The World Juniors gold medal match takes place today as Canada and the Czech Republic complete the 2023 competition.
The tournament has come full circle. It was the Czech Republic that handed Canada an impressive 5-2 defeat on the first day of the games. Since then, Canada haven’t lost a single game and the Czech Republic is yet to be defeated in regulation.
The Canadians scored six unanswered goals against the United States and advanced to the semi-finals with a 6-2 win. Thomas Milic excelled at the net again, making 43 saves in the win. The top line of Connor Bedard, Joshua Roy and Logan Stankoven added several points to the win to secure Canada’s fourth consecutive World Junior Championship appearance.
MORE: Watch World Juniors 2023 Live with fuboTV (Free Trial, US Only)
The Czech Republic secured their place in the gold medal game with a 2-1 comeback win over Sweden. David Jiricek forced overtime by equalizing with 38 seconds left, followed by Jiri Kulich’s game winner in the extra frame.
Canada is aiming to become the first repeat junior world champion since 2009. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic are targeting the country’s first junior gold medal since 2001.
MORE: 2023 World Juniors schedule, standings, results
The Sporting News provides live updates and highlights from the final between Canada and the Czech Republic at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Result Canada vs. Czech Republic
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | f | |
| Canada | 1 | 0 | – | – | – |
| Czech Republic | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
Canada vs Czech Republic live updates, highlights from 2023 World Juniors
(All times Eastern.)
second period
19:35 — Zack Ostapchuk sends Caeden Bankier alone to a man down, Bankier collides with Suchanek, the puck trickles over the line, but the referees immediately whistle the goal. Suchanek is down and seems to be in a lot of pain.
19:33 — The Czech Republic was much less trigger-happy on this power play than on the first. A lot more passes from the Czechs instead of firing shots left and right.
19:31 — Just 40 seconds in the frame and the Czech Republic gets a power play. Del Mastro is called for tripping Jiricek. That appeared to be a late call from the officer.
19:30 — The second period started from Halifax.
End of first period: Canada 1, Czech Republic 0
19:10 — Canada leads 1-0 in the gold medal game after 20 minutes. The last half of the third was all about Canada as the Czech Republic were a step slower on every puck and the Canadians seemed to win every 1v1 fight. But for so much time in the offensive zone, Canada didn’t get many shots at Suchanek. The team registered 10 shots on goal in the opening frame. Czech Republic had only six.
19:08 — Milic saves three minutes before the end of the semifinals. Martin Rysavy is sent for a breakout attempt but fails to beat the Canadian keeper.
Rysavy storms in alone but Milic shuts the door ❌#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/WDXE03sldn
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 6, 2023
19:07 — The Czech Republic struggles to get the puck out of their own zone. Canada gets an extended offensive zone time and by the time the Czechs get a breakout chance they’re gassed. It was all Canada for the last few minutes.
19:04 — Othmann continues to be a wrecking ball for Canada.
Brennan Othmann (#NYR) takes down this Czech forward with an absolutely massive punch down the boards.
🎥: @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/v4KsNQ494w
— EP Rinkside (@EPRinkside) January 6, 2023
19:02 — A strong give-and-go from the Czechs sends Kulich into play with a place on Milic. He plays backhand to forehand, but the Canadian goalkeeper blocks the shot. This was similar to the move Kulich made against Sweden goalkeeper Carl Lindbom for his semi-final OT winner.
6:59 p.m. – GOAL! In the final seconds of the power play, Dylan Guenther rips a one-timer off the bar and in. That’s his office right there, every goal he scored in the tournament was from the left point on the power play. At 7:19 in the first game, Canada is 1-0.
CANADA STRIKES FIRST ⚡️
Dylan Guenther blasts home a laser on the power play to give Canada a 1-0 lead. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/F04hUe9Pvn
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 6, 2023
18:56 — After a big hit by Brennan Othmann on David Jiricek, Jiricek pulls Othmann to the ground and is asked to hold. At 9:09 into halftime, Canada gets its first power play.
18:54 — We’re halfway through, still no result.
18:53 — Gabriel Sztruc is just a hair away from scoring for the Czech Republic, but his shot from the slot hits the post. It was Ethan Del Mastro’s turnover at his own blue line that led to Sztruc’s chance.
Gabriel Szturc hits the keeper with a laser shot from his wrist but he fails to hit the post and this game remains goalless in the first period.
🎥: @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/DFCEKPGl4a
— EP Rinkside (@EPRinkside) January 5, 2023
18:52 — Connor Bedard fires in a shot from the blue line which goes in goal but it’s already called offside. Bedard worked the offensive blue line and just got the puck out of the zone.
Canada almost bats first but the game was ruled offside.
The game remains goalless. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Sc7ECkwiEo
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2023
18:51 — So far there have been tons of blocked and tilted shots. The game lasts over eight minutes, but each team has only one registered shot on goal.
18:44 — The Czech Republic cannot use the advantage of the early men despite several shot attempts. The Czechs love shooting, especially from the point. A number of good blocks on this Canada PK including a couple from Tyson Hinds.
18:41 — Only 1:45 into the game, and Nathan Gaucher is called to interfere. An early power play for the Czech Republic. Discipline was an issue for Canada in their previous loss to the Czech Republic.
18:38 — Puck is down and the gold medal game has started from Halifax.
foreplay
18:25 — lines for both teams. A great goalkeeper duel with Milic vs. Tomas Suchanek.
It’s Canada. It’s Czech Republic. It’s the gold medal game at the 2023 World Juniors at the Scotiabank Center in Halifax. Puck Drop is just moments away.
This is how they will position themselves. Thomas Milic starts in the Canadian goal; Tomáš Suchánek for the Czechs. Let us. Go. pic.twitter.com/qyFMOaEqKi
— JD Burke (@JDylanBurke) January 5, 2023
18:15 — Here’s how Canada line up for the gold medal game. No line-up changes and Thomas Milic should start.
13 F + 7 D + 2 G = 🇨🇦
#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/GWEAlZ9EDo
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) January 5, 2023
17:55 — An important factor in tonight’s game will be the ice. It was a theme in Canada’s semi-final match against Sweden and was already run for the bronze medal game today.
17:30 — Canada may become the first time it has won back-to-back gold medals at the World Juniors in over a decade. Meanwhile, when Czechia last won gold (2001), nobody in their current squad was born.
Start time Canada vs. Czech Republic
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. AST)
The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local time) from the Scotiabank Center in Halifax, NS, home of the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL.
MORE: Team Canada 2023 World Juniors roster, results
This is the final game of the World Juniors.
What channel is Canada vs Czech Republic on today?
- Canada: TSN 1/3/4/5
- United States: NHL Network
TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada. In the United States, viewers can find the games on NHL Network.
Gord Miller and Mike Johnson are in conversation with TSN. James Duthie, Bob McKenzie and Cheryl Pounder will provide analysis during the breaks.
How to stream World Juniors hockey games live
Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors games on TSN.ca or the TSN App. US fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (which offers a free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.
Canada vs Czech Republic Odds
- puck line: Canada -1.5 (-182)
- money line: Canada (-500)
- O/U: 6.5
Canada is a 1.5-goal favorite on the puck line against the Czech Republic in the gold medal game, according to Sports Interaction.
Canada World Juniors Schedule 2023
(All times Easter)
| date | Opponent | Result | time (ET) | TV info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 26th | Czech Republic | L, 5-2 | FINAL | TSN, NHLN |
| December 28th | Germany | W, 11-2 | FINAL | TSN, NHLN |
| December 29th | Austria | W, 11-0 | FINAL | TSN, NHLN |
| Dec 31 | Sweden | W, 5-1 | FINAL | TSN, NHLN |
| January 2nd | Slovakia (Quarterfinals) | W, 4-3 (OT) | FINAL | TSN, NHLN |
| January 4th | USA (semifinals) | W, 6-2 | FINAL | TSN, NHLN |
| January 5th | Czech Republic (Gold Medal Game) | — | 6:30 p.m | TSN, NHLN |