Canada set for Czech re-match at World Juniors

Photo credit: Tim Austen / IIHF

It’s a familiar foe for Canada in the 2026 World Juniors semi-finals.

For the sixth straight year, Canada will meet Czechia in an elimination game at the tournament.

“There’s a lot of excitement obviously but we’ve got a job to do out there,” said the Saginaw Spirit’s Michael Misa (SJ). ”

The past two years have belonged to Czechia where they have eliminated Canada at the quarterfinal stage. In 2023, Canada beat Czechia in overtime to win gold while in 2022 they beat them in the semi-finals. In 2021, Canada were victorious in the quarterfinals.

Tonight will be the fifth time the two countries have met in the semi-finals of the World Juniors; Canada have won the previous four contests.

“We’re really excited to get going,” said the Seattle Thunderbirds’ Braeden Cootes (VAN). “I think we’ve been getting better each game. That [first] Czechia game was a lot of back-and-forth and high-scoring and I think we’ve got our defensive game and the systems a lot better since.”

Of course, the two sides met just 10 days on Boxing Day. That night, Canada skated to a 7-5 victory in a frenzied affair in a game that will likely look very different to tonight’s contest.

“They’re a fast team, a good team that is built well,” said Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Ethan MacKenzie. “They generate a lot of offence too so we need to lock in on our defence. [We] can’t let in five [again] … and hopefully can put up the same offence we did last game.”

Since that Boxing Day win, Canada has rattled off another four victories. While they needed a nervy overtime win over Latvia, convincing round-robin wins over Denmark and Finland, coupled with their 7-1 victory against Slovakia in the quarterfinals, Canada have really found their stride as they head into final four.

“In all aspects of our game we are,” said Brantford Bulldogs defenceman Ben Danford (TOR). “Our special teams is going right now and in the room we’re gelling really well together. I was saying even before the tournament started how tight this group was right off the hop and we keep getting tighter and tighter and the chemistry shows on the ice.

“I’m excited to play with these guys and go to war with them.”

There’s a lot of familiarity between the two teams too – not just because of how often the teams have met in recent years but because of the sheer volume of CHL players involved on both sides. Tonight’s contest will see more than 40 CHL players hit the ice.

“A lot of them play in the CHL so we play against each a lot more than we play against anyone else at the tournament so it’s a good rivalry,” Cootes said.

Puck drop between Canada and Czechia is at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT and can be seen live on TSN 1/3/4/5.

LIST OF PAST AND PRESENT CHL PLAYERS & STAFF ON CANADA’S 2026 NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM

Goalies (3)
(G) Carter George (Owen Sound Attack / OHL)
(G) Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads / OHL; University of Michigan / NCAA)
(G) Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George Cougars / WHL)

Defencemen (8)
(D) Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts / OHL)
(D) Harrison Brunicke (Kamloops Blazers / WHL)
(D) Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars / WHL)
(D) Ben Danford (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
(D) Ethan MacKenzie (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL)
(D) Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit / OHL)
(D) Cameron Reid (Kitchener Rangers / OHL)
(D) Keaton Verhoeff (Victoria Royals / WHL; University of North Dakota / NCAA)

Forwards (13)
(F) Carter Bear (Everett Silvertips / WHL)
(F) Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts / OHL)
(F) Braeden Cootes (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL)
(F) Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL)
(F) Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires / OHL)
(F) Tij Iginla (Kelowna Rockets / WHL)
(F) Jett Luchanko (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
(F) Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds / OHL)
(F) Porter Martone (Brampton Steelheads / OHL; Michigan State University / NCAA)
(F) Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL; Penn State University / NCAA)
(F) Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit / OHL)
(F) Sam O’Reilly (London Knights / OHL)
(F) Cole Reschny (Victoria Royals / WHL; University of North Dakota / NCAA)

Head Coach – Dale Hunter (London Knights / OHL)
Assistant Coach – Brad Lauer (Spokane Chiefs / WHL)
Assistant Coach – Gardiner MacDougall (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL)
Goaltending Consultant – Dan De Palma (Kamloops Blazers / WHL)
Video Coach – Ethan O’Rourke (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL)
Management Group – Mark Hunter (London Knights / OHL)
Athletic Therapist – Terence Robertson (Red Deer Rebels / WHL)
Team Physician – Michael Conrad (Victoria Royals / WHL)
Equipment Manager – Chris Cook (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL) 
Equipment Manager – Chris Maton (London Knights / OHL)
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Sean Young (Ottawa 67’s / OHL)