WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY

Hockey

Written by Chase Howard

Congratulations to Canada for eking out a hard-fought overtime win, over an incredible Finnish team for the gold. Before this Sweden was able to hold off a furious Czech push to win their second bronze in the last three years. Let's break it down.

Source (Background Photo & Logos): HHOF-IIHF Images

Consolation Game Sweden (3) vs. Czechia (1)

Jesper Wallestedt (Minnesota, 20th, 2021) stood tall again making 27 saves to help Sweden win the consolation game. Wallstedt has only allowed eight goals in five games this tournament. He made 11 saves in the first period, nine in the second and seven in the third, allowing only one goal, which was off a deflection. Fabian Lysell (Boston, 21st, 2021), Isak Rosen (Buffalo, 14th, 2021) and Linus Sjodin (Buffalo, 211th, 2022) scored for Sweden, which finished in the top three for the 20th time overall, their first time since they finished third in 2020. Michal Gut scored and Tomas Suchanek (2023 draft eligible) made 20 saves for Czechia.

Lysell gave Sweden a 1-0 lead 14:22 into the first period. Gut tied it 1-1 at 13:30 of the second period when a shot deflected in off his left leg in the slot on the power play. Rosen scored 1:49 later on a wrist shot from the top of the right face-off circle to give Sweden a 2-1 lead at 15:19. Sjodin sealed it 3-1 at 16:34 of the third period on a shot from the right face-off circle that beat Suchanek on the far side. Czechia had two power play opportunities in the third period when it was still a one-goal game, but Wallstedt closed the door, turning away at least two shot attempts. Czechia finished 1-for-3 on the power play. "I think he's been the best goalie in the tournament," Sweden coach Tomas Monten said regarding Wallstedt. "He has tremendous experience but he's a tremendous person and a leader, and if you could put a 'C' on the goalie, he'd have it for sure. Minnesota may just have a future Vezina candidate on its hands.

Championship Game Canada (3) vs. Finland (2)

Another big game for forward Kent Johnson (Columbus, 5th, 2021) as he knocked in his own rebound at 3:20 of overtime to help Canada to its 19th tournament championship and first since 2020. The goal came just a minute after Canada forward Mason McTavish (Anaheim, 3rd, 2021) blocked a shot that seemed to be sneaked past the Canada goal line to keep the game tied. Joshua Roy (Montreal, 150th, 2021) and William Dufour (New York Islanders, 152nd, 2020) each scored, and McTavish had two assists for Canada, which had its 34th top-three finish. Dylan Garand (New York Rangers, 103rd, 2020) made 29 saves for Canada, while McTavish, Canada's captain, was named player of the game. Canada ended this tournament having won seven straight tournament games, by a combined 41-14. Despite Canada’s incredible level of talent, Finland was right with them the whole time. Aleksi Heimosalmi (Carolina, 44th, 2021 stuff) and Joakim Kemell (Nashville, 17th, 2022) each scored, and Juha Jatkola (2023 NHL Draft eligible) made 29 saves for Finland, which had its 17th top-three finish. Canada, which was 0-for-7 with 12 shots on the power play, won 6-3 when the teams played in the final game of the preliminary round on Aug. 15.

Roy gave Canada a 1-0 lead at 11:18 of the first period, scoring on a backhand from the slot after McTavish took a shot that dinged the right post. Dufour scored on a snap shot from the top of the right circle for a 2-0 lead a mere 48 seconds into the second period. Defenseman Olen Zellweger (Anaheim, 34th, 2021) had the primary assist, finishing with a tournament-high nine assists. Heimosalmi then pulled Finland within 2-1 on a wrist shot from the top of the right circle at 4:09 of the third period. Kemell tied the game 2-2 after controlling a seam pass from Topi Niemela (Toronto, 64th, 2020) and scoring on a shot from low in the left circle at 10:46. Overall Canada is 26-9 with six ties against Finland at the WJC. Surprisingly the teams played against each other in the WJC final for the first time, given how good the matchup was, I’d bet it will not be the last.