Minneapolis, Minn.- A five-goal period lifted Canada to the semifinal round of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship with a 7-1 demolition of Slovakia.
Players developed in the WHL combined for seven points in the win, including Kelowna Rockets alternate captain Tij Iginla’s (Lake Country, B.C.) game-winning goal.
Canada entered the match with some old dragons to slay after two straight exits in the quarterfinals at the tournament- and with backup netminder Jack Ivankovic getting the starter’s nod, fans were certainly holding their breath as the game got underway.
But they’d have to wait until the late goings of the first period to exhale.
Former Victoria Royals defenceman and 2025 WHL Rookie of the Year finalist Keaton Verhoeff (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) hit a hard shot from the high slot and his old Victoria teammate, Calgary Flames prospect Cole Reschny (Macklin, Sask.), was parked on the doorstep to swat home the rebound.
Seconds late, Tij Iginla tilted the ice by bursting down the wing, stepping off the boards, and rifling a stunning shot into the high corner.
Not only is the Utah Mammoth prospect averaging above a point per game at the tournament, but he’s also up to three goals and three assists for six points in five games.
90 seconds later, San Jose Sharks centreman and 2024 Memorial Cup champion Michael Misa continued the pile-on with another goal to chase the Slovak netminder.
But the floodgates stayed open with London Knights forward Sam O’Reilly chipping in his second goal in as many games to make it a 4-0 game.
Finally, on a late powerplay, 2025 WHL Champion and former Medicine Hat Tiger Gavin McKenna dished an assist on a Brady Martin goal, marking five goals in under six minutes and sending Canada to the dressing room with a 5-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The quintet of goals sealed Slovakia’s fate, as Porter Martone and Cole Beaudoin added two more tallies and Jan Chovan ended Canada’s shutout bid with a second-period snipe.
Former Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Adam Belusko was named Slovakia’s Player of the Game in the loss, while Misa earned the honour for Canada.
With the win, Canada will move on to face Czechia- the team that eliminated the Canadians with a heartbreaking last-minute goal in 2025- in the semifinals at 6:00 p.m. MST on Sunday, January 4.
NOTES
In one of the most stunning moments of the tournament, Everett Silvertips forwards Julius Miettinen (Seattle Kraken / Helsinki, Fin.) and Matias Vanhanen (Nokia, Fin.) picked up the primary and secondary assists on Arttu Valila’s overtime winner to eliminate the defending champion United States on home ice. Finland will take on Sweden in their semifinal showdown.
Red Deer Rebels forward Samuel Drancak (Strakonice, Cze.) scored his first World Juniors goal to kickstart a Czech comeback, and, ultimately, a 6-2 win over Switzerland to advance to the medal round. Incoming Kelowna Rocket Vojtech Cihar added two assists and his new teammate, New York Islanders prospect Tomas Poletin, chipped in another helper in the victory.
https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/2007224093104353774
Saskatoon Blades teammates Dustin Willhoft and David Lewandowski combined for two goals and five assists as Germany bounced Denmark 8-4 to avoid relegation. With a goal and four assists in five games, Willhoft was named one of Germany’s top three players of the tournament, while Edmonton Oilers prospect Lewandowski finished with a goal and two assists.
