Sat Dec 27 23:30:00 UTC 2025: Headline: World Junior Championship Kicks Off with U.S., Canada, Sweden, and Finland Securing Victories

Minneapolis, MN – The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship commenced Friday in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, with several compelling matchups.

United States 6, Germany 3: The United States, aiming for a third consecutive championship, started strong with a 6-3 victory over Germany. Will Zellers (Boston Bruins) led the charge with two goals and an assist. Despite a strong German effort that saw them close the gap, the U.S. tightened up in the third period to secure the win.

Canada 7, Czechia 5: In a high-scoring affair, Canada edged out Czechia 7-5. Zayne Parekh was the star, netting two goals to help Canada withstand a resilient Czech team that had previously defeated them in the 2024 and 2025 quarterfinals.

Sweden 3, Slovakia 2: Sweden opened their tournament with a narrow 3-2 win over Slovakia. Anton Frondell (Chicago Blackhawks) and Ivar Stenberg (2026 draft eligible) each contributed a goal and an assist, while Love Harenstram (St. Louis Blues) made 23 saves.

Finland 6, Denmark 2: Finland dominated Denmark in their opening game, securing a 6-2 victory. Roope Vesterinen (2026 draft eligible) scored twice, and Jasper Kuhta (2026 draft eligible) dished out three assists.

The tournament continues Saturday with several exciting matchups, including Germany vs. Slovakia, United States vs. Switzerland, Canada vs. Latvia, and Czechia vs. Denmark.

Read More