Czechia boots Canada out of the World Juniors for second year in a row

Czechia has denied Canada a chance of a medal for the second year in a row at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

It was make or break for Team Canada and it couldn’t come through, losing to Czechia 4-3.

The first period was an entertaining one with Czechia scoring first 43 seconds into the game.

Team Canada continued its streak of penalties, getting three in the first period, one being a five-minute kneeing major from Cole Beaudoin who also recieved a 20-minute game misconduct.

However, Prince Albert native Tanner Howe, with an assist from Saskatoon’s Brayden Yager, was able to connect with the back of the net shorthanded.

That excitment was short-lived as Czechia scored a power play goal.

The first period ended with another goal from Czechia with only three seconds remaining, making the score 3-1.

The second period was fairly quiet until the last two minutes.

Canada was able to take advantage of a late power play and brought Czechia’s lead down to one with a goal from Porter Martone and another assist from Yager.

Things got tricky for Team Canada in the third period where the puck did end up in Czechia’s net but the ruling on the ice was called no goal due to goalie interferiance.

The Red and White were able to tie up the score 3-3 in the final period, errupting the Ottawa crowd.

That erruption was quickly silenced after Canada got yet another penalty, resulting in another goal for Czechia with 40 seconds left in the third.

That goal sealed the deal for the home team, ending their run at the World Juniors.

Read more:

• Canada takes down Germany at World Juniors
• Canada wins Boxing Day Game 1 of IIHF World Juniors against Finland 4-0
• World Juniors whammy: Canada upset by Latvia in shootout

When Canada faced Czechia in the 2024 World Juniors, it denied Canada a medal in a 3-2 victory in the quarterfinal.

It was the first time ever that Czechia beat Canada in a medal-round game at the world junior tournament. It’s only the third time since 1999 that Canada didn’t play for a medal at the event.