BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Tomas Poletin delivered the decisive moment with 1:14 remaining, redirecting the puck off his skate for the go-ahead goal as Czechia defeated Canada 6–4 on Sunday night to book a place in the gold-medal game of the world junior hockey championship. The victory sends the Czechs into a final against Sweden and ensures the tournament’s first all-European title matchup since 2016.
Earlier in the evening, Sweden edged Finland 4–3 in a dramatic semifinal that stretched through 10 minutes of 3-on-3 overtime and into a shootout. Anton Frondell ended it in the eighth round, sliding a wrist shot through the pads to clinch Sweden’s place in Monday night’s final.
The last time the championship featured two European teams in the final, Finland defeated Russia 4–3 in overtime in Helsinki in 2016. Czechia and Sweden now chase their third titles. The Czechs won back-to-back championships in 2000 and 2001, while Sweden’s previous triumphs came in 1981 and 2012.
Poletin’s winner came moments after Porter Martone had drawn Canada level, appearing to swing momentum back toward the tournament’s most decorated nation. Instead, Czechia responded immediately, restoring its lead and then sealing the outcome to eliminate Canada for the third straight year. The Czechs had knocked out the Canadians in the quarterfinals in each of the previous two tournaments.
“Obviously we wanted this win,” said Vaclav Nestrasil, a first-round pick of Chicago who now plays at the University of Massachusetts. “You hear what’s being said. We wanted to show who we are, and I think we were the better team.”
Czechia’s attack was balanced and relentless. Vojtech Cihar scored twice, while Maxmilian Curran, Adam Titlbach and Adam Benak also found the net. Goaltender Michal Orsulak turned aside 20 shots, steady in key moments as Canada pushed late.
“We were a little more hungry,” Czechia coach Patrik Augusta said. “The guys showed they are a team. They showed character and will, and that made the difference.”
Canada, a 20-time champion, received goals from Tij Iginla, Zayne Parekh, Cole Reschny and Martone, and goaltender Jack Ivankovic finished with 31 saves. But costly missed chances loomed large, none more so than a penalty shot late in the second period.
With 1:56 remaining before the intermission, Michael Hage was awarded a penalty shot after being tripped by Orsulak on his initial attempt. Given a second chance, the University of Michigan forward tried the same move but lost control of the puck as he attempted to shift it to his right. Earlier in the game, Hage had already struck the post three times.
“I had an empty net and he tripped me,” Hage said. “I thought he committed so hard that I could try the same thing again.”
The defeat was another bitter moment for Canada’s returning core. Gavin McKenna, one of six players back from last year’s squad, summed up the mood. “It’s the same feeling,” he said. “Letting your country down is hard.”
In the night’s earlier semifinal, Sweden avenged a 4–3 overtime loss to Finland from last year’s tournament in Ottawa. The rematch was every bit as tense, with the teams trading goals and momentum before the Swedes finally prevailed.
Linus Eriksson, Ivar Stenberg and Eddie Genborg scored in regulation for Sweden, while Atte Joki, Jasper Kuhta and Joona Saarelainen answered for Finland. Saarelainen’s goal from close range with 5:59 left in the third period forced overtime, extending a contest already marked by pace and physicality.
Sweden survived a critical penalty during the 3-on-3 overtime when Viggo Bjork was called for slashing with just over two minutes remaining. Despite several breakaways, including three chances for Bjork earlier in the extra period, neither team could find the winner.
The shootout stretched deep, with Frondell—drafted third overall by Chicago last summer—finally breaking through after earlier attempts had failed, one striking both posts. His final shot slipped through goaltender Petteri Rimpinen to end the marathon.
“I blacked out,” Frondell said afterward. “It was an amazing feeling. These are the games you love to play—tight, long, overtime, everything on the line.”
Love Harenstam made 33 saves for Sweden, while Rimpinen stopped 29 for Finland in defeat.
Finland and Canada will now meet in the third-place game, with both teams aiming to regroup quickly after emotionally draining losses.
“It’s very tough,” McKenna said, “but we’re doing it for Canada. We have to reset and be ready.”
The semifinals capped a tournament that has already delivered several surprises, including Finland’s overtime win over the two-time defending champion United States in Friday’s quarterfinals. Now, with an all-European final set, Czechia and Sweden will skate for gold, each seeking to add a new chapter to its world junior history.
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