The preliminary round is over, and the pressure now rises sharply for Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. After navigating group play and finishing atop Group A, Canada turns its attention to the knockout stage, where there is no margin for error. Standing in the way Friday night is a familiar opponent in Slovakia, a team that may enter as an underdog but has proven in recent years it can push hockey’s heavyweights to the limit.
WATCH: Canada vs Slovakia Quarterfinal at 2026 WJC
Canada’s road to the quarter-finals was not flawless, but it was effective. The hosts collected wins in all four preliminary-round games, earning 11 of a possible 12 points and outscoring opponents 25–11. The lone stumble came on December 27, when Canada needed overtime to edge Latvia, a reminder that even favored teams can be tested at this tournament. Still, the Canadians responded well, closing out group play with arguably their strongest performance — a 7–4 win over Finland on New Year’s Eve.
That victory showcased the offensive depth Dale Hunter’s team possesses. Brady Martin and Cole Beaudoin each scored twice against Finland, while Canada’s attack rolled through all four lines. More importantly, the performance looked closer to the identity Canada wants to carry into the elimination rounds: fast, physical, and relentless on the forecheck.
Canada vs Slovakia LIVE
- Date: Friday, Jan. 2
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: TSN/NHL network
- Live Stream: Watch on MyHockeyPass (Anywhere)
The puck will drop on the quarterfinal game between Canada and Slovakia at 7:30 p.m. ET from 3M Arena on Friday.
Individually, Canada has no shortage of talent. Gavin McKenna, Zayne Parekh, and Michael Hage all sit tied for the tournament lead in scoring with eight points, matching Slovakia forward Tomas Chrenko. But inside the Canadian room, the focus has been firmly placed on collective success rather than individual numbers.
WATCH: Canada vs Slovakia Quarterfinal at 2026 WJC
“A big thing we’ve talked about in meetings is that at the end of the tournament there’s not going to be a photo of one person up on the wall,” captain Porter Martone said in comments carried by TSN. “It’s a team photo when you win a gold medal. At the end of the day, points don’t matter with this group.”
That mindset is shaped in part by recent history. Canada has been eliminated in the quarter-finals in each of the past two World Junior tournaments, both times at the hands of Czechia. Last year’s early exit on home ice in Ottawa still lingers, and this group has spoken openly about using those disappointments as fuel. Friday’s matchup represents the first step toward redemption.
One area to watch closely is in goal. Canada appears set to make a change between the pipes, with Jack Ivankovic the first netminder off the ice at Friday morning’s skate. Carter George has started three of four games so far, but his .844 save percentage and 10 goals against leave room for debate. Ivankovic, meanwhile, impressed in his lone appearance, stopping 26 of 27 shots in an overtime win over Latvia. The decision could be a key storyline if the game tightens late.
Slovakia enters the quarter-final after finishing fourth in Pool A, but its results suggest a team capable of making life uncomfortable for Canada. The Slovaks picked up one win — against Germany — yet all three of their losses came by a single goal, including narrow defeats against group winner Sweden and a highly talented U.S. squad. That ability to stay competitive against elite opponents is what makes Slovakia dangerous.
This will be the third time Canada and Slovakia have met in a World Junior quarter-final. Their most recent encounter came in 2023, when the Slovaks pushed Canada to the brink before Connor Bedard produced a memorable overtime goal to secure a 4–3 Canadian win en route to gold. The teams also met in the quarters in 1997 and 2020, both comfortable Canada victories. Overall, Canada holds a dominant all-time record of 16 wins and one tie in 17 World Junior meetings against Slovakia — but history offers no guarantees in a single-elimination game.
How to watch Canada vs. Slovakia today
Canada will face Slovakia in the quarter-final round of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship on Friday, January 2. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT).
In Canada, the game will be broadcast live across the TSN Network, with streaming available on TSN.ca and the TSN App. Pre-game coverage begins 30 minutes before puck drop.
WATCH: Canada vs Slovakia Quarterfinal at 2026 WJC
In the United States, the matchup will air on the NHL Network. Fans can also stream the game through services such as DIRECTV and FuboTV, both of which offer free trials for new users, while Sling TV provides promotional streaming options.
For Team Canada, the real test begins now. Slovakia may not carry the same name recognition, but in a quarter-final setting, focus and execution — not reputation — will decide who moves one step closer to World Junior gold.
