2026 IIHF World Junior Championship – Preliminary Day 2 (Dec. 27, 2025)

By Breanna McNeill December 28, 2025

The second day of preliminary play at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship featured a full schedule of action, highlighted by decisive victories, special teams success, and key performances across both groups. Here’s a look at everything that unfolded on Day 2.

Group B

Canada vs. Latvia

Final/OT: 2 (CAN) – 1 (LAT)

Canada secured an overtime victory over Latvia on Saturday afternoon, but not without a familiar scare. For the second straight year, Latvia forced extra time by tying the game late in regulation, evoking déjà vu from last year’s matchup.

At the 2025 tournament, Latvia pulled off a historic 3-2 upset over Canada on Day Two in Ottawa, fueled by a 55-save performance from goaltender Linards Feldbergs and a shootout winner from Eriks Mateiko.

After hanging seven goals on Czechia the night before and embarking on the second stop of their preliminary-round “revenge tour,” Canada appeared energized heading into another rematch with a team that stunned them a year ago. However, the same issue quickly resurfaced – a red-hot Latvian goaltender, Nils Maurins.

The opening period was scoreless, with Latvia coming out strong against a somewhat sluggish Canadian group playing its second game in as many days, while the Latvians benefited from fresh legs.

Latvia thought they had opened the scoring with under six minutes remaining, but video review confirmed Markuss Sieradzkis had kicked the puck in, and the goal was overturned.

At 1:43 of the second period, Latvian forward Martins Klaucans was ejected after receiving a five-minute major for checking to the head of Canadian defenceman Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit), and Canada needed just 39 seconds to capitalize on the ensuing power play as Cole Reschny took a feed from Gavin McKenna and snapped home a wrist shot. Tij Iginla nearly doubled the lead later on the same advantage, but his attempt rang off the post.

Just past the midway point of the game, Latvia earned its first power play after blueliner Ben Danford was assessed a double minor for high-sticking, but the Latvians were unable to generate much offensively.

Caleb Desnoyers had a prime chance to make it 2-0 midway through the third period, only to be denied on the doorstep by Maurins. Brady Martin followed with another close call, clanging a shot off the crossbar with under five minutes remaining in regulation.

Channelling the energy from 365 days earlier, Latvia tied the game with just 1:58 left in regulation. Rudolfs Berzkalns drove the net and buried the rebound, stunning the Canadians.

Latvia was then called for delay of game when Roberts Naudins flipped the puck over the glass in his own zone with 51 seconds remaining. Strong shot-blocking on the Latvian penalty kill pushed the game to overtime, but it took Michael Hage just 44 seconds into the extra frame to one-time a cross-ice feed from McKenna to seal the win.

MICHAEL HAGE IS THE OVERTIME HERO FOR CANADA! WHAT A GOAL! 🤯 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/hEknZN1q92

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2025

Both goaltenders delivered strong performances, with former Brampton Steelhead Jack Ivankovic – who started in last year’s loss to Latvia – stopping 29 shots for Canada. Maurins turned aside 36 shots in an impressive World Junior debut for Latvia.

“It was a great feeling,” Ivankovic said post-game after beating Latvia following last year’s loss. “We got on the power play late and I knew the game was going to be over there. We all live to be at this tournament, and nobody is too focused on last year’s team or result against these guys. Latvia is a good team, every team here at this tournament is good and anyone can win any night. It feels good to get the win.”

Latvia returns to action Sunday afternoon against Finland (4:30 p.m. EST), while Canada has the day off before facing Denmark on Monday night (8:30 p.m. EST).

OHL Player Game Stats:

* denotes player who has not played an OHL game in the 2025-26 season

Canada

Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)* – 1A
Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads)* – 26 SV
Sam O’Reilly (London Knights) – Player of the Game

Czechia vs. Denmark

Final: 7 (CZE) – 2 (DEN)

Czechia continued its strong start to the tournament, scoring five or more goals for the second straight game in a dominant 7-2 win over Denmark on Saturday night. The Czechs recorded three power-play goals and outshot the Danes 52-22, bringing their two-game total to 12 goals.

The teams exchanged early markers in the first period. Vojtech Cihar opened the scoring for Czechia at 2:56, but less than three minutes later, Denmark’s Tristan Petersen tied the game at one.

Czechia was handed a major opportunity later in the period when Danish defenceman Jesper Olesen was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for checking to the head. The Czechs capitalized on the ensuing power play, with Matej Kubiesa finishing a rush chance.

Just after the major expired, Andrew Christian Bjergstad – who had served the penalty – jumped out of the box and broke in alone, but was unable to convert on the breakaway.

In the second period, Vaclav Nestrasil potted Czechia’s third goal on the power play, with assists from Bulldogs blueliners Adam Jiricek and Adam Benak. Denmark responded off an offensive-zone faceoff win, as Oliver Larsen blasted a shot past the Czech netminder.

Czechia restored its two-goal cushion later in the period when Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes) worked into the slot and fired a shot that Jiricek converted on the rebound. Stepan Hoch extended the lead to 5-2 in the final five minutes of the frame.

🔟 goals with the @BulldogsOHL this season and now #stlblues prospect Adam Jiricek has his first of the #WorldJuniors! 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/vgZNAtF7EW

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) December 28, 2025

The Czechs continued to pile on in the third. Tomas Galvas made it 6-2 with a power-play snipe, with Novotny recording his second assist of the night, and Richard Zemlicka added another just 58 seconds later on a 2-on-1 rush.

Both teams have Sunday off before returning to action on Monday. Czechia will face Finland (3:30 p.m. EST), while Denmark takes on Canada later that evening (8:30 p.m. EST).

OHL Player Game Stats:

Czechia

Adam Jiricek (Brantford Bulldogs) – 1G, 1A
Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes) – 2A
Adam Benak (Brantford Bulldogs) – 1A

Group A

United States vs. Switzerland

Final: 2 (USA) – 1 (SUI)

The United States earned its second win of the tournament with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Switzerland, with all three goals coming in the second period.

Despite a one-sided advantage in scoring chances, the game remained scoreless through 20 minutes thanks to several clutch saves from Swiss goaltender Christian Kirsch (Kitchener Rangers).

Christian Kirsch said 🙅‍♂️ #WorldJuniors

We are tied 0-0 after 1 👀 #USASUI #IIHF pic.twitter.com/agDaHBygc4

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 28, 2025

The Americans didn’t take long to break through in the second period. Just over a minute into the frame, Brodie Ziemer ripped a high shot that beat Kirsch cleanly.

Midway through the period, Switzerland put together a strong stretch of shifts and generated sustained pressure in the U.S. zone, but play was halted when American blueliner Cole Hutson took a shot off the side of his head/neck area. He collapsed to the ice and remained down before being attended to by medical staff, where he was later placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital. According to the team, Hutson has since been discharged and returned to the team, where he is now listed as day-to-day.

After play resumed, the Swiss maintained their momentum and tied the game moments later, as Basile Sansonnens fired a shot through traffic that slipped past the glove of U.S. goaltender Nicholas Kempf.

Switzerland nearly grabbed the lead off the ensuing faceoff when Cyrill Henry sprang in alone on a breakaway, but Kempf came up with a key save to keep the game tied. The U.S. regained the lead at 14:40 when Will Zellers beat a sprawling Kirsch with a sharp-angle shot.

Both teams were held scoreless in the third period, sealing a 2-1 win for the Americans.

Switzerland returns to action Sunday afternoon against Sweden (2:00 p.m. EST), while the United States has the day off before facing Slovakia on Monday night (6:00 p.m. EST).

OHL Player Game Stats:

Switzerland

Christian Kirsch (Kitchener Rangers) – 18 SV

Slovakia vs. Germany

Final: 4 (SVK) – 1 (GER)

Slovakia picked up its first win of the tournament with a key 4-1 victory over Germany on Saturday afternoon, evening its Group A record at 1-1, while the Germans remain winless through two games.

Tomas Chrenko powered the Slovak offence, scoring the team’s first three goals to complete the natural hat trick in his first World Junior game.

We have a #WorldJuniors hat trick 🧢🧢🧢

Tomas Chrenko notches 3 for Slovakia! #IIHF #SVKGER pic.twitter.com/UBW2emQJi6

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 27, 2025

Dustin Willhoft got Germany on the board midway through the third period and moments later Maxin Schafer had a nearly identical opportunity turned aside by Slovak goaltender Michal Pradel, keeping the game at 3-1.

After successfully killing off a late 5-on-3, Germany earned a power play of its own and pulled the goaltender in search of a comeback. However, Adam Belusko sealed the Slovak victory with a rink-length empty-net goal with just 52.9 seconds remaining in regulation.

Both teams now have a day off before returning to action on Monday. Germany faces a tough test against Sweden in the early game (1:00 p.m. EST), followed by Slovakia taking on the host United States later that evening (6:00 p.m. EST).

Standings After Day 2

Day 2 standings check! 👀 #WorldJuniors #IIHF pic.twitter.com/tfnCCSNjQj

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 28, 2025

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For more information on the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit iihf.com or follow on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.