The Canadian world junior hockey team delivered a commanding and drama-free performance on Friday, dismantling Slovakia 7-1 in their quarterfinal matchup at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Minneapolis. The victory sets up a highly anticipated semifinal clash against Czechia, the nation that has eliminated Canada in the quarterfinals the past two years.
First Period Onslaught Seals the Deal
Unlike the tense overtime thriller between these two nations in 2023, this game was decided early. After a relatively even opening 14 minutes, Canada exploded for five goals in a span of just six minutes to end the first period. The scoring barrage began when Cole Reschny pounced on a rebound from a Keaton Verhoeff shot. Less than a minute later, Tij Iginla made it 2-0 with a sharp snipe over the Slovak goalie's glove.
The floodgates were fully open. Michael Misa drove to the net to score, and a goaltender change for Slovakia did nothing to stop the momentum. Sam O'Reilly capitalized on another rebound to make it 4-0. The period was capped by a picture-perfect power-play goal, a tic-tac-toe play finished by Brady Martin, sending Canada to the intermission with a commanding 5-0 lead and a 16-6 edge in shots.
Parekh Leads Tournament Scoring
Defenceman Zayne Parekh solidified his status as the tournament's top offensive threat, recording two assists in the victory. His second helper of the night gave him sole possession of the tournament scoring lead. His low point shot in the second period created a rebound that Justin Beaudoin buried for Canada's seventh goal.
Porter Martone also found the back of the net in the middle frame, snapping a shot home after a slick feed from Verhoeff. In total, 14 different Canadian skaters recorded at least a point in the offensive clinic, demonstrating the team's impressive depth.
Setting Up a Redemption Match Against Czechia
The decisive win advances Canada to the semifinals for the first time since Connor Bedard's legendary 2023 tournament. Their next opponent carries significant weight: Czechia. The Czech team has been Canada's playoff nemesis, knocking them out in the quarterfinals in both 2024 and 2025. This semifinal matchup, scheduled for January 4, 2026, presents a prime opportunity for redemption.
On the other side of the bracket, Sweden will face Finland, who eliminated the host United States in a 4-3 overtime thriller.
Canadian goaltender Jack Ivankovic had a relatively quiet night but was solid when called upon, stopping 19 of 20 Slovak shots. The lone blemish was a long-range shot from Jan Chovan in the second period. Canada finished the game with a dominant 42-22 advantage in shots and improved its all-time record against Slovakia in this tournament to 17-0-1.
With the quarterfinal blowout behind them, the Canadian squad now shifts its full focus to overcoming the Czech hurdle and earning a spot in the gold medal game.
