Canada advances to World Juniors semis after win over Slovakia

Canada will play for a medal at the 2026 World Juniors.

Thanks to seven different goalscorers, Canada took down Slovakia 7-1 in Minneapolis, MN., Friday to seal a spot in the semi-finals.

“”We came out pretty hard and didn’t stop,” said the London Knights’ Sam O’Reilly (TB) said. “It was a good game. We knew what we needed to do and it was good that we got it done.”

In addition to O’Reilly, the Saginaw Spirit’s Michael Misa (SJ), Kelowna Rockets’ Tij Iginla (UTA), Barrie Colts’ Cole Beaudoin (UTA) and former Brampton Steelheads captain Porter Martone (PHI) each had a goal and an assist while the Soo Greyhounds’ Brady Martin (NSH) and former Victoria Royal Cole Reschny (CGY) also scored. Ex-Steelhead Jack Ivankovic (NSH) stopped 21 shots.

“Right off the bat we had energy,” Moncton Wildcats captain Caleb Desnoyers (UTA) said. “Once we got the first one we started rolling.”

The game was goalless for the first 14:02 but when Reschny opened the scoring, the wall came crashing down for Slovakia. Additional goals from Iginla, Misa, O’Reilly and Martin saw Canada end the first period with a five-goal onslaught over a 5:49 stretch in an utterly devastating spell that ensured their spot in the semis.

FIVE IN THE FIRST! 😤

The @OHLHoundPower's Brady Martin (#Preds) finishes off a dominant first period for 🇨🇦! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Bh4rZtgDUo

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) January 3, 2026

Goals from Martone and Beaudoin in the second period pushed Canada’s lead to 7-0 before Slovakia got on the board late in the period through the Sudbury Wolves’ Jan Chovan (LA). The third period saw Slovakia outshoot Canada 9-6 but remained scoreless with the outcome already determined.

Canada will now face a familiar foe in Sunday’s semi-final in Czechia. The two sides met on Boxing Day where Canada won a back-and-forth affair 7-5 but the past two years have seen the Czechs eliminate Canada in the quarterfinals. Now, the Canadians get another chance to beat their newest rival in an elimination game.

“The last couple of years with Czechia taking Canada out, there’s a little bit of extra motivation,” Iginla said. “But at the same time we just want to win [regardless] … so we want to be ready and prepared and come out flying like today hopefully.”

Canada will face Czechia at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT on Jan. 4 in the 2026 World Juniors semi-finals.