot in the final, Poland has completed a 3-0 sweep against Kazakhstan in the opening Sydney semi.
Polish pair Maja Chwalińska and Jan Zieliński defeated Kazakhs Zhibek Kulambayeva and Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 6-1.
The second semifinal between the US and Czechia will be contested this evening.
Congratulations to Japan’s Aoi Ito after she won the Canberra International.
Ito, who was seeded seventh in the national capital, defeated China’s Wei Sijia 6-4, 6-3 in the final.
The win hands Ito her first WTA Tour singles title.
It should see the 20-year-old enjoy a rankings bump from the career-best 126 she currently holds.
Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović is looking to come through qualifying to reach the Adelaide International main draw.
She’s on court at the moment against American Ashlyn Krueger, who won the first 7-5.
Krueger played at the Brisbane International as recently as yesterday.
The American lost her Brisbane quarterfinal to Polina Kudermetova, who has since made the tournament decider.
Another player who made the rush to get to Adelaide from Brisbane was Marie Bouzková.
Bouzková was on Pat Rafter Arena last night when she faced Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.
After going down in straight sets to the world number one, Bouzková has her back to the wall against Australia’s Gabriella Da Silva Fick in Adelaide.
Da Silva Fick won the first set 6-2.
I’ve just been out around the courts and watched Jiří Lehečka going through his paces ahead of the next match on Pat Rafter Arena, which is due to start in an hour’s time at 3:00pm AEST.
He was cracking the ball back over the net so hard it sounded like he was cracking a whip, working up a serious sweat in the process.
Does he fancy himself against defending champion Grigor Dimitrov? He probably should.
There is a trophy up for grabs in the national capital, with the Canberra International final underway.
Japan’s Aoi Ito claimed the first set against China’s Wei Sijia 6-4.
Neither Ito or Wei have won a WTA Tour singles title.
Exciting news from the Brisbane International, United Cup semifinal as rising star Coco Gauff has given the United States team a 1-0 lead over Czechia with a thrilling victory in her singles match.
Gauff, known for her powerful groundstrokes and fearless playing style, showcased her talent and determination on the court as she defeated her Czech opponent in a hard-fought battle. The win puts the US team in a strong position as they look to secure a spot in the final of the prestigious tournament.
Stay tuned for more live updates from the Brisbane International, United Cup as the teams continue to battle it out for a chance to lift the trophy. Go Team USA! #BrisbaneInternational #UnitedCup #CocoGauff
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Brisbane International, United Cup, live updates, Coco Gauff, US vs Czechia, semifinal, tennis, sports news
#Brisbane #International #United #Cup #live #updates #Coco #Gauff #lead #Czechia #semifinal
United Cup
Czechia finishes as best second-placed country in Sydney
January 01, 2025
Peter Staples/ATP Tour
Karolina Muchova and Tomas Machac are Czechia’s top singles players at the United Cup.
By ATP/WTA Staff
Czechia qualified for the United Cup quarter-finals by finishing as the best second-placed country in Sydney.
In the United Cup quarter-finals draw, the Group B winner was scheduled to face the best second-placed country in Sydney. However, that will not be the case.
No runner-up teams can play against the winner of their group before the final of the competition.
Poland, the winner of Group B, faced Czechia on Wednesday in the last match of Group B action. Therefore, the countries cannot meet in the quarter-finals.
The runner-up team will swap position with the winner of the lowest-ranked group in the specific city.
In this case, Czechia will swap places with Group F winner Great Britain and face Italy, the Group D winner. Great Britain will take on Poland.
Exciting news for Czechia as they qualify for the United Cup quarterfinals! The team has shown great skill and determination on the court, securing their spot in the next round of the prestigious tournament.
Update: Czechia’s journey in the United Cup has taken an unexpected turn as the match result has been changed to a draw. Despite this development, the team’s performance has been impressive and they are still in contention for a spot in the quarterfinals. Stay tuned for more updates on their progress in the ATP Tour.
Tags:
Czechia, United Cup, QFs, ATP Tour, draw, qualifying, tennis tournament, sports news
#Czechia #qualifies #United #Cup #QFs #change #draw #ATP #Tour
It is not yet decided which forward will draw out of Canada’s lineup to make way for Martone.
Canada heads into the playoff round coming off a 4-1 loss to the United States on Tuesday.
Wins against Finland and Germany and a shootout loss to Latvia rounded out the team’s 2-0-1-1 record and third-place finish in Group A during the preliminary round.
Goals have been relatively hard to come by for Canada after the 4-0 opening win over Finland, averaging just two goals per game in the three games since.
Martone, a highly rated prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft, plays for the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads and has scored 21 goals and 33 assists this season.
Czechia enters Thursday’s quarterfinal as the second-place finisher in Group B with a 3-0-0-1 record.
Exciting news for Canadian hockey fans as forward Porter Martone has been confirmed to be in the lineup for the quarterfinal matchup against Czechia. Martone, known for his speed and scoring ability, will be a key player for Team Canada as they look to advance to the semifinals.
Martone, who has been a standout player throughout the tournament, has already made a significant impact on the team’s success. His dynamic playmaking and offensive skills have proven to be crucial in Canada’s victories so far.
Fans can expect to see Martone flying up and down the ice, creating scoring opportunities and putting pressure on the Czechia defense. With his determination and skill, Martone will undoubtedly be a player to watch in this highly anticipated matchup.
Be sure to tune in to see Porter Martone and Team Canada in action as they battle it out for a spot in the semifinals. Let’s go Canada! #TeamCanada #PorterMartone #HockeyQuarterfinals
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Canada, Porter Martone, lineup, quarterfinal, Czechia, ice hockey, tournament, World Championship, national team
#Canadas #Porter #Martone #lineup #quarterfinal #Czechia
At last year’s World Juniors, Canada was sent home in the quarterfinals by Czechia, ensuring that the country would not play for a medal.
The Canadians are hoping to avoid that same fate in 2025.
Canada and Czechia square off in a quarterfinal contest that is a rematch of the 2024 quarterfinals. Last year in Sweden, the Czechs stunned the Canadians with a 3-2 win, sending those donning the maple leaf home without a World Juniors medal for the first time since 2019.
LIVE: Watch the 2025 World Juniors on Fubo (U.S. only)
This winter, Dave Cameron’s Team Canada finished third in Group A after losing to the USA. 4-1, on New Year’s Eve. The Canadians beat Finland and Germany in group play, but were shockingly upset by Latvia in a shootout, leading to the lower seeding.
A lack of discipline and a struggling offense have been the name of the game for Canada at this year’s World Juniors. The team is averaging 2.5 goals per game, tied for the lowest rate at the tournament despite owning the second-most shots on goal. Just two forwards — Easton Cowan and Calum Ritchie – have more than one point at the competition, with Cowan leading the crew with three points.
On the flip side, the Canadians have not yet allowed a goal at even strength, and have relied upon stout defense and goaltending to advance them this far.
Canada will face a Czechia team that ended up the No. 2 seed from Group B. The Czechs defeated Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan, but fell to Sweden to lose out on the top seed in the group. The offense is led by captain Eduard Sale (four goals, two assists), Jakub Stancl (four goals, three assists) and Vojtech Hradec (four goals, three assists).
The winner of tonight’s game will advance to the semifinals and is guaranteed a shot at winning a medal. The loser will go home without any hardware.
The Sporting News is providing all the updates and highlights from the Canada vs. Czechia quarterfinal game at the 2025 World Juniors.
MORE: World Juniors standings, schedule, results
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | F | |
| Canada | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Czechia | 3 | – | – | – | – |
(All times Eastern)
9:09 p.m.: Canada heads to the power play with 3:04 to go, as Eduard Sale is called for a tripping penalty. He laid a hit on Berkly Catton that caught a bit of the Canadian’s lower body, which the Ottawa crowd felt deserved a five-minute major like the Beaudoin play. It’s only a minor,
8:58 p.m.: The Czech defense is incredibly stout. They are constantly getting in passing and shooting lanes, disrupting the flow of Canada’s play.
8:55 p.m.: It been a fairly uneventful 10 minutes to start the second period. It’s been back-and-forth play, but not as many scoring chances as one may expect. Shots are 4-3 Czechia in the period.
8:45 p.m.: Vojtech Cihar cross checks Berkly Catton to the ground, but the referees are sending both off 2:17 into the period. Cihar is sitting for cross-checking, while Catton was hit was an embellishment minor, keeping the play at even strength. That’s a controversial call by the officials.
8:41 p.m.: Puck is down for the second period.
8:25 p.m.: Czechia enjoys a sensational first period, jumping out to a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes. Canada could not have asked for a worse start, giving up three goals (one each in the first and final minute of the period), and losing Cole Beaudoin for the night after his kneeing major. Canada began to find a bit of momentum in the final 10 minutes, but all that momentum is gone following the Sale goal in the dying seconds.
Czechia 3, Canada 1
8:23 p.m.: GOAL! Czechia began the period hot, and it ends it on a high note, as Eduard Sale knocks in a tap-in attempt with two seconds left in the period to extend the lead to two. An excellent pass by Matej Mastalirsky set up the team’s captain on the rush. It’s a silent crowd in Ottawa.
EDUARD SALE SCORES FOR CZECHIA!
They lead 3-1 after 20 minutes.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/9VxiiD2AqW
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2025
8:10 p.m.: Czechia loses the rest of the power play as Jakub Stancl knocks Tanner Molendyk down at his own blue line. It’ll be 4 on 4 for the last 50 seconds of the Beaudoin major.
Czechia 2, Canada 1
8:08 p.m.: GOAL! Czechia retakes the lead two and a half minutes later, as Sam Dickinson accidentally puts the puck into his own net. A shot by Jakub Stancl whizzed by the net, but as the Canadian defender was trying to push the puck away from the crease with his hand, he slid it right into his net. An awful bounce for Canada, and Czechia still has more than two minutes left on the power-play with 7:15 remaining in the period.
Jakub Stancl strikes on the power-play!
Czechia leads 2-1.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Ad3UXBx3j0
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2025
Canada 1, Czechia 1
8:03 p.m.: GOAL! Canada’s penalty kill gets the team on the board. Brayden yager is denied on the breakaway, but after collecting his rebound, he found a cutting Tanner Howe, who tipped it over the shoulder of Hrabal. That’s a massive response after the early allowed goal and major. Tie game with 9:43 left in the first period.
TANNER HOWE STRIKES SHORT-HANDED!
Canada ties it up.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/nbliEKU1GH
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2025
8 p.m.: After review, Cole Beaudoin’s night is down. The officials hand out a five-minute major and a game misconduct for kneeing. A disastrous start for Canada.
7:56 p.m.: Cole Beaudoin lays a nasty knee-on-knee collision with Petr Sykora, and that could be a major penalty. The Czech forward remains down on the ice, with Beaudoin going to the box. The officials are going to review, but that is not a good penalty by the Canadian forward. Once again, discipline is an issue with this 2025 team.
Cole Beaudoin has been assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for kneeing.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/VpqoTBoYfC
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2025
7:50 p.m.: Both teams exchange chances off the rush, but it remains a 1-0 team. Czechia captain Eduard Sale put a backhand attempt on Carter George, but he was turned aside by the glove. The Canadians’ rush attempt resulted in a 2 on 0 right on Michael Hrabal, but Easton Cowan elected to shoot rather than pass to Oliver Bonk at the backdoor, resulting in a pad save by the Czech goalie.
7:49 p.m.: Just like that, it’ll be 4 on 4, as Calum Ritchie picks up a tripping penalty four seconds into Canada’s power play.
7:48 p.m.: Petr Sykora takes the first penalty of the game, getting into it with Porter Martone after the whistle. Martone shot the puck towards the net a bit after the whistle, and the Czech forward did not appreciate it. Canada to the power play 3:45 into the game.
Czechia 1, Canada 0
7:43 p.m.: GOAL! That did not take long. Czechia gets on the board first, as Petr Syrkora stays hot, potting the opening goal just 43 seconds into the game. That line is feeling it for Czechia, as the slick passing off the rush from Vojtech Hradec and Jakub Stancl set up the tap-in. That’s about as bad of a start as Canada could ask for.
PETR SIKORA OPENS THE SCORING FOR CZECHIA LESS THAN A MINUTE IN #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/lUJI06mQNF
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2025
7:40 p.m.: The quarterfinal action between Canada and Czechia is underway from Ottawa.
7:26 p.m.: Canada has to win tonight in order to stay in the hunt for a medal. Just one year removed from the fifth-place finish in Gothenburg, the Canadians are at the risk of missing out on medals in back-to-back years for the first time since early exits in 2013 and 2014.
7:15 p.m.: Dave Cameron’s decisions both before and during these World Juniors have been under a microscope. The big one heading into tonight is the decision to take Rehkopf out and put Martone back in. The two Brampton Steelheads teammates are two-thirds of one of the best lines in the OHL, but have not played together at all for Canada.
6:56 p.m.: Here is the full lineup for both sides for the quarterfinal. That Czechia line consisting Vojtech Hradek, Jakub Stancl, and Petr Sykora has been hot this tournament, combining for 11 of the teams’ 25 goals through four games. Michael Hrabal is in net for the Czechs, and with Trey Augustine on the USA side, it makes for the rare college hockey dual at this tournament. Hrabel is a sophomore at UMass and Augustine is the same at Michigan State.
Lines for Czechia vs. Canada. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/eSLmbpWUZz
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) January 2, 2025
6:41 p.m.: The last time these two teams faced was in last year’s 2024 quarterfinal, where Czechia walked away with a 3-2 win, knocking Canada out without a chance to play for a medal. The Czechs went on to lose to Sweden in the semis, but beat Finland for the bronze.
The Czechs also stunned Canada on opening night at the 2023 event, beating the host nation in front of a stunned Halifax crowd 5-2. However, the Canadians got the last laugh, taking out the European nation 3-2 in overtime of the gold medal game.
6:30 p.m.: Here is the lineup for Canada for the quarterfinals. Dave Cameron puts Porter Martone back in after he sat out the last two games. Carson Rehkopf comes out of the lineup. Carter George will be in net for the Canadians.
Team Canada’s lines:
Nadeau – Ritchie – Cowan
McKenna – Catton – Pinelli
Howe – Yager – Martone
Beaudoin – Luchanko – Gauthier
CatafordMolendyk – Gibson
Dickinson – Bonk
Mynio – Price
AkeyGeorge starts
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) January 2, 2025
Canada vs. Czechia will air on TSN in Canada and NHL Network in the U.S.
Viewers can also stream the game on the TSN app in Canada and Fubo in the U.S.
The Canada vs. Czechia quarterfinal will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 2. The game is being played at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, the home of the Senators.
The winner of the contest advances to the semifinals on Saturday, and is guaranteed to have a chance to play for a medal. The loser will not be able to win a medal at the 2025 tournament.
| Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|
| Sweden 5, Slovakia 1 | FINAL |
| USA 10, Germany 4 | FINAL |
| Czechia 5, Switzerland 1 | FINAL |
| Canada 4, Finland 0 | FINAL |
| Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|
| Slovakia 2, Switzerland 1 | FINAL |
| Finland 3, Germany 1 | FINAL |
| Sweden 8, Kazakhstan 1 | FINAL |
| Latvia 3, Canada 2 (SO) | FINAL |
| Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|
| Czechia 14, Kazakhstan 2 | FINAL |
| USA 5, Latvia 1 | FINAL |
| Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|
| Sweden 7, Switzerland 5 | FINAL |
| Finland 4, USA 3 (OT) | FINAL |
| Czechia 4, Slovakia 2 | FINAL |
| Canada 3, Germany 0 | FINAL |
| Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|
| Slovakia 5, Kazakhstan 4 (OT) | FINAL |
| Latvia 4, Germany 3 (OT) | FINAL |
| Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|
| Switzerland 3, Kazakhstan 1 | FINAL |
| Finland 3, Latvia 0 | FINAL |
| Sweden 4, Czechia 2 | FINAL |
| USA 4, Canada 1 | FINAL |
| Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|
| Germany 4, Kazakhstan 3 – Relegation Game | FINAL |
| Sweden 3, Latvia 2 – Quarterfinal | FINAL |
| USA 7, Switzerland 2 – Quarterfinal | FINAL |
| Finland vs. Slovakia – Quarterfinal | 5 p.m. |
| Canada vs. Czechia – Quarterfinal | 7:30 p.m. |
| Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD – Semifinal | 3:30 p.m. |
| TBD vs. TBD – Semifinal | 7:30 p.m. |
| Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD – Bronze Medal Game | 3:30 p.m. |
| TBD vs. TBD – Gold Medal Game | 7:30 p.m. |
Canada and Czechia are facing off in the quarterfinals of the 2025 World Juniors, and fans are on the edge of their seats as the two teams battle it out for a spot in the semifinals. Follow along for live score updates and highlights from this exciting game:
First Period:
– The game is underway and both teams are coming out strong, with Canada putting pressure on Czechia’s defense early on.
– Canada takes the lead with a goal from their top scorer, who finds the back of the net with a powerful slapshot.
– Czechia responds quickly with a goal of their own, tying up the game and bringing the crowd to their feet.
Second Period:
– Canada regains the lead with a beautiful passing play that results in a goal from a player who was left wide open in front of the net.
– Czechia fights back and manages to even the score once again, showing their resilience and determination.
– The second period ends with the score tied at 2-2, setting the stage for an intense final period.
Third Period:
– Canada comes out strong in the final period, dominating possession and creating scoring chances.
– Czechia’s goalie stands tall, making several key saves to keep his team in the game.
– With just minutes left in regulation, Canada scores a crucial goal to take the lead and put the pressure on Czechia.
– Despite a late surge from Czechia, Canada holds on to secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory and advance to the semifinals of the tournament.
This was a thrilling matchup between two talented teams, and Canada will now look ahead to their next challenge as they continue their quest for gold at the 2025 World Juniors. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the tournament.
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#Canada #Czechia #live #score #updates #highlights #World #Juniors #quarterfinal #game
Toronto Maple Leafs prospects Easton Cowan and Miroslav Holinka both got on the board and helped their respective nations to victory on the opening day of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa.
Cowan scored Canada’s second goal in their 4-0 blanking of Finland in Group A action. He beat Finnish goaltender Petteri Rimpinen with a wrist shot to the short side. It was one of two shots on goal for Toronto’s first-round selection (28th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Cowan finished the game with 16:21 in total ice time.
Cowan is making his return to the tournament this year after Canada was upset by Slovakia, finishing fifth and not making it to the medal round last year. “Last year sucked, so we just want to feel better at the end of this tournament,” Cowan told TSN’s Kenzie Lalonde during their second intermission interview. “We’re going to give it all we have and hopefully get that gold medal.”
Earlier in the day, Maple Leafs prospect Miroslav Holinka had a great day for Czechia, nabbing a goal and an assist to help his nation defeat Switzerland 5-1 in Group B action. Toronto’s fifth-round pick (151st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft factored in on Czechia’s opening two goals of the tournament. He scored the opening goal with a deflection in front of the net and later picked up the primary assist on Eduard Sale’s tally.
Next up for Cowan and Canada is a game on Friday against Latvia at 7:30 p.m. ET, while Holinka and Czechia are off until Saturday when they take on Kazakhstan.
The World Juniors tournament kicked off with a bang as Team Canada and Team Czechia took to the ice for their opening day matchups. Two players who stood out were Dylan Cozens from Canada and Martin Holinka from Czechia.
Cowan, a top prospect for the upcoming NHL draft, showcased his speed, skill, and hockey IQ throughout the game. He notched two goals and an assist to help lead Canada to a 5-1 victory over Team Germany. Cowan’s performance was electrifying, and he quickly became a fan favorite among Maple Leafs fans watching back home.
On the other side, Holinka, a promising young forward from Czechia, made a strong impression in his team’s 4-2 win over Team Russia. Holinka displayed great poise and scoring ability, finding the back of the net twice in the game. His performance caught the attention of scouts and fans alike, earning him praise as a player to watch throughout the tournament.
As the World Juniors tournament continues, all eyes will be on Cowan and Holinka as they look to lead their respective teams to success. Maple Leafs fans can’t wait to see what these two talented players will do next on the international stage. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the World Juniors action!
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#Maple #Leafs #Watch #Cowan #Canada #Holinka #Czechia #Impress #Opening #Day #World #Juniors #Action
Gavin McKenna’s second goal of the game, scored at 17:31 of the third period, snapped a 2-2 tie and lifted Canada to a 3-2 exhibition win over Czechia at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Bradly Nadeau also scored for Canada and Matthew Schaefer chipped in with two assists as the World Junior Championship hosts finished pre-tournament play with a 3-0 record.
Dominik Petr and Jiri Felcman scored for Czechia, which was outshot 39-23 but got a superb game from goaltender Michael Hrabel.
Canada’s first game in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship is on Boxing Day against Finland, followed by a Friday game against Latvia. Czechia will face Switzerland in its tournament opener on Thursday, then play Kazakhstan on Saturday.
Elsewhere in pre-tournament play on Monday:
UNITED STATES 5, FINLAND 2
CORNWALL, Ont. — The United States broke open a close game with four goals in the second period and coasted to a 5-2 win over Finland at Cornwall Civic Complex.
Ryan Leonard, Joe Willis, Zeev Buium, Austin Burnevik and Carey Terrance scored for the Americans, who went 1-for-2 on the power play.
Kasper Halttunen scored both goals for Finland which went 1-for-3 on the power play.
The U.S. outshot Finland 30-18.
BELLEVILLE, Ont. — Victor Eklund and David Edstrom each scored twice as Sweden whipped Germany 11-1 at CAA Arena.
Rasmus Bergqvist, Herman Traff, Tom Willander, Wilhelm Hallquisth, Felix Unger Sorum, Otto Stenberg and Felix Nilsson also scored for the Swedes, who outshot Germany 43-17, and led 2-0 after the first period and 6-1 heading into the third.
Oskar Vuollet, Theo Lindstein and Nilsson all chipped in with two assists for Sweden.
Sweden went 4-for-6 on the power play.
Carlos Handel scored for Germany, which went 0-for-3 on the power play.
ARNPRIOR, Ont. — After a scoreless first period, Switzerland scored three unanswered goals in the second and then coasted to a 5-1 win over Latvia at the Nick Smith Centre.
Ludvig Johnson, Jan Dorthe, Basile Sansonnens, Lars Steiner and Jamiro Reber scored for the Swiss, who outshot Latvia 43-27.
Olivers Murnieks scored for Latvia, which went 0-for-7 on the power play. Switzerland went 0-for-4 with the man advantage.
The World Junior Championship is right around the corner and Team Canada is already making waves in their pre-tournament matchups. In a recent game against Czechia, Canada came out on top with a 4-2 victory, thanks in large part to a standout performance from forward Riley McKenna.
McKenna lit up the scoreboard with two goals in the game, showcasing his offensive prowess and contributing to Canada’s success. His performance was a bright spot for the team as they continue to fine-tune their game before the tournament officially kicks off.
With this win under their belt, Canada is looking strong and confident heading into the World Junior Championship. Fans are excited to see how McKenna and the rest of the team will perform on the international stage, and are hopeful that they can bring home another gold medal for their country.
Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament gets underway and Team Canada continues their quest for glory on the ice. Go Canada Go! #WJC2022 #TeamCanada #HockeyCanada
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#WJC #pretournament #roundup #McKenna #scores #Canada #clips #Czechia
