Zac Electrifly

In Group A was Canada, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Latvia. In Group B was Czechia, the United States, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Norway. Sweden won Group A upsetting Canada who was favored to win the group. The United States won Group B. Canada and the United States were the only two teams to score ten or more goals in a single game during the group stage. The United States were the only team to do it twice. There was a lot of one sided games in the tournament but there was a also a lot of close games. The biggest game of the group stage was Swedens 2-0 win over Canada. Not only did Canada lose a group stage game but they were shut out. I at the time could not recall the last time Canada lost a ice hockey game in the group stage or were shutout. The United States were the only team to remain undefeated after the group stage. Norway were the only team to not win a game in the group stage. Sweden, Canada, Finland, and Latvia advanced to the quarterfinals from Group A. The United States, Slovakia, Czechia, and Switzerland advanced to the quarterfinals from Group B.

In the first quarterfinal game, Slovakia beat Finland 3-4 in overtime. In the second quarterfinal game Czechia beat Canada 2-3. That game was a major upset. Canada is favored to win almost every hockey tournament they enter. This was the first time since 2019 that Canada did not finish with a gold or silver medal. From 2020 to 2023 they won three gold medals and one silver medal. This is only the thirteenth time Canada did not finish with a medal at the IIHF World Juniors.

In the third quarterfinal game the United States beat Latvia 7-2. That was the highest scoring game and largest win in the quarterfinals. In the last quarterfinal game Sweden beat Switzerland 3-2 in overtime. In the first semifinal Sweden beat Czechia 5-2. In the second semifinal the United States beat Finland 3-2. Both of the semifinal games were close. Sweden and Czechia were tied going into the third period. Sweden scored three unanswered goals to win. Finland had a two goal lead over the United States going into the second period. The United States tied the game in the second period. The United states was able to take the lead to win midway through the third period. The United States would face Sweden in the gold medal game. Czechia would face Finland in the bronze medal game.

In the bronze medal game Finland took a 2-1 lead after the first period. Finland had a 5-3 lead going into the third period. Czechia scored five unanswered goals in the third period to win the bronze medal. This was Czechia’s fifth ever medal at the IIHF World Juniors. This was their second time winning Bronze.

In the gold medal game The United States had a 1-0 lead after the first period. Sweden tied the game early int the second period. The United States retook the lead and took a two goal lead in the second period. Sweden scored late in the period. The score was 3-2 United States going into the third period. The United states scored three unanswered goals in the third period. The final score was 6-2 United States. The bronze medal game and the gold medal games both ended with a lot of penalties and extra circular activity. There was not any actual fights. Fighting is banned by the IIHF. This did not stop some players from throwing punches with their gloves on. The Bronze medal game had a scrum as the final buzzer sounded. Towards the end of the gold medal game some of the Swedish and United States players were grabbing each other and throwing punches.

Sweden took home the silver medal. Infamously when Sweden won the silver medal in 2018 their captain threw his medal into the crowd. This was Swedens twenty second time getting a medal at the IIHF World Juniors. This was the twelfth time they won silver. The United States won the gold medal. The United States has won fifteen IIHF World Juniors medals. This was their sixth gold medal. The last time the United States won the gold medal was in 2021.

In the IIHF World Juniors there are multiple tournaments. Each one is a different division. Like how the NHL, AHL, and ECHL are all different leagues and divisions. In the IIHF junior teams get promoted or relegated to different divisions. Germany and Norway finished last in their groups during the group stage. They did not advance to the quarterfinals. They instead played in a single game called the relegation game. The loser of this game goes down a division. The winner stays in the top division.

Going into this game Germany had just been promoted back in 2019. Since then the highest they have finished in 6th. Germany had to play in the relegation game in 2020 and barely avoided playing in it again in 2023. Norway was relegated from the top division in 1991 after three seasons in the top level. Norway was out of the top division until they were promoted in 2023. Being back in the top division after over thirty years was a big deal for Norway. Germany opened the scoring about half way through the first period. Norway tied the game a few minutes later. The game was tied at 1-1 after the first period. Germany scored early in the second period to take the lead. Norway scored late in the period to tie the game. The score was 2-2 going into the third period. Germany retook the lead midway through the third period. Under a minute after taking the lead Germany scored to make it a two goal lead. With under ten minutes to go Norway scored to bring their deficit back down to one goal. With four minutes to go Norway tied the game. The game went into overtime tied at 4-4. Germany scored fifty eight seconds into overtime to win the game.

Germany will stay in the top division. Norway will be sent down a division. Kazakhstan won the Division One Group A tournament. They will be promoted to the top division for the first time since 2020.