2025 World Juniors Notebook: Semifinals set up USA-Finland rematch in gold medal game
OTTAWA, Ont. – It was semi-finals Saturday here in Ottawa as the final four teams took their best shot at securing a spot in the gold medal game.
Sweden and Finland kicked things off, with the bitter rivals meeting for the first time since a 5-4 shootout Finnish victory during round-robin play last year. The evening concluded with the Americans and Czechs delivering a smash-mouth style of hockey that this event has been sorely lacking.
Off the ice, Canadian executives met with the media to provide an explanation for yet another disappointing finish.
Changes Coming From Hockey Canada?
Canada failing to make it to the semifinals in back-to-back years is almost unfathomable. It hasn't happened in the modern iteration of this tournament. The last time it did occur was a three-year period between 1979 and 1981. It was that final 7th place finish that forced Hockey Canada to have a summit and create The Program of Excellence. That summit propelled them to 19 gold medals and 32 podium finishes in the next 41 years.
Is it time for another summit? Are their regrets? According to Canadian General Manager, Peter Anholt and head coach, Dave Cameron, no.
“There are four or five teams that could win this tournament, and the other teams try to...we're not the only team that tries," said Anholt. ”I wouldn't make any changes on the lineups that we had and the personnel that we had."
Hockey Canada Sr. VP of Hockey Operations, Scott Salmond sounded far more open to change. "We will look to get better. We will make changes. And we will be better." Salmond told media on Saturday.
Anholt has completed his two-year contract and it appears that deal will not be renewed. Head Scout, Al Murray has one year remaining on his deal and one can expect they'll return the two-time Stanley Cup Champion executive.
Finland to Play For Gold
After finishing fourth last year and fifth in 2023, Finland has assured themselves a medal in 2025.
A scoreless opening frame bled into five-goal second period which saw the Finns scoring with 23 seconds remaining in the stanza to take a 3-2 lead into the final 20 minutes. Wilhelm Hallquisth squeaked a long-range wrister past Mr. Showtime, Petteri Rimpinen with under nine minutes to play to even things up.
It appeared that overtime would solve nothing as each team had their chances and had a man-advantage. With 38 seconds remaining in the extra frame, Benjamin Rautiainen played the hero and slipped a goal-line toss at the net that found a hole.
Finland will play for gold while the Swedes head to the bronze medal game.
Despite the loss, 2025-eligible, Victor Eklund stood out once again. The 5-foot-10 winger heads into the final day of the event with six points in six games – trailing only James Hagens among draft-eligible skaters. The scouts are noticing too.
USA USA USA!
Goodness gracious, Ryan Leonard started this one off with just a ridiculous one-handed saucer pass to spring Boston College teammate, Gabe Perreault all along who slipped it through the five-hole on the backhand.
Those two have been getting better and better as the tournament has wore on.
Jakub Stancl tied it for Czechia on a goal Trey Augustine will surely want back. But Cole Eiserman wired a one-timer home off of a tremendous feed from Trevor Connelly to regain the lead with one period left to play.
Those Boston College boys linked up again with under five minutes to play. This time it was Perreault with the feed and Leonard with the tap-in.
Czechia was unable to mount much of a pushback as the Americans held on for the 4-1 victory. They now have a chance to do something they have never done before: Win back-to-back World Junior championships.
