In a thrilling turn of events at the IIHF world junior championship, the United States surged into the semifinals with an impressive 7-2 victory over Latvia. Gabe Perreault, the 2023 first-round pick of the New York Rangers, led the charge by scoring two goals and adding an assist. Perreault’s line, featuring 18-year-olds Will Smith (San Jose’s No. 4 pick) and Ryan Leonard (Washington’s No. 8 pick), combined for three points.
The U.S. will now square off against Finland in the semifinals, with a golden ticket to the championship game on the line.
Meanwhile, the tournament favorite Canada faced an astonishing defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic. The Canadian team, which had clinched victory in the previous two world junior tournaments and three out of the last four, suffered a heart-wrenching 3-2 quarterfinal loss. The game-winning goal was scored by Jakub Stancl, a prospect for the St. Louis Blues, with only 11.7 seconds remaining on the game clock.
Canada dominated the game for most of the final 40 minutes, but Stancl’s shot deflected off Canada defenseman Oliver Bonk, son of former NHL forward Radek Bonk, and beat the Canadian goaltender Mathis Rousseau.
Adding to the shock, the only player remaining from the 2023 championship-winning Canadian team, Owen Beck, expressed his bewilderment at the loss, saying they were unsure of how they let victory slip away, especially after erasing a two-goal deficit.
The unexpected result left the Canadian captain, Fraser Minten, and his teammates in a state of disbelief. Minten expressed his feelings, saying that it felt like the world was ending a bit. He also mentioned the incredible opportunity this event represented in their careers, emphasizing the uncertainty of getting another chance to represent their country or play on such a global stage.
Canada’s loss opens the door for other nations to claim the championship title, marking the end of a dominant era in world junior hockey.
The semifinal matchups are now set, with host Sweden securing a 3-2 overtime victory against Switzerland and setting up a clash with the Czech Republic. On the other side, Finland edged out Slovakia 4-3 in overtime, earning themselves a showdown with the United States in the semifinals.
As the tournament reaches its climactic stages, fans around the world are eager to see who will emerge as the new world junior champion. The unexpected exit of Canada has only added to the excitement, making the upcoming matchups all the more compelling as teams vie for the coveted title and a place in the tournament’s storied history.
