Canada has a shot to clinch its spot in the gold medal game, as the team takes on Czechia in the semifinals of the 2022 World Juniors today.
On Wednesday, Canada got the job done against Switzerland in the quarterfinals, coming out on top 6-3. Logan Stankoven had his best game of the tournament, scoring two goals and an assist.
It wasn’t the best effort from Canada, but the team took advantage of Swiss turnovers in the first period to build a 4-2 lead. The Canadians let the Swiss hang around after giving up goals as a direct result of the team making mistakes in its own zone, but in the end, the Canadians got the win.
MORE: Watch the 2022 World Juniors live with fuboTV (free trial, U.S. only)
Czechia enters the semifinals on a high, coming off a 4-2 upset of the USA in the quarterfinals. Czechia put together a sensational defensive game, limiting the USA’s time in the offensive zone and disrupting the team’s flow in the neutral zone.
After falling behind 1-0 thanks to a fluke goal for the Americans, the Czechs received goals from Jan Mysak, Petr Hauser and Matyas Sapovaliv to build a 3-1 lead heading into the final period. While the USA cut the deficit to one, Jiri Kulich iced the game with an empty-net goal. Tomas Suchanek made 28 saves in net, earning Player of the Game honors.
Canada previously defeated Czechia in the preliminary round by a score of 5-1. The winner of this matchup moves on to the gold medal game, where they will play the victor of the Sweden-Finland semifinal. The two semifinal losers will square off for the bronze medal.
The Sporting News will provide live updates and highlights from the Canada-Czechia matchup at the 2022 World Juniors.
Canada vs. Czechia score
Matchup | P1 | P2 | P3 | OT | F |
Canada | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Czechia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Canada vs. Czechia live updates, highlights from 2022 World Juniors
3rd period
6:24 p.m. — GOAL! Joshua Roy slips it five-hole on Cajan and regains the three-goal lead. Stankoven forces a turnover in the Czech zone, the puck goes to Zellweger at the point who finds Roy at the side of the net and he tucks it between the legs of the Czech goalie. A big goal for Canada and some breathing room with over five minutes left.
6:29 p.m. — GOAL! Czechia converts on the power play and just like that, it’s a two-goal game. David Jiricek unleashes a slap shot from the point that goes off the post and in. 4-2 Canada with 7:15 left.
6:27 p.m. — Czechia will go to its second power play as Ryan O’Rourke heads off for hooking.
6:25 p.m. — GOAL! Czechia breaks the shutout as Jan Mysak has his fifth of the tournament. The Czech captain take a drop pass and beats Garand inside the blocker. 4-1 now with nine minutes left.
Jan Mysak gets Czechia on the board.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Kfsha5WUzQ
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 19, 2022
6:22 p.m. — McTavish is feeling it from the right dot. He had three one-timers from that area, including one that caught the top of Cajan’s stick. No dice on the third power play, but Canada spent pretty much the entirety of the two minutes in the Czechia zone.
6:19 p.m. — Canada’s power play will go back to work, as McTavish draws a hooking call on Nemec.
6:15 p.m. — Really nice hit by Bedard on Ales Cech. I’ve been very impressed with Bedard’s willingness to engage in the physical part of the game.
6:11 p.m. — New goaltender is in for Czechia to start the third. Suchanek gets the third off and is replacement is Pavel Cajan. I don’t think Czechia is necessarily waiving the white flag here, but they likely want to rest Suchanek for tomorrow’s bronze medal game.
End 2nd period: Canada 4, Czechia 0
5:51 p.m. — Canada survives the initial onslaught by Czechia in the first five minutes and add two power play goals to double their lead. Czechia won’t go down easy in the third, but four goals is a tall task.
5:43 p.m. — GOAL! The power play comes through again for Canada. This time it’s McTavish, taking a feed from Johnson for a one-timer past Suchanek. A slick move by Johnson at the point to fake a slap shot and slide it over to McTavish at the right dot.
Mason McTavish strikes on the power play! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Iuh4nLRBA7
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 19, 2022
5:40 p.m. — Canada goes back to the power play, as Stepan Nemec is called for slashing Joshua Roy’s stick out of his hands.
5:35 p.m. — Now it’s Canada who takes a too many men penalty. Czechia gets its first man advantage chance of the game.
5:34 p.m. — Another post for Canada, as Nathan Gaucher slings a shot off the iron from the slot.
5:33 p.m. — GOAL! Stankoven puts Canada up 3-0 with a power play goal. Moments after McTavish deflected a Stankoven pass off the post, Stankoven takes it himself, taking advantage of a bad line change by Czechia and beating Suchanek on a breakaway shot. The power play for Canada continues to be stellar.
Logan Stankoven makes it a 3-0 hockey game! #WorldJunior pic.twitter.com/0Gsb5YwRk3
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 19, 2022
5:31 p.m. — The first penalty of the game is called, as Czechia is whistled for too many men. Canada goes to work on the power play, they are 6-for-11 so far at the tournament.
5:30 p.m. — Othmann continues to be a wrecking ball. He’s throwing the body all over the ice as he just caved in another Czech defender behind their net.
5:28 p.m. — Canada survives the initial push from Czechia without allowing the goal, as the game has evened out now. Canada has shored up their breakouts and have been to get the puck into Czechia’s zone.
5:20 p.m. — What a sensational pass from Foerster in his own zone to Johnson at the far blue line. Johnson goes down on the breakaway, but Suchanek pins the puck under his right leg. That’s a huge save by Suchanek, who had not been tested yet in the second.
5:15 p.m. — A big scrum ensues in front of Canada’s net after a chance for Czechia. A shot by Gabriel Sztruc is stopped by Garand with his glove, but he can’t hold onto it and it pops up into the air and lands on his pads. It’s all Czechia through the first five minutes, shots are 8-0 Czechis to start the second.
5:12 p.m. — Czechia has come out in the second and been taking it to Canada. They’ve had a number of opportunities in front of Dylan Garand. It’s the kind of start they needed as they are down two.
End 1st period: Canada 2, Czechia 0
4:48 p.m. — After 20 minutes, it’s 2-0 Canada. Czechia had a strong five or so minutes, but Canada took over after that. The Stankoven-Foerster-Johnson line has been the difference maker, as it feels every time they are out there, Canada has a great chance to score.
4:39 p.m. — GOAL! Canada extends its lead thanks to a goal from Bedard. Not the snipe we’re used to seeing from him, but it’s enough to beat Suchanek. Ales Cech had attempted to jump up and pick off the Gaucher pass through the neutral zone to Bedard, but it hopped over his stick and allowed Bedard to come on with space on Suchanek.
👋 Connor@HockeyCanada up 2-0 over @narodnitym #WorldJuniors #CANCZE pic.twitter.com/2bydttz03T
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 19, 2022
4:38 p.m. — Another close call for Canada by guess who? The Stankoven line. After Johnson forces a turnover right at the dot in Czechia’s zone, Stankoven fires a shot off the crossbar and outside of the net. That line is buzzing and have been the best three players on the ice.
4:29 p.m. — Right after the Johnson goal, that same line almost scores again. Johnson was in front of the net and tried to kick the puck to his stick. It ended up going to Stankoven and he fired it on Suhcanek. The Czech goalie made the initial save and after a scramble in front, he was able to keep it out.
4:26 p.m. — GOAL! The second line for Canada has been creating chance after chance in the first, and finally Johnson finds the back of the net. Suchanek made a sensational diving save on Foerster, who made a great move to his backhand after getting a pass in front from Stankoven. David Spacek attempts to clear the rebound, but it goes right out to Johnson and he finds twine. 1-0 Canada just over halfway through the first period.
Kent Johnson starts off the scoring for Canada! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/OjisfvqxZS
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 19, 2022
4:21 p.m. — The Stankoven-Johnson-Foerster line has looked good to start this game. They were Canada’s best line in the quarters, and nearly put Canada up early. A David Jiricek turnover behind his net leads to a chance in front, with the puck sitting in the crease, but Foerster could not get his stick free to knock it in.
4:17 p.m. — Excellent save by Suhcanek, as a shot from the point was deflected down and bounced up high on the goalie. He had to lunge up with his blocker to turn it aside, looks like Bedard may have been the one to tip it.
4:14 p.m. — Brennan Othmann making his presence known right away, knocking over two Czechs in one shift.
Pregame
3 p.m. — Dave Cameron is doing some line juggling ahead of the semifinal game. Ridly Greig is out after sustaining a lower-body injury against Switzerland. The top line and third line are complete changed — Mason McTavish’s new wings are Joshua Roy and William Dufour. Connor Bedard and Will Cuylle slide down to the third line to play with Nathan Gaucher, who takes Greig’s spot down the middle. Riley Kidney is the extra forward.
Here are the lines for 🇨🇦 and 🇨🇿’s semifinal. Ridly Greig (OTT) still out after getting hurt on the quarterfinal. Connor Bedard (2023) moved down to the third line. pic.twitter.com/dpigxqxYwB
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) August 19, 2022
What channel is Canada vs. Czechia on today?
- Canada: TSN 4/5
- United States: NHL Network
TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada. In the United States, viewers can find the games on NHL Network.
Gord Miller and Mike Johnson will be on the call live in Edmonton. James Duthie and Bob McKenzie will provide analysis during intermissions.
How to live stream World Juniors hockey games
Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors games at TSN.ca or the TSN app. U.S. fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.
Canada vs. Czechia start time
- Time: 4 p.m. ET (2 p.m. MT)
The puck drops at 4 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. local time, from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta., home of the NHL’s Oilers and WHL’s Oil Kings.
MORE: Team Canada 2022 World Juniors roster, results
Canada vs. Czechia odds
- Canada: -2.5 (-169)
- Czechia: +2.5 (+123)
Canada is a 2.5-goal favorite on the puckline for the contest against Czechia at the World Juniors, according to Sports Interaction.
Canada World Juniors schedule 2022
(All times Eastern)
Date | Opponent | Result | Time (ET), TV |
Aug. 10 | Latvia | W, 5-2 | 6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 11 | Slovakia | W, 11-1 | 6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 13 | Czechia | W, 5-1 | 6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 15 | Finland | W, 6-3 | 6 p.m. (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 17 | Switzerland (Quarterfinals) | W, 6-3 | 7 p.m. (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 19 | Czechia (semifinals) | — | 4 p.m. (TSN, NHLN) |
Aug. 20 | Bronze/gold | — | TBD (TSN, NHLN) |