Canada vs. Finland live score, updates, highlights from 2025 World Juniors hockey game

By | December 26, 2024
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The most wonderful time of the year is finally here. 

Boxing Day has arrived, and hockey fans know what that means — it’s time for the World Juniors. The annual U20 IIHF competition features 10 of the best countries from around the world showcasing the future of the NHL. 

Canada enters the 2025 tournament today looking for vengeance. The nation did not perform well at the 2024 World Juniors in Sweden, losing in the quarterfinals to Czechia to finish without a chance at a medal. It marked the first time since 2019 that Canada left the World Juniors without a medal. 

STREAM: Watch Canada vs. Finland live with Fubo (free trial)

The 2025 World Juniors team is headlined by projected 2026 No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna, the cousin of former Team Canada sensation Connor Bedard. McKenna leads the WHL in scoring this season, averaging two points per game as a 17-year-old. In addition to McKenna, Dave Cameron’s team features first-round picks such as Calum Ritchie, Easton Cowan, Brayden Yager, Berkly Catton, and Sam Dickinson, as well as 2025 prospects Matthew Schaefer and Porter Martone. 

The Canadians begin this year’s competition with a matchup against Finland in Group A play. The Finns made it to the bronze medal game last year but fell to Czechia in the third-place game. This year’s crew is led by Sabres’ 2024 first-round pick Konsta Helenius and Sharks prospect Kasper Haltunnen. 

MORE: World Juniors standings, schedule, results

The Sporting News is providing the updates and highlights from the Canada vs. Finland group play game at the 2025 World Juniors.

Canada vs. Finland final score

  1 2 3 OT F
Canada 1 1 – – –
Finland 0 0 – – –

Canada vs. Finland results, highlights from 2025 World Juniors

(All times Eastern)

Second period

9:01 p.m.: Canada is going back to the power play. This time, it’s Arttu Alasiurua who is called for high-sticking after getting his twig into the face of Tanner Howe. Canada goes to its third power play with 4:02 left in the second frame. 

8:55 p.m.: Finland kills off the Tuhkala minor penalty, and it’s back to even strength. The power play has not been good for Canada, and Oliver Bonk in particular has struggled manning the point. 

8:52 p.m.: Off the opening power play possession, Heikki Ruohonen pokes the puck by Oliver Bonk and gets a shorthanded breakaway, but his chance is stopped by Georgie. That’s the best look Finland has had all game. It’s strange how Canada looks like it’s on the power play at 5 on 5, but when it is up a man, the team has looked its worst. 

8:51 p.m.: Arttu Tuhkala drills Cole Beaudoin from behind, and he is going to get two minutes for boarding. Canada heads to the power play with 9:28 left. The team is 0-for-1 on the man advantage so far, and the first power play was unimpressive. 

8:48 p.m.: Finland gets its best chance so far in the second period, with a tick-tack-toe passing play off the rush, but the shot doesn’t get on goal. It’s still 2-0 with 9:35 left in the middle frame, and the shots on goal are 24-8 in favor of Canada. 

Canada 2, Finland 0

8:42 p.m.: GOAL! Easton Cowan picks off a Finland clearing attempt and he makes the Finns pay, sniping one by the blocker of Rimpinen to give Canada 2-0 lead. That was a bad turnover by Joona Saarelainen and an excellent read by Cowan, who doubles the Canadian lead with 5:22 into the second period. Canada is picking up right where it left off in the first, skating circles around Finland in the middle frame. 

8:36 p.m.: Canada kills off the penalty, and right after, Ethan Gauthier goes down on a breakaway for Canada, but his backhand attempt is turned aside by Rimpinen. The Finnish goaltender read the deke the entire time, staying square to Gauthier and swallowing up his attempt. 

8:34 p.m.: The second period begins with Finland still on a power play for 1:52 from the Tanner Howe minor at the end of the first. 

End of the first period: Canada 1, Finland 0

8:16 p.m.: The first period ends with Canada up 1-0 thanks to Gavin McKenna’s late goal. The Canadians were all over the Finns for a majority of the period, but could not best Rimpinen until McKenna’s tally with 52 seconds left. Canada dominated the shots on goal category, besting Finland 17-6. Excluding the power play, it was an excellent opening frame for Canada at the World Juniors. 

8:15 p.m.: Tanner Howe clips Mitja Jokinen low and he gets two minutes for tripping with nine seconds left in the first period. 

Canada 1, Finland 0

8:12 p.m.: GOAL! Canada strikes first and guess who — Gavin McKenna. The 17-year-old collects a pass from Matthew Schaefer at the side of the net, and uses his patience to force Rimpinen low to the ice. He is denied with his five-hole attempt at first, but then McKenna roofs it with 52 seconds left to get Canada on the board. The 2026 draft prospect has been as advertised so far, and he gives Canada a late lead in the opening frame. 

8:11 p.m.: Back to even strength as Canada kills off the Luchanko minor. Finland had a time of zone time, but not a great scoring chance. Canada was able to keep the Finns to the outside. 

8:08 p.m.: Right after Canada’s power play expires, Finland is heading to one. Jett Luchanko will sit for two minutes for boarding Veeti Vaisanen with 4:26 left in the first period. 

8:07 p.m.: Finland kills off the Miettinen minor penalty. A few chances for Canada on the man advantage, but Finland did an excellent job getting into passing lanes to disrupt the power play.

8:03 p.m.: Julius Miettinen trips up Tanner Howe going for a rebound, and Canada goes to the power play with 6:40 left in the frame. 

8:01 p.m.: Beaudoin gets another scoring chance on a wraparound, but he’s denied by Rimpinen. The Finland goaltender has been stellar so far. 

7:58 p.m.: Canada comes inches away from opening the scoring as Cole Beaudoin deflects a shot from the point, but it sails high over the net. It’s still scoreless with nine minutes to go in the first period. 

7:55 p.m.: Gavin McKenna’s skill with the puck is a treat to watch. His ability to weave in and around defenders with the puck on his stick is standing out early against Finland. 

7:49 p.m.: Canada’s strategy early on is clear — get pucks on Rimpinen, no matter the location. Shots on goal are 8-2 in favor of Canada through the first seven minutes, but the score remains 0-0. 

7:46 p.m.: It’s a feisty start to this one. Matthew Schaefer and Konsta Helenius waste no time getting acquainted, putting their gloves in each other’s faces in an extended scrum after the whistle.  

7:44 p.m.: Two great chances in the first two minutes for Canada, but they can’t find the back of the net. First, Porter Martone gets a one-timer off in the slot, but he’s denied by Rimpinen’s pad. Then, Berkley Catton races in and beats a defender to get a shot on Rimpinen, but it’s denied by the Finnish goalie’s shoulder. 

7:40 p.m.: The puck is down. Canada vs. Finland is underway.

Pregame

7:18 p.m.: On the other side, Finland boasts a deep forward group headlined by Konsta Helenius, Kasper Haltunnen, and Jesse Kiiskinen. The Finns are weaker on the back end, with captain Aron Kiviharju and Emil Pieniniemi expected to take on the brunt of the duties on defense. While Finland may not be the most skilled squad at the tournament, the nation is known for its structured systems that have led to success in international play. 

7:06 p.m.: In addition to McKenna, there are a plethora of other intriguing talents on the Canadian roster. In total, there are 10 first-round picks on the roster, with two more (Porter Martone and Matthew Schaefer) expected to be first-round picks in 2025. 

7 p.m.: The player everyone is going to have their eyes on is Canada’s Gavin McKenna, the early consensus No. 1 overall pick for the 2026 draft. The 17-year-old leads the WHL in scoring with 60 points in 30 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers. It will be interesting to see how Dave Cameron deploys McKenna early on in the tournament, with the star anticipated to begin action in a top-six role. 

6:40 p.m.: Here are the lineups for Canada and Finland for the Group A action. Carter George, a Kings prospect, is expected to get the start in net for the Canadians, while Petteri Rimpinen is projected to get the nod for the Finns. 

6:20 p.m.: Canada and Finland opened up against one another at the 2024 World Juniors, with the Canadians picking up a 5-2 victory in Sweden. The two also faced off against one another in the memorable 2022 World Juniors gold medal game. That contest went to overtime, where Mason McTavish made a sensational stop along the goal line before Kent Johnson scored the golden goal, for Canada, snatching the gold medal out of Finland’s grasp. 

What channel is Canada vs. Finland on today?

  • TV channels: TSN (Canada) | NHL Network (United States)
  • Live stream: TSN app (Canada) | Fubo (United States)

Canada vs. Finland will air on TSN in Canada and NHL Network in the U.S.

Viewers can also stream the game on the TSN app in Canada and Fubo in the U.S.

Canada vs. Finland start time

  • Date: Thursday, Dec. 26
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT

Canada vs. Finland will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 26. 

It is the first game for both teams at the tournament, and the second game in Group A. The United States defeated Germany earlier in the day on Thursday.  

2025 World Juniors schedule

Thursday, Dec. 26

Matchup Time (ET)
Sweden 5, Slovakia 1 FINAL
USA 10, Germany 4 FINAL
Czechia 5, Switzerland 1 FINAL
Finland vs. Canada 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 27

Matchup Time (ET)
Switzerland vs. Slovakia 1 p.m.
Germany vs. Finland  3:30 p.m.
Sweden vs. Kazakhstan 5 p.m.
Latvia vs. Canada 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 28

Matchup Time (ET)
Kazakhstan vs. Czechia 1 p.m.
Latvia vs. USA 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 29

Matchup Time (ET)
Switzerland vs. Sweden Noon
USA vs. Finland 2:30 p.m.
Czechia vs. Slovakia 5 p.m.
Canada vs. Germany 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 30

Matchup Time (ET)
Slovakia vs. Kazakhstan 1 p.m.
Germany vs. Latvia 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Matchup Time (ET)
Kazakhstan vs. Switzerland Noon
Finland vs. Latvia 2:30 p.m.
Sweden vs. Czechia 5 p.m.
Canada vs. USA 8 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 2

Matchup Time (ET)
TBD vs. TBD – Relegation Game 11 a.m.
TBD vs. TBD – Quarterfinal Noon
TBD vs. TBD – Quarterfinal 2:30 p.m.
TBD vs. TBD – Quarterfinal 5 p.m.
TBD vs. TBD – Quarterfinal 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4

Matchup Time (ET)
TBD vs. TBD – Semifinal 3:30 p.m.
TBD vs. TBD – Semifinal 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 5

Matchup Time (ET)
TBD vs. TBD – Bronze Medal Game   3:30 p.m.
TBD vs. TBD – Gold Medal Game 7:30 p.m.

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