Canada buzzed. The ice was tilted. A dramatic comeback victory seemed inevitable.
A team that had previously been unable to click offensively finally appeared to have some cohesion.
Then the group’s other problem, its penalty shootout trouble, surfaced for the final time at the World Junior Hockey Championships.
And Hockey Canada is now left to pick up the pieces following another disastrous result.
Adam Jecho sealed the win on a power play with 39.4 seconds left in regulation following a 4-3 loss to the Czech Republic in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
“It’s really bad,” Canadian forward Calum Ritchie said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “It didn’t end the way we all wanted.”
Canada also lost its temper with the Czech Republic in the dying minutes on the same stage at the U-20 tournament held in Gothenburg, Sweden, 12 months ago. Now Vietnam has failed to medal in back-to-back world junior competitions for the first time since introducing the excellence program in the early 1980s.
“They were a special group,” 17-year-old forward Gavin McKenna said through tears. “I had nothing to show.”
Petr Sikora, Jakub Stankl and Eduard Saleh scored the Czech Republic’s other goals. Michael Hrabal made 29 saves.
“We just wanted it more.” Jecho said. “I’m really proud of the group.”
Tanner Howe, Porter Martone and Bradly Nadeau responded for Canada. Carter George stopped 22 shots. Brayden Yager had two assists for the Canadiens, who didn’t make any progress until the third period Thursday.
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Canada entered with just 10 goals in four games and had the worst shooting percentage among Ottawa’s 10 teams. Disciplinary issues also boiled over, with 11 minor penalties against the United States and three goals against seven American power plays on New Year’s Eve. A 4-1 loss to the United States dropped Canada to third place in Group A, making quarterly matchups even more difficult.
“You can look at the stats and guess and do whatever you want,” said defenseman Oliver Bonk, one of last year’s returning players. “We just didn’t win the game we needed to.”
The Czech Republic will face the United States in the semifinals on Saturday. Sweden is scheduled to face Finland in the title match on Sunday.
Down 3-2 in the third and with the tournament on the line, the Canadians finally got an equalizer when Nadeau brought home his second of the tournament with 4:18 left in regulation time.
But defender Andrew Gibson was awarded a penalty kick with 2:27 left on the clock for taking a knee, and the Czech Republic finally broke through when Jecho scored his second goal on a one-timer to dash Canada’s hopes. I did it.
“It means everything to all of us,” Ritchie said of pulling down the red maple leaf. “Everyone played for our country with all their heart. “Dire consequences.”
Canadian forward Ethan Gauthier (20) sits on the bench with teammates Luca Pinelli (13) and Brayden Jager (11) during Game 3 of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinals in Ottawa on Thursday, January. February 2, 2025.
The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
Attention now turns to Hockey Canada, roster construction (plenty of offensive talent remained when the team was selected last month) and the future of the men’s under-20 program.
Coach Dave Cameron didn’t discuss officiating, but some of his players didn’t hesitate.
“It speaks for itself,” McKenna said. “It was terrible.”
The Czech Republic, which won the silver medal in 2023 after losing to Canada in the gold medal tournament, won the bronze medal last year, but Sikora scored the fourth goal to take a 1-0 lead 43 seconds into the first period.
Canadian forward Cole Beaudoin was suspended for a five-minute major and assessed for game misconduct midway through the period for kneeling Sikora, who was sitting still, before heading to the locker room.
But Canada, who had not conceded a goal at 5-on-5 before the early icebreaker, tied the score short-handed when the giant Hrabal blocked Yager on a breakaway, but the team captain found Howe in front for the first time at 10:17. I did it. .
Sikora was booed by the crowd as he came back in favor of the man as disaster struck for Canada. Sam Dickinson attempted a glove attempt at Stancl’s glove, where Bonk’s deflected goal was the difference in last year’s quarter, but instead slotted the forward’s fifth shot into George’s net with 12:45 to play.
The Czechs silenced the red-clad Canadian Tire Center crowd in a period when Sale scored his fifth goal with 2.1 seconds left to put the 20-time gold medalists in a deep hole.
“It came out incompetent,” defenseman Tanner Molendyk said. “It was a little slow.”
Czech forward Eduard Saleh (12) scores against Canadian goalie Carter George (30) during the first leg of the quarterfinals of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa, Thursday, January 2, 2025.
The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
Nothing happened for Canada in the second game. There were even some boos at the home stadium. Sale were given a minor penalty for kneeling and Martone allowed Molendyk’s point shot with 2:20 to play.
The Canadians continued to push for a third.
Mathieu Cataford put the puck in the goal midway through the period, but play was immediately stopped due to goalie interference. Cameron failed to make the call and was penalized for delay of game and loss of momentum.
Canada got back level after that two-minute break, but suffered another soul-crushing loss in the final minutes to the world’s juniors.
“I wish I could have done more for the fans and Canadians,” McKenna said. “It’s a shame we had to go out like this.”
A feeling so familiar.
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