Canada’s world juniors have been eliminated in the quarterfinals for the second year in a row at the hands of Czechia, losing 4-3 in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday night.
Canada surrendered three goals in the first period to go down 3-1 but battled back with two unanswered goals courtesy of Porter Martone and Bradly Nadeau. Czechia’s Adam Jecho scored the game-winner with less than a minute left in regulation to seal the win for his team.
Petr Sikora, Jakub Stancl and Eduard Sale had the other goals for the Czechs. Michael Hrabal made 29 saves.
The Canadians were eliminated in the quarters in last year’s tournament as well, losing that game 3-2 to Czechia.
Canada has now failed to play for a medal at back-to-back world juniors for the first time since the country instituted its program of excellence in the early 1980s. It’s also the first time Canada has failed to medal as the host country since 2019, when that under-18 team finished sixth in the tournament.
The Canadians entered Thursday with just 10 goals through four games and the worst shooting percentage of the 10 teams in Ottawa. Discipline issues also boiled over against the Americans when they took 11 minor penalties and allowed three goals on seven U.S. power plays.
Canada placed third in Group A behind Finland and the United States, losing two games (to Latvia in a shootout and the U.S. on New Year’s Eve in regulation). The team’s two wins came against Finland and Germany.
The Czechs will play in the semifinals on Saturday.
U.S. routs Switzerland, roar into semifinals
James Hagens and Ryan Leonard scored twice as the defending champion Americans cruised into the world junior hockey championship semifinals with a 7-2 rout of Switzerland on Thursday.
Brandon Svoboda, Danny Nelson and Zeev Buium also scored for the United States.
Finland also earned a spot in the semis with a 5-3 win over Slovakia.
Jesse Nurmi powered his team to the victory with two goals and an assist, while Jesse Kiiskinen added one of each.
Earlier, David Edstrom’s second-period power-play goal stood as the winner, and Sweden held on for a 3-2 quarterfinal victory over Latvia.
Zeb Forsfjall and Anton Wahlberg also scored for Sweden, which led 3-0 early in the second period.
Germany beat Kazakhstan 4-3 in the relegation game to secure its spot at the 2026 world juniors in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
With files from Sportsnet staff
