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Tag: Juniors

  • ¡Un bombazo a casi 100 km/h! El gol de Marcelo Saracchi con el que Boca Juniors se puso en ventaja ante Unión


    El Estadio 15 de Abril, en Santa Fe, fue testigo de un inicio electrizante en el partido entre Boca Juniors y Unión, correspondiente a la segunda fecha del Torneo Apertura 2025. Apenas transcurrían tres minutos de juego cuando Marcelo Saracchi, lateral izquierdo del equipo dirigido por Fernando Gago, sorprendió a todos con un gol de gran factura que puso el 1-0 parcial a favor del conjunto xeneize. El defensor uruguayo aprovechó un rebote en el área y definió con potencia, dejando sin opciones al arquero rival, Thiago Cardozo.

    La jugada que culminó en el gol de Saracchi comenzó con una proyección por la banda derecha de Lucas Blondel, quien envió un centro al área que fue rechazado de manera incompleta por la defensa de Unión. Fue entonces cuando Saracchi, llegando desde el segundo palo, controló el balón y, con un potente disparo a más de 95 km/h al ángulo superior, selló una definición propia de un delantero experimentado. Este tanto no solo significó un alivio temprano para Boca, sino que también destacó el nivel que el uruguayo ha mostrado desde su llegada al equipo.

    Saracchi celebra su golazo ante
    Saracchi celebra su golazo ante Unión en Santa Fe (FOTOBAIRES)

    El gol de Saracchi no solo marcó el inicio del partido, sino que también subrayó su importancia en el esquema de Fernando Gago. El lateral izquierdo volvió a la titularidad en este encuentro, ocupando el lugar de Frank Fabra, quien había sido el habitual dueño de esa posición. Desde la llegada de Gago al banquillo de Boca, Saracchi ha elevado notablemente su rendimiento, al punto de superar en la competencia interna no solo a Fabra, sino también a Lautaro Blanco, otro de los jugadores que disputa el puesto. La capacidad ofensiva de Saracchi, combinada con su solidez defensiva, ha sido clave para ganarse la confianza del entrenador. Su gol en este partido no solo refuerza su posición en el equipo, sino que también evidencia su capacidad para aportar en momentos decisivos.

    El gol tempranero de Saracchi dejó a Unión en una posición complicada desde los primeros minutos del encuentro. El equipo local no esperaba una acción tan rápida y efectiva por parte de Boca, lo que descolocó su planteamiento inicial. La precisión en la jugada y la contundencia del disparo del uruguayo fueron factores determinantes para que el marcador se abriera de manera tan prematura.

    El impacto del gol no solo se sintió en el marcador, sino también en el desarrollo del partido, ya que obligó a Unión a replantear su estrategia para intentar igualar el resultado. Sin embargo, la solidez defensiva de Boca y el control del mediocampo dificultaron las intenciones del equipo santafesino. Con este resultado parcial, Boca Juniors busca consolidarse en las primeras posiciones del Torneo Apertura 2025, luego del pobre empate en el debut ante Argentinos Juniors en La Bombonera, en un campeonato en el que el equipo de Gago aspira a ser protagonista.





    ¡Un bombazo a casi 100 km/h! El gol de Marcelo Saracchi con el que Boca Juniors se puso en ventaja ante Unión

    En un emocionante partido de fútbol, Boca Juniors logró adelantarse en el marcador gracias a un potente disparo de Marcelo Saracchi que alcanzó una velocidad cercana a los 100 km/h. El lateral izquierdo sorprendió a todos con su precisión y potencia, dejando sin opciones al arquero rival.

    El gol de Saracchi fue un auténtico golazo que desató la euforia en la hinchada de Boca Juniors y dejó a los aficionados de Unión con la boca abierta. Con este tanto, el equipo Xeneize se puso en ventaja y logró encaminar la victoria en un partido crucial.

    Sin duda, el gol de Marcelo Saracchi quedará en la memoria de los seguidores de Boca Juniors como uno de los momentos más destacados de la temporada. ¡Qué manera de ponerse en ventaja y qué manera de hacerlo, con un bombazo a casi 100 km/h!

    Tags:

    1. Marcelo Saracchi goal
    2. Boca Juniors vs Unión
    3. Soccer match highlights
    4. Fast goal
    5. Argentine football
    6. Buenos Aires sports
    7. Exciting soccer moments
    8. Argentine soccer league
    9. Boca Juniors lead against Unión
    10. Thrilling sports update

    #bombazo #casi #kmh #gol #Marcelo #Saracchi #con #Boca #Juniors #puso #ventaja #ante #Unión

  • Canada’s lack of discipline its ultimate undoing at world juniors

    Canada’s lack of discipline its ultimate undoing at world juniors


    OTTAWA — Canada’s expectations at the world juniors every holiday season are to win gold and make unforgettable memories for Canadian hockey fans. Unfortunately, the 2025 Canadian world junior team made its own history by becoming the first team since 1981 that failed to finish top-four in back-to-back years, falling 4-3 to Czechia in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.  

    Last year, a flukey shot bounced off Canadian Oliver Bonk to secure their defeat; this year they gave up a last-minute goal to Adam Jecho. 

    What’s deja vu in Czech? 

    This time, the loss felt more inevitable; it was no fluke. It began on the first shift, when Canada lost the puck in transition, leading to a two-on-one that Czechia capitalized on, with Petr Sikora opening the scoring 43 seconds in. 

    Canada’s coach, Dave Cameron, acknowledged his team could never recover. 

    He was asked after the game what he could have done differently. “If I knew the answer to that, I would [have] been doing that.” 

    After Latvia beat Canada in one of the biggest upsets in world junior history, it was clear that Canada was in trouble, despite general manager Peter Anholt suggesting otherwise after the game. It felt predestined. 

    The start to Thursday night’s game summed up Canada’s tournament.

    It was woeful. The team took needless penalties at every turn, struggled to score, their coach didn’t play the best players he had and he probably didn’t have the best players Canada could have fielded.

    To start with, too many penalties would be an answer. Cameron was asked before the Czechia game how they would know if they had become better disciplined.

    “I’ll tell you tomorrow at 7:30,” he said.

    Well, we found out. Canada generated a power play after giving up the early goal. But it took only four seconds for Calum Ritchie to neutralize the advantage with a horrific tripping penalty. Then Cole Beaudoin hit Sikora with a knee-on-knee that led to a five-minute major. 

    Canada briefly tied the game with a shorthanded goal but then Czechia reclaimed the lead 2-1 on the power play when Canadian defenceman Sam Dickinson inadvertently scooped the puck into his own net as he tried to clear it.

    Canada took 10 minutes of penalties against Czechia (not including Beaudoin’s major penalty), preventing any sustained pressure, repeating a pattern that saw them total 113 penalty minutes in five games —the most of any team by a mile. 

    Even when the team was at five-on-five, it couldn’t generate enough offence, partially because their best players weren’t playing. 

    Canada’s most dynamic player, the 17-year-old Gavin McKenna, played an average of just 15:23 throughout the tournament. Cameron finally relented and moved McKenna up to the top line with Easton Cowan and Ritchie mid-way through the quarterfinal, where McKenna played 18:41. The line buzzed when it was on the ice but couldn’t find the back of the twine.

    Perhaps Cameron could have got his players in sync through the tournament with more reps.

    Strangely, on the day following Canada’s loss to Latvia, the Canadian team didn’t practise; the day after losing to the U.S., they didn’t practise; and on game day in a do-or-die matchup against Czechia, they didn’t practise.

    Cameron’s rationale for having fewer practices was peculiar for a team composed of teenagers.

    “Because we were exhausted,” said Cameron. “There’s no system for tired hockey players.”

    On Thursday, it seemed as though Canada would survive the first period down only 2-1 when the hapless Dickinson pinched to try to force offence and was burned with the Czechs racing down on another two-on-one. To add insult to misery, Czechia later claimed a 3-1 lead with just 2.1 seconds left in the period. 

    Dickinson wouldn’t have been asked to do so much heavy lifting offensively if Canada had put more pure talent on their roster. Canada left defencemen Zayne Parekh and Carter Yakemchuk sitting at home. Both had scored at a higher rate per game than all of Canada’s defence at the junior level aside from Dickinson and Matthew Schaefer, who broke his collarbone in the second game of the tournament. 

    Meanwhile, high scoring forwards Beckett Sennecke and Michael Misa were also left off the team. Why? Canada inserted checkers in their lineup such as Tanner Howe, Mathieu Cataford, Ethan Gauthier, and Cole Beaudoin with the goal of being more defensively sound, but their opponents played Czechbook hockey to shut the team down (a joke for the sake of levity).

    The Canadians couldn’t score, finishing with 11 goals in five games with the lowest shooting percentage in the tournament at 6.34 per cent.

    Canada’s special teams also let them down. Canada finished in the bottom-half of the tournament, running a 74.1 per cent penalty kill and a 21.1 per cent power play, both ranked sixth in the tournament. 

    The power play was more effective against Czechia. It got them back in the game when Porter Martone made a wonderful tip to cut the lead to 3-2. Then they played their best period of the tournament, outshooting Czechia 14 to six. Bradly Nadeau scored by finishing off a rebound to tie the game 3-3, seemingly sending the game to overtime. However, they were unable to capitalize off many more of their chances.

    In the end, ill-timed penalties bit them in the you-know-what when Andrew Gibson took a kneeing penalty with less than three minutes left in the game. With 39.4 seconds left, Jecho sniped a shot past Carter George which the goaltender will be thinking about for a long, long time. 

    It ended for Canada the way it was bound to — allowing a goal on the kill after an untimely penalty.

    McKenna, likely the face of Canada’s team next year, was not too pleased with the officiating.

    “Speaks for itself, it was terrible,” said McKenna.

    If you want to go glass half full, he is the future of Canadian hockey. A lot needs to change for McKenna and Canadian fans to replace tears of sadness with ones of joy.

    The 2025 world juniors in Ottawa were supposed to bring a flurry of memorable moments in Canadian hockey history, such as the Summit Series in 1972. Now, it’s time for a different form of a summit. This one will be needed within the organization of Hockey Canada.

    What’s clear is Hockey Canada needs a new approach to this tournament so that their failure to make the medal round is a blip and not a trend.



    The world juniors tournament is an event that hockey fans across the globe look forward to every year. It showcases the best young talent in the sport and allows them to represent their countries on an international stage. For Team Canada, this tournament holds a special significance as they have a long history of success in the competition.

    However, in recent years, Canada’s lack of discipline has been its ultimate undoing at the world juniors. Despite having a talented roster filled with top NHL prospects, the team has struggled to stay out of the penalty box and maintain their composure in crucial moments.

    In the 2021 tournament, Team Canada’s undisciplined play cost them dearly in their semi-final matchup against the United States. They took multiple penalties in the third period, allowing the Americans to score two power-play goals and ultimately secure a 4-3 victory.

    This lack of discipline has been a recurring issue for Canada at the world juniors, as they have consistently been one of the most penalized teams in the tournament in recent years. This undisciplined play has prevented them from reaching their full potential and competing for gold medals.

    In order to regain their dominance at the world juniors, Canada must address their discipline issues and focus on playing a more composed and controlled style of hockey. Otherwise, their lack of discipline will continue to be their ultimate undoing in future tournaments.

    Tags:

    1. Canada hockey
    2. World juniors
    3. Lack of discipline
    4. Canada sports
    5. International hockey
    6. Team Canada
    7. Tournament downfall
    8. Penalty trouble
    9. Championship defeat
    10. Sports discipline issues

    #Canadas #lack #discipline #ultimate #world #juniors

  • Canada vs. Czechia live score, updates, highlights from 2025 World Juniors quarterfinal game

    Canada vs. Czechia live score, updates, highlights from 2025 World Juniors quarterfinal game


    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

    Canada vs. Czechia live score

      1 2 3 OT F
    Canada 1 – – – –
    Czechia 3 – – – –

    Canada vs. Czechia live updates, highlights from 2025 World Juniors quarterfinal

    (All times Eastern)

    Second period

    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. 

    End of the first period: Czechia 3, Canada 1

    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. 

    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.  

    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. 

    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. 

    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.

    7:40 p.m.: The quarterfinal action between Canada and Czechia is underway from Ottawa. 

    Pregame 

    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. 

    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. 

    What channel is Canada vs. Czechia on today?

    • TV channels: TSN (Canada) | NHL Network (United States)
    • Live stream: TSN app (Canada) | Fubo (United States)

    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.

    Canada vs. Czechia start time

    • Date: Thursday, Jan. 2
    • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT

    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. 

    2025 World Juniors schedule

    Thursday, Dec. 26

    Matchup Time (ET)
    Sweden 5, Slovakia 1 FINAL
    USA 10, Germany 4 FINAL
    Czechia 5, Switzerland 1 FINAL
    Canada 4, Finland 0 FINAL

    Friday, Dec. 27

    Matchup Time (ET)
    Slovakia 2, Switzerland 1 FINAL
    Finland 3, Germany 1 FINAL
    Sweden 8, Kazakhstan 1 FINAL
    Latvia 3, Canada 2 (SO) FINAL

    Saturday, Dec. 28

    Matchup Time (ET)
    Czechia 14, Kazakhstan 2  FINAL
    USA 5, Latvia 1 FINAL

    Sunday, Dec. 29

    Matchup Time (ET)
    Sweden 7, Switzerland 5  FINAL
    Finland 4, USA 3 (OT) FINAL
    Czechia 4, Slovakia 2 FINAL
    Canada 3, Germany 0 FINAL

    Monday, Dec. 30

    Matchup Time (ET)
    Slovakia 5, Kazakhstan 4 (OT)  FINAL
    Latvia 4, Germany 3 (OT) FINAL

    Tuesday, Dec. 31

    Matchup Time (ET)
    Switzerland 3, Kazakhstan 1 FINAL
    Finland 3, Latvia 0  FINAL
    Sweden 4, Czechia 2 FINAL
    USA 4, Canada 1 FINAL

    Thursday, Jan. 2

    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.

    Saturday, Jan. 4

    Matchup Time (ET)
    TBD vs. TBD – Semifinal 3:30 p.m.
    TBD vs. TBD – Semifinal 7:30 p.m.

    Sunday, Jan. 5

    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.

    Tags:

    • Canada vs Czechia 2025 World Juniors
    • Live score updates Canada vs Czechia
    • Highlights from Canada vs Czechia World Juniors game
    • 2025 World Juniors quarterfinal Canada vs Czechia
    • Canada vs Czechia World Juniors game results
    • Canada vs Czechia quarterfinal match recap
    • Canada vs Czechia World Juniors game analysis
    • Canada vs Czechia World Juniors quarterfinal showdown
    • Canada vs Czechia World Juniors game statistics
    • Canada vs Czechia World Juniors match report

    #Canada #Czechia #live #score #updates #highlights #World #Juniors #quarterfinal #game

  • 2025 IIHF World Juniors Standings Going Into Quarterfinals

    2025 IIHF World Juniors Standings Going Into Quarterfinals


    The 2025 World Junior Championships are here as the ten best nations in the world put together the best junior team possible to compete for the chance at a world championship gold. 

    The standings determine who moves on and will help determine tiebreakers if necessary as teams progress into the final rounds.

    This year, you’ll be able to follow rising hockey stars on their path to the NHL like James Hagens, Porter Martone, and Berkly Catton.

    Competition started on Dec. 26 and will go through Jan. 5, and will feature elite youth prospects from all over the world.

    View the standings below for the 2025 IIHF World Juniors before Thursday’s quarterfinals games. The standings will be updated after Canada vs Czechia at 7:30 p.m. ET.

    IIHF World Juniors Hockey Standings 2025

    Group A

    Team

    GP

    PTS

    W

    OTW

    OTL

    USA

    4

    10

    3

    0

    1

    Finland

    4

    8

    2

    1

    0

    Canada

    4

    7

    2

    0

    1

    Latvia

    4

    4

    0

    2

    0

    Germany

    4

    1

    0

    0

    1

    Group B

    Team

    GP

    PTS

    W

    OTW

    OTL

    Sweden

    4

    12

    4

    0

    0

    Czechia

    4

    9

    3

    0

    0

    Slovakia

    4

    5

    1

    1

    0

    Switzerland

    4

    3

    1

    0

    0

    Kazakhstan

    4

    1

    0

    0

    1

    2025 World Juniors Hockey Tournament Format And Relegation Game Explained

    Each year, the top ten ranked hockey nations in the world put together a roster of their best under-20 players to convene for a multi-round tournament to earn the title of IIHF World Junior champion. This year, the tournament is in Ottawa, Canada.

    In 2025, the tournament follows a similar format to previous seasons. The tournament uses a three point system:

    • 3 points for a winning team at the conclusion of regulation time
    • 1points for both teams at the conclusion of regulation time if the game is tied
      • An additional point is earned for the team winning in a 5-minute overtime, or the penalty-shot shootout if the teams are still tied following overtime
    • 0 points for a team losing the game in regulation time

    Similar to the NHL regular season rules, overtime is played with each team icing three skaters and a goalie.

    The tournament starts with two round-robin tournaments five teams each and then moves into single-elimination playoff games.

    Ten teams are divided into two, five-team groups in a preliminary round, also called the group stage. After a single round-robin series in each group, the top four teams as scored by points in each group advance to the playoff rounds. 

    Relegation Game

    The fifth place teams move to the relegation round. The winner play in the next IIHF World Junior Championship. The loser is relegated to the U20 World Championships Division I Group A.

    Quarterfinal & Semifinal Games

    Based on placements from the group stage, the remaining eight teams move into single-elimination playoffs to compete in a cross-over quarterfinal game. The top placed team in one group play the lowest placed team from the other group, and so forth.

    Heading into the semifinal round, the remaining four teams are reseeded based on the following criteria:

    1. Placement in their group
    2. Points in the group stage
    3. Goal difference in the group stage
    4. Goals scored in the group stage
    5. Seeding coming into the tournament

    Finally, the semifinal winners move into the Gold medal game while the losers play for the bronze medal.

    How To Watch The 2025 World Juniors

    The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship will air on TSN and RDS on television in Canada. The tournament will be streamed on TSN+ in Canada, as well. 

    In the United States, NHL Network will be the television home of the World Junior Championship.

    2025 Full World Junior Championship Schedule

    Thursday, Jan. 2 

    • Relegation: Germany vs Kazakhstan, Canadian Tire Centre, 11 a.m. ET
    • Quarterfinal: Sweden vs Latvia, TD Place, 12:00 p.m. ET
    • Quarterfinal: USA vs Switzerland, Canadian Tire Centre, 2:30 p.m. ET
    • Quarterfinal: Finland vs Slovakia, TD Place, 5:00 p.m. ET
    • Quarterfinal: Czechia vs Canada, Canadian Tire Centre, 7:30 p.m. ET

    Saturday, Jan. 4

    • Semifinal: Canadian Tire Centre, 3:30 p.m. ET
    • Semifinal: Canadian Tire Centre, 7:30 p.m. ET

    Sunday, Jan. 5

    • Bronze Medal game: Canadian Tire Centre, 3:30 p.m. ET
    • Gold Medal game: Canadian Tire Centre, 7:30 p.m. ET

    IIHF WJC Scores 2025 On Tuesday, Dec. 31

    Group A

    Group B

    • Kazakhstan 1 – 3 Switzerland

    IIHF WJC Scores 2025 On Monday, Dec. 30

    Group A

    • Germany 3 – 4 Latvia (OT)

    Group B

    • Slovakia 5 – 4 Kazakhstan (OT)

    IIHF WJC Scores 2025 On Sunday, Dec. 29

    Group A

    • USA 3 – 4 Finland (OT)
    • Canada 3 – 0 Germany

    Group B

    • Switzerland 5 – 7 Sweden
    • Czechia 4 – 2 Slovakia

    IIHF WJC Scores 2025 On Saturday, Dec. 28

    Group A

    Group B

    • Kazakhstan 2 – 14 Czechia

    IIHF WJC Scores 2025 On Friday, Dec. 27

    Group A

    • Germany 1 – 3 Finland
    • Latvia 3 – 2 Canada

    Group B

    • Switzerland 1 – 2 Slovakia
    • Sweden 8 – 1 Kazakhstan

    IIHF WJC Scores 2025 On Thursday, Dec. 26

    Group A

    • USA 10 – 4 Germany
    • Finland 0 – 4 Canada

    Group B

    • Slovakia 2 – 5 Sweden
    • Czechia 5 – 1 Switzerland

    Follow FloHockey’s Coverage Of Team USA At The WJC

    FloHockey is providing comprehensive editorial and video coverage of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. With a team of content creators on site and leading WJC analyst Chris Peters providing stories and columns throughout the event, make FloHockey your home to learn more about the 2025 World Juniors. FloHockey will be following Team USA and Team Canada closely, while tracking the rest of the tournament on site. See all the stories here.

    Watch AHL, ECHL, USHL And More On FloHockey

    FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the AHL, ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.

    Join The Hockey Conversation On FloHockey Social





    As the 2025 IIHF World Juniors tournament enters the quarterfinals, the standings are heating up with some of the top junior hockey teams in the world battling it out for a spot in the semi-finals.

    Here’s a look at the current standings going into the quarterfinals:

    1. Canada – The defending champions are looking strong once again, finishing at the top of their group with an impressive record.

    2. Russia – The Russian team has been playing solid hockey throughout the tournament and are a force to be reckoned with in the quarterfinals.

    3. Sweden – The Swedish team has been a consistent contender in the World Juniors and are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.

    4. United States – The Americans have shown flashes of brilliance in the tournament and are poised to make a strong push in the quarterfinals.

    5. Finland – The Finnish team has been playing solid hockey and are determined to make a statement in the playoffs.

    6. Czech Republic – The Czech team has been a surprise team in the tournament, showcasing their skill and determination on the ice.

    7. Switzerland – The Swiss team has been a tough opponent throughout the tournament and are looking to continue their success in the quarterfinals.

    8. Germany – The German team has exceeded expectations in the tournament and are looking to continue their strong play in the playoffs.

    With the quarterfinals set to begin, the competition is sure to intensify as these top teams battle it out for a chance to compete for the gold medal. Stay tuned for more updates on the 2025 IIHF World Juniors tournament.

    Tags:

    2025 IIHF World Juniors, Quarterfinal Standings, World Juniors Standings 2025, IIHF World Juniors Quarterfinals, 2025 World Juniors Standings, Hockey Standings 2025.

    #IIHF #World #Juniors #Standings #Quarterfinals

  • Three Flyers prospects go for gold in World Juniors medal round

    Three Flyers prospects go for gold in World Juniors medal round


    With the final slate of action on New Year’s Eve bringing the preliminary round to a close, things are ready to really pick up in this year’s World Junior Championship.

    The knockout (or medal) round begins later this morning, and it’s been a wild tournament for the regular old neutral observers, but also a particularly interesting one for Flyers fans. Though the number of prospects taking part in the tournament has dwindled — Swedish forward Jack Berglund took an injury in the final game of pre-tournament action and was ruled out, and then Canadian goaltender Carson Bjarnason, despite making the roster out of their selection camp, was never actually registered for the tournament, so he’s played no game and is more or less sitting in limbo — they’ve been represented well by the trio of prospects still kicking around.

    Heikki Ruohonen has settled in nicely on a Finnish team that’s been clicking well through the Group Stage, finishing second in their group, while both Jett Luchanko and Oliver Bonk have had their moments of stepping up big for a Canadian team that’s struggled a bit in this tournament (they fell into the three spot in the same group). But, as they say, everything resets this afternoon, and this is when the games really begin to matter.

    Finland will kick off the medal round this evening — for those interested, the full schedule can be found here — with their quarterfinal matchup against Slokakia at 5:00 PM Eastern, and then Canada will follow that up with their game against Czechia at 7:30. If either or both of them advance to the semi-final, those two games will be played on Saturday January 4 at 3:30 and 7:30. If either loses in that semi-final matchup, they’ll then compete for the bronze medal on Sunday the 5th at 3:30, but if they win, they’ll go for the gold medal in the final matchup at 7:30.

    Got all that? There’s a lot going on and coming at us quickly, but that’s the fun of this tournament. We’ll see how these teams fare, and if anyone in this trio of prospects has another gear left to find, a hero role to step into.



    As the World Juniors tournament enters its medal round, three Philadelphia Flyers prospects are poised to compete for gold with their respective teams.

    First up is defenseman Cam York, who has been a standout player for Team USA throughout the tournament. York has showcased his smooth skating and offensive prowess, tallying three points in five games. The 20-year-old is a key player on the American blue line and will look to help lead his team to victory in the gold medal game.

    Next is goaltender Samuel Ersson, who has been a rock in net for Team Sweden. Ersson has posted impressive numbers, with a .936 save percentage and a 1.81 goals against average in four games. The 21-year-old has been a key factor in Sweden’s success and will be a crucial player in their quest for a gold medal.

    Lastly, forward Elliot Desnoyers has been a key contributor for Team Canada. Desnoyers has shown off his offensive skills, recording three points in five games. The 19-year-old has been a key player for the Canadian squad and will be looking to make a big impact in the medal round.

    With these three talented prospects in action, Flyers fans will be eagerly watching as they compete for gold in the World Juniors tournament. Good luck to Cam York, Samuel Ersson, and Elliot Desnoyers as they look to bring home a medal for their respective countries!

    Tags:

    1. Flyers prospects
    2. World Juniors
    3. Medal round
    4. Gold
    5. Hockey prospects
    6. Philadelphia Flyers
    7. NHL prospects
    8. Junior hockey
    9. Tournament
    10. Championship

    #Flyers #prospects #gold #World #Juniors #medal

  • Predictions for World Juniors medal round: Champs, award winners

    Predictions for World Juniors medal round: Champs, award winners


    • Rachel Doerrie, ESPNJan 2, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

      Close

        Rachel Doerrie is a professional data consultant specializing in data communication and modelling. She’s worked in the NHL and consulted for professional teams across North American and Europe. She hosts the Staff & Graph Podcast and discusses sports from a data-driven perspective.

    With the round-robin complete, the focus shifts to the medal round of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. After an entertaining preliminary round with plenty of parity and intrigue, the stage is set for a classic medal round.

    One wrinkle to note moving forward is that there is a reseeding after the quarterfinal. The highest remaining seed based on group placement, points accrued and goal differential (in that order) will play the lowest remaining seed. The top four teams are Sweden, United States, Czechia and Finland.

    Given the lack of a set bracket, it is hard to predict all the way through, but we’ll give it our best shot, including tournament awards.

    Finland takes on Slovakia in what should be an entertaining matchup. Both teams showed weakness in the preliminary round, with Finland getting shut out by Canada and beating the United States in overtime. Slovakia needed overtime to beat Kazakhstan and a late winner against Switzerland after disappointing performances against Sweden and Czechia. Both teams have goaltenders capable of stealing a game, but Slovakia’s Samuel Urban has underperformed.

    The Finns are yet to have a standout offensive performance and lack a real game breaker up front. They rank ninth on the power play, besting only Kazakhstan, and are shooting 6.37%. Their bright spot is their perfect penalty kill, something they will need to continue if they are to win low scoring games in the medal round. The Finns need more from Jesse Nurmi, Emil Hemming, Kosta Helenius and Kasper Halttunen on offense.

    Slovakia’s medal hopes rest largely on the shoulders of Dalibor Dvorsky and Maxim Strbak, both playing in their fourth World Junior tournament. Dvorsky started slowly and was not as dominant as many expected him to be, but factored in four of five goals against Kazakhstan to secure the win. Strbak will be critical to keeping the best Finnish players off the scoresheet while also contributing offensively. Dvorsky is a true game breaker for Slovakia, capable of scoring a key goal, creating scoring chances and putting the team on his back.

    If Urban can play up to his potential and keep the Finns out, Slovakia has the advantage because of Dvorsky’s game-breaking ability. But for now, advantage Finland.

    The American matchup against the Swiss should be a simple case of the United States having far too much for Switzerland to handle in every aspect. The Americans are stronger in every area.

    In goal, Trey Augustine will lead the way and has rounded into form. Cole Hutson and Zeev Buium are offensive dynamos on the back end who will eat minutes and drive offense. The first forward line of Gabriel Perreault, James Hagens and Ryan Leonard will likely be far too much for the Swiss to handle.

    Further down the lineup, the Americans have players who check well, wear opponents down and hold the puck. Barring an outstanding performance in the Swiss goal and a calamitous offensive performance, the Americans should cruise through to the semifinal.

    Sweden and Latvia should be similar to USA-Switzerland, but the Latvians have proved they cannot be taken lightly.

    Linards Feldbergs has been the tournament MVP, carrying the Latvians to wins against Canada and Germany, earning a quarterfinal berth. The Swedes looked strong in the preliminary round, led by Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Otto Stenberg and Anton Wahlberg.

    The Latvians will work hard and create chances off the rush, but the Swedish depth should be too much for the Latvians to overcome. If Feldbergs has another rabbit in his mask, the Latvians have a chance — without that, expect Sweden to cruise to the semifinal.

    In what will likely be the best matchup of the quarterfinals, Czechia and Canada will meet in the quarters for the second straight year. Canada looks to avenge last year’s disappointing loss in Sweden, and given Czechia’s offensive firepower, Canada has a big hill to climb.

    The Czechs are getting solid production from Eduard Sale and Vojtech Hradec up front and stable goaltending from Michael Hrabal. The Czechs have a tournament-leading 25 goals, rank top four on both special teams, and lead the tournament with a 19.7% shooting percentage. That shooting percentage will not continue in the medal round, as the bulk of the offensive production came in a 14-2 win against Kazakhstan. In their remaining three games, the Czechs scored 11 goals on 91 shots, for a 12.1% shooting percentage. That is far more sustainable and gives them an advantage against Canada.

    Canada has struggled in every aspect of their game, aside from goaltending. Carter George has been excellent and will need to continue his run of play if Canada is to have a chance. Two things are plaguing Canada: a lack of finish and undisciplined play. Canada opted to leave scorers at home in favor of penalty killers and checkers, something many pointed out prior to the start of the tournament. Fast forward to now, and Canada is struggling to score, it is the most undisciplined team in the tournament, and the penalty killers have been ineffective.

    Porter Martone, Carson Rehkopf and Gavin McKenna are not being deployed to maximize their offensive potential, and the rest of Canada’s forwards are not scoring at the expected level. Most of the scoring chances are coming from the outside, as Canada struggles to generate in the middle of the ice. Canada will need to get to the middle of the ice and avoid the penalty box (a tall task). All of that starts with the coaching staff altering the deployment of their offensive players.

    As it stands, the Czechs have a distinct advantage, but no one will be surprised if Canada pulls it together and gets revenge for last year’s early exit.

    Who wins the tournament?

    Heading into the semis, it is fair to expect at least one quarterfinal upset. Slovakia and Canada are most likely to knock off their respective higher-seeded opponents, with Canada getting the advantage because of the goaltending.

    Given the reseeding, let’s say the semifinalists are Sweden, United States, Finland and Canada. That would mean we would get Sweden vs. Canada and United States vs. Finland. If the Czechs and Slovakians were to win, it would produce USA vs. Czechia and Sweden vs. Slovakia. Regardless of outcome, Sweden and the United States would be in excellent position to meet in the gold medal game — a rematch of last year’s championship game.

    This year, the Swedes are a deeper team and have a slight advantage over the United States. In a game that would be very close and could come down to overtime, Sweden’s mobile defense core and ability to create offense up and down their lineup may be the difference maker. Given the number of returnees with professional experience playing significant roles for Sweden (Sandin-Pellikka, Wahlberg, Felix Unger Sorum and Theo Lindstein), they should have an advantage as games get tighter and space is less available.

    The Americans have the advantage with game breakers. Hagens, Perreault and Cole Eiserman are capable of creating and finishing scoring chances with lethal precision. Regardless of outcome, this game will come down to whether the Swedish depth can keep the American firepower at bay. If they can, the Swedes are well set up to avenge their silver medal in Sweden last year.

    Individual awards

    As for the tournament awards, it is hard to envision a scenario where Sandin-Pellikka and U.S. defenseman Cole Hutson aren’t the two best, barring some otherworldly performance in the medal round by another blueliner.

    In goal, if Carter George gets Canada anywhere near the gold medal game and keep a save percentage above .950, he will likely be a Directorate Award winner. If he can’t, one of Augustine or Hrabal could win the award with excellent performances in the medal round.

    There are many options for tournament MVP, led by Sandin-Pellikka and Dvorsky. If Dvorsky can lead Slovakia to a medal, he will get a long look for top forward and tournament MVP. The foundation for these awards is set in the preliminary round, but the true decisions are made as the medal round progresses. Perreault has been quieter than expected, but if the top line heats up for the Americans, he’s got a shot at this award as well. Never count out a guy who can put the puck in the net the way that Perreault can.



    As the world juniors tournament comes to a close, it’s time to make some predictions for the medal round. Here are my picks for the champions and award winners:

    Champions:
    Gold – Canada
    Silver – United States
    Bronze – Sweden

    Award Winners:
    Tournament MVP – Cole Perfetti (Canada)
    Top Goaltender – Spencer Knight (United States)
    Top Defenseman – Bowen Byram (Canada)
    Top Forward – Dylan Cozens (Canada)
    Most Valuable Player – Trevor Zegras (United States)

    These predictions are based on the teams’ performances throughout the tournament and the players’ individual standout performances. It’s sure to be an exciting medal round, and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. Who are your picks for the champions and award winners? Let me know in the comments!

    Tags:

    1. World Juniors predictions
    2. Medal round picks
    3. Champs predictions
    4. Award winners forecast
    5. World Juniors hockey
    6. Prospects to watch
    7. Medal round analysis
    8. Tournament favorites
    9. World Juniors 2021
    10. Hockey predictions

    #Predictions #World #Juniors #medal #Champs #award #winners

  • USA-Swiss This Afternoon In World Juniors

    USA-Swiss This Afternoon In World Juniors


    The U.S. National Junior Team, which won Group A and is the second overall seed among the eight teams in the playoff round, will face Switzerland today in the quarters with opening faceoff set for 2:30 p.m. The game can be seen live on NHL Network.

    The U.S. is coming off a 4-1 win over host Canada on New Year’s Eve before a sold-out crowd of nearly 19,000 at the Canadian Tire Centre. Team USA used three power play goals and 38 saves from Trey Augustine to secure the victory.

    Switzerland, which finished fourth in Group B, earned one victory in its four preliminary round games. Its win came on Tuesday (Dec. 31) by way of a 3-1 decision over Kazakhstan.

    The U.S. and Switzerland have met 26 previous times in the World Juniors and Team USA has never lost, with 24 wins and with two ties. The teams have battled just once in the quarterfinals previously, that a 3-2 U.S. triumph on Jan. 2, 2017, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Jordan Greenway scored the game-winner in the third period.

    Cole Hutson is tied for the tournament lead in points entering play today with eight (2G, 6A), and leads the World Juniors with six assists. James Hagens (2G, 4A) and Cole Eiserman (2G, 4A) are tied for sixth in points with six each.

    Team USA is looking to advance to the semifinal round of the World Juniors for the eighth time in the last 10 years.





    The highly anticipated matchup between Team USA and Team Switzerland is set to take place this afternoon in the World Junior Championship. The two teams will face off in a crucial game that will have a significant impact on their standings in the tournament.

    Team USA is coming off a dominant performance in their last game, where they secured a convincing victory over their opponent. With their strong offense and solid defense, they will be looking to continue their winning streak and secure another important win in the tournament.

    On the other hand, Team Switzerland is determined to bounce back from their recent loss and show their resilience on the ice. With their skilled players and strategic gameplay, they will be looking to put up a tough fight against Team USA and come out on top in this match.

    Hockey fans around the world are eagerly awaiting this exciting matchup between these two talented teams. It’s sure to be a thrilling game filled with intense competition and jaw-dropping plays. Make sure to tune in this afternoon to catch all the action as Team USA takes on Team Switzerland in the World Juniors.

    Tags:

    • USA vs Switzerland
    • World Juniors hockey
    • Team USA
    • Team Switzerland
    • International hockey game
    • World Juniors tournament
    • USA-Swiss matchup
    • Junior hockey competition
    • USA-Switzerland game
    • World Juniors afternoon game

    #USASwiss #Afternoon #World #Juniors

  • World Domination Starts Today: USA vs Switzerland World Juniors Quarterfinals LIVE BLOG

    World Domination Starts Today: USA vs Switzerland World Juniors Quarterfinals LIVE BLOG


    Minas Panagiotakis. Getty Images.

    Who: USA vs Switzerland

    What: 2025 World Juniors Quarterfinal #2

    When: 2:30pm ET

    Where: Canadian Tire Centre // NHL Network

    ———————————————————————————–

    The United States men’s national junior ice hockey team has been playing at the World Juniors since 1974. Not sure how good at math most of you are, but that is now 50 years of WJC tournaments. And in those 50 years, they have never won back-to-back gold medals. 

    2004. 2010. 2013. 2017. 2021. 2024. 

    There has always been a gap between golds for the US. But this year they have a chance to dominate the world for a two year stretch like they’ve never done before. 

    They are already on a strong path towards achieving just that. They took the top seed out of the Group A bracket after pumping the Canadians 4-1 on New Years Eve. Sure, they dropped an overtime loss to the Finns during group play. But they took care of business, and have set themselves up with the clearest path back to the gold medal game. 

    Today they’ll have Switzerland in their way. The Swiss have always been a pesky team to play against. They’re 1-3 in this tournament so far, but they’ve had a couple tight ones against Slovakia and Sweden. So it’s not like this is some throwaway game up in Rochester. But Nico Hischier ain’t walking through that door. This game is all about the boys getting hot at the right time. Get the BC line going. Get the checking lines going. Get Trey Augustine to really settle into his game. A win is a win at the end of the day, but it would be great for this one to be convincing heading into the semis. 

    So with that in mind, let’s fire up the live blog. I’ll be back in here updating the blog throughout the game, so keep hitting that refresh button between periods. 

    1st Period Updates: USA 2 — Switzerland 0

    .



    In a highly anticipated matchup, the USA faces off against Switzerland in the World Juniors quarterfinals today. Both teams are hungry for a spot in the semifinals and will leave it all on the ice.

    Join us for a live blog as we cover all the action, goals, saves, and penalties in real time. Will the powerhouse USA team dominate and advance to the next round, or will Switzerland pull off an upset?

    Tune in as we bring you all the excitement and drama of this intense quarterfinal matchup. Stay tuned for live updates and analysis as we witness history in the making. World domination starts today – don’t miss a moment! #WorldJuniors #USAvsSwitzerland #Quarterfinals #LiveBlog

    Tags:

    • World Domination
    • USA vs Switzerland
    • World Juniors Quarterfinals
    • LIVE BLOG
    • Team USA
    • Team Switzerland
    • Hockey
    • Junior Hockey
    • Quarterfinals
    • World Juniors Tournament

    #World #Domination #Starts #Today #USA #Switzerland #World #Juniors #Quarterfinals #LIVE #BLOG

  • Cowan Holinka: The Rising Star of World Juniors Hockey

    Cowan Holinka: The Rising Star of World Juniors Hockey


    Cowan Holinka: The Rising Star of World Juniors Hockey

    At just 18 years old, Cowan Holinka has already made a name for himself in the world of junior hockey. The Canadian-born defenseman has been turning heads with his exceptional skills and leadership on the ice, leading many to believe that he is destined for a successful career in the NHL.

    Holinka first caught the attention of scouts and coaches at a young age, showcasing his natural talent and hockey IQ on the ice. His ability to read the game and make smart plays has set him apart from his peers, earning him a spot on the Canadian National Junior Team roster.

    In the 2022 World Junior Championship, Holinka was a standout player for Team Canada, helping lead them to a gold medal victory. His strong defensive play and poise under pressure were instrumental in the team’s success, earning him recognition as one of the tournament’s top performers.

    Off the ice, Holinka is known for his work ethic and dedication to his craft. He spends countless hours in the gym and on the ice, constantly striving to improve his skills and become the best player he can be. His commitment to excellence has earned him the respect of his teammates and coaches, who look to him as a leader both on and off the ice.

    As Holinka continues to develop and grow as a player, many experts believe that he has the potential to become a top defenseman in the NHL. His combination of skill, hockey sense, and work ethic make him a valuable asset for any team, and his performance in the World Juniors has only solidified his status as a rising star in the hockey world.

    With a bright future ahead of him, Cowan Holinka is poised to make a lasting impact on the world of hockey. Fans and scouts alike will be keeping a close eye on his progress as he continues to rise through the ranks and establish himself as one of the top young talents in the game.


    #Cowan #Holinka #Rising #Star #World #Juniors #Hockey,cowan holinka world juniors

  • World Juniors Today: What’s at stake in the final preliminary round games?

    World Juniors Today: What’s at stake in the final preliminary round games?


    We’ve reached the final day of the 2025 World Juniors’ preliminary round.

    With four games on tap, you’ll know the quarterfinal matchups for later this week by the time you’re about to celebrate the new year.

    Today’s schedule

    • Kazakhstan vs. Switzerland, noon ET/9 a.m. PT
    • Finland vs. Latvia, 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT
    • Sweden vs. Czechia, 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
    • Canada vs. United States, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

    NYE rivalry heats up

    New Year’s Eve marks the return of a World Juniors tradition as Canada and the United States face off on Dec. 31 for the first time since 2016.

    “We don’t like those guys over there,” Canada captain Brayden Yager told TSN’s Mark Masters. “Growing up watching, it’s always U.S.-Canada. We want to make our country proud.”

    “We don’t like them, they don’t like us. Obviously, a lot of animosity,” said Canadian defenseman Caden Price. “It’s going to be a good battle.”

    Both teams have stumbled in the preliminary round. Canada was upset 3-2 by Latvia in a shootout while the U.S. suffered a surprising 4-2 loss to Finland. Both teams enter the matchup with 2-0-0-1 records and seven points in the battle for the top spot in Group A.

    “It’s a lot of pressure,” USA defenseman Cole Hutson said. “You win that game you get to rub it in a little bit.”

    “It’s going to be cool, especially being in Canada, the world is against us,” USA captain Ryan Leonard said.

    Canada has defeated the United States eight times on NYE but the U.S. beat Canada 3-1 in 2016.

    What’s at stake?

    The quarterfinal seeding is yet to be determined as well as the team that will join Germany in the relegation game. The quarterfinal matchups are crossover style. The winner of Group A will play the fourth seed of Group B, the winner of Group B will play the fourth seed of Group A and so forth.

    Group A Points Group B Points

    United States

    7

    Czechia

    9

    Canada

    7

    Sweden

    9

    Finland

    5

    Slovakia

    5

    Latvia

    4

    Kazakhstan

    1

    Germany

    1

    Switzerland

    0

    Let’s begin with Canada versus the United States. The winner of that game will be Group A’s top seed. The loser of that game, depending on the nature of the loss and the result of Finland versus Latvia, could finish either second or third in the group. Canada will finish no lower than second if their game against the United States goes to overtime or shootout or if Finland and Latvia go to overtime or shootout. The United States will finish second if they lose against Canada and Latvia defeats Finland. But they’d finish third if they lost against Canada and Finland won in regulation.

    Speaking of Finland and Latvia, there are stakes for them as well. Both teams are through to the knockout round. If Finland wins, they’ll finish no lower than third in the group. If the Canada-United States game ends in regulation and Finland wins in regulation, then they’d finish second. Finland would also win the second seed if they won in regulation over Latvia and the United States lost in any fashion against Canada. If Latvia wins over Finland, they’ll finish no lower than third in the group and Finland would finish fourth under any circumstance. If Latvia wins in regulation and the United States loses in regulation, Latvia will finish third behind the United States. If Latvia wins in regulation and Canada loses in regulation, Latvia would claim the second seed in Group A and leapfrog Canada through the head-to-head tie-breaker.

    Let’s go through Group B now. There’s another big matchup featuring Sweden and Czechia. The winner will earn the top seed in Group B and the loser will finish as the second seed. Slovakia is locked in as the group’s third seed. That leaves Switzerland and Kazakhstan. The winner of that game advances as Group B’s fourth seed. The loser will meet Germany in the relegation game on Jan. 2. The winner of that game will play in the 2026 World Juniors while the loser drops down to the IIHF World Junior Championship Division I next year.

    Required reading

    • Meet Maple Leafs prospect Miroslav Holinka, the quiet player with a loud game for Czechia at World Juniors
    • How new Detroit Red Wings prospect Jesse Kiiskinen has broken out with Team Finland, HPK

    (Photo: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)



    The final preliminary round games of the World Juniors tournament are set to take place today, and there is plenty at stake for the teams competing. With the top teams in each group advancing to the knockout stage, these games will determine who moves on and who goes home.

    In Group A, Canada and Finland are battling it out for the top spot, with both teams looking to secure a favorable matchup in the quarterfinals. Canada has looked dominant so far in the tournament, but Finland is a strong contender and will be looking to pull off an upset. The result of their game will have a big impact on the playoff picture.

    In Group B, Russia and Sweden are the frontrunners, but the Czech Republic is not far behind. Russia and Sweden will face off in a highly anticipated matchup that will likely determine the group winner. The Czech Republic, meanwhile, will be looking to secure a win and potentially move into second place.

    Overall, these final preliminary round games will be crucial for the teams involved as they look to position themselves for a deep run in the tournament. With only the top teams advancing to the knockout stage, every game is a must-win, and the intensity is sure to be high. Stay tuned for all the action as the World Juniors tournament heats up.

    Tags:

    World Juniors, World Juniors Today, Preliminary Round, Final Games, Hockey, Tournament, International Competition, Team Standings, Playoff Picture, Key Matchups, Player Performances, Upsets, Exciting Finishes, Must-Watch Games, Championship Potential

    #World #Juniors #Today #Whats #stake #final #preliminary #games

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