EP Rinkside's 3 Stars from the quarterfinals at the 2024 World Juniors

GOTHENBURG, Sweden – In reality, Jakub Štancl's 3-2 game-winning goal that propelled Czechia to the semifinals and a date with Sweden this Thursday at the Scandinavium was scored with 11.2 left in the third period.

Spiritually, it was an overtime goal. Štancl's linemates all knew the weight of the moment. As soon as that puck finished ricocheting off of Oliver Bonk and Mathis Rousseau before eventually going post and in, everyone on the ice swarmed him accordingly. The bench erupted. The predominantly Canadian crowd went silent. Štancl had called game.

“I just wanted to get it to the net when I got the puck between the circles, and a lucky bounce and we’re here,” a bewildered Štancl said after the game. “It was amazing. I don’t know… I just don’t know what I felt at that moment. I just can’t