Team Canada arrives in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinals riding a wave of confidence after delivering one of its most complete performances of the tournament. The Canadians secured their place in the final four with a convincing 7–1 victory over Slovakia in Friday’s quarterfinal, a game that was effectively decided before the first intermission.
Where to watch Czechia vs Canada at World Juniors Playoffs
Fans won’t have to miss a moment of the action as Canada and Czechia clash in the semifinals
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TV channel: TSN
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Live stream: TSN App
Czechia’s Road to the Semifinals
Czechia earned its semifinal berth for the fifth consecutive year with a strong 6–2 win over Switzerland in the quarterfinals. The Czechs showed resilience after falling behind twice, responding each time with sustained pressure and opportunistic finishing. Petr Sikora and Jiri Klima were instrumental in the comeback effort, each posting a goal and two assists to tilt the game in Czechia’s favor.
After a tight opening frame, Czechia took full control, outshooting Switzerland 33–11 over the final 40 minutes and 43–20 overall. Goaltender Michal Orsulak had a relatively quiet night, turning aside 18 shots as his teammates dominated possession and tempo for long stretches.
Last Time They Met
Canada and Czechia opened their World Juniors campaigns against each other on Boxing Day in a game that quickly became one of the most entertaining of the tournament. Canada emerged with a 7–5 victory in a wildly unpredictable contest that featured multiple lead changes and constant momentum swings.
Defenseman Zayne Parekh led the way with two goals, while Ethan MacKenzie and Michael Hage each added a goal and two assists. Canada held leads of 1–0, 2–1, 4–3, and 5–4 but also trailed 3–2 at one point, highlighting the back-and-forth nature of the matchup. While Canada collected the points, both teams walked away knowing the gap between them was narrow.
What to Watch in the Semifinal
No team has been more productive offensively than Canada at this tournament. Through five games, the Canadians have piled up 32 goals, five more than second-place Sweden, and the scoring has come from nearly every corner of the lineup. Nineteen of Canada’s 22 skaters have recorded at least one point, and 13 different players have scored goals.
Six Canadians currently sit among the top 12 scorers at the World Juniors, underscoring just how balanced the attack has been. Parekh (4 goals, 6 assists) is once again in position to make history, potentially becoming the second defenseman in consecutive years to lead the tournament in scoring — something that had never happened in the first 48 editions of the event.
Clutch scoring has also defined Canada’s run. Each of its five wins has featured a different game-winning goal scorer — MacKenzie, Hage, Braeden Cootes, Beaudoin, and Tij Iginla — making it difficult for opponents to focus on shutting down any single threat.
Players to Watch: Jack Ivankovic (Canada), Cole Beaudoin (Canada), Tomas Galvas (Czechia), Radim Mrtka (Czechia)
