OTTAWA — Team Canada’s run at the World Junior Hockey Championship has once again come to a disappointing end.
Adam Jecho scored the game-winning goal in the final minute and Czechia would go on to a 4-3 victory to knock Canada from the tournament for the second straight season on Thursday night in Ottawa.
It’s also the first time in tournament history that Canada has been eliminated this early in back-to-back seasons.
Team Canada’s Saskatchewan crew took the ice on the same lines as the previous two games against Germany and the United States.
Saskatoon’s Brayden Yager (WHL Lethbridge) and Prince Albert’s Tanner Howe (WHL Calgary) played on the second line alongside Bradly Nadeau (AHL Chicago) while Saskatoon’s Berkly Catton (WHL Spokane) centred the third line with Gavin McKenna (WHL Medicine Hat) and Luca Pinelli (OHL Ottawa).
Saskatoon product Caden Price (WHL Kelowna) played on the third defensive pairing with Mynio, with Saskatoon Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk on the top pairing alongside Andrew Gibson (OHL Sault Ste. Marie).
Canada couldn’t have asked for a tougher start, as Czechia scored on the first shift of the game, with Pitor Sikora going to the net and redirecting a pass by Vojtech Hradec five hole on Carter George (OHL Owen Sound).
The goal came only 43 seconds into the contest.
A five minute major for kneeing to Canada’s Cole Beaudoin gave Czechia a chance to extend their lead, but it would be part of the Saskatchewan connection that would reply.
Yager forced a turnover and went in on a breakaway, only to be stopped by Czechia’s Michael Hrabal. He’d gather up his rebound, circle in the zone and find Howe going to the net for the tying goal with 10:17 gone in the contest.
Czechia would get one on the major penalty, though, and it was the product of some bad luck. Canada’s Sam Dickinson (OHL London) went to corral a puck rebounding off the boards at the side of the net, only to knock it into the goal to give Czechia the lead. Jakub Sancl was credited with the marker.
Czechia then extended their lead with two seconds remaining in the period. Eduard Sale finished off a two-on-one break with Matej Mastarlirsky that caught Canada flat-footed, and Czechia had a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Canada received their third power play of the game with just over three minutes to play in the second, and they’d get back within a goal.
Molendyk got off a shot from the point and found Porter Martone (OHL Brampton) for the great tip in front with 2:20 to play in the period. Yager picked up the second assist after getting the puck back to Molendyk on the point.
Canada got off to a great start pressing for the tying goal in the third period and held Czechia without a shot for the first nine minutes while generating a ton of chances of their own.
Canada appeared to have scored the tying goal with just over 10 minutes to play when Mathieu Cataford (QMJHL Rimouski) went hard to the net and was knocked into the Czech goal with the puck, but it would be called back due to goaltender interference.
The pressure continued as the period progressed, and Canada finally broke through with 4:18 to play in the game.
Nadeau was able to get to the front of the net and was in the perfect spot to bang home a rebound off a Luca Pinelli (OHL Ottawa) shot, tying the game 3-3.
Canada’s tournament long issues with bad penalties struck again late in the game, when Andrew Gibson (OHL Sault Ste. Marie) took a kneeing penalty with 2:27 to play, putting Czechia on the power play for the fifth time.
That would lead to Jecho hammering a one-timer home as time wound down, giving Czechia the win and ending Canada’s run.
Canada had 32 shots on Hrabal, including 14 in the third period, while Czechia put 26 shots on George.
Czechia will now face the U.S. in one semifinal on Saturday, with Sweden taking on Finland in the other.
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