Canada Eliminated from World Junior Hockey Championship in Quarterfinal Loss to Czechia

A late penalty and power-play goal sealed Canada’s 4-3 defeat, marking the second consecutive year without a medal-round appearance.

Canada lost 4-3 to Czechia in the quarterfinals of the World Junior Hockey Championship, held in Ottawa on January 2, 2025.
This marks the first time since the program's inception in the 1980s that Canada has failed to reach the medal rounds in consecutive years.
Discipline and scoring struggles plagued Canada throughout the tournament, including 11 penalties in a prior loss to the U.S. and the tournament's lowest shooting percentage.
Czechia’s Adam Jecho scored the game-winning power-play goal with 39.4 seconds left in regulation, following a critical late penalty against Canada.
The loss has raised questions about Hockey Canada’s roster decisions and the future direction of its under-20 program.