Canada will play for gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship following a 4-0 win over Slovakia on Friday in the semifinal.
The Canadians struck three times on the power play in the third period to turn a 1-0 score into a 4-0 final. Defenceman Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) scored in the first, before Cole Reschny (Victoria Royals), Jack Nesbitt (Windsor Spitfires) and Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs) each found the back of the net in the third period.
"It took awhile for us to score. The (first and second) periods, we had three or four powerplays, they did a good job blocking it," said Canadian head coach Cory Stillman. "We made some adjustments going into the third and you get one powerplay goal and everyone relaxes, doesn香蕉视频直播檛 squeeze their stick as much and we ended up with three."
The two Vancouver Giants representatives in Friday's semifinal 香蕉视频直播� forward Cameron Schmidt and defenceman Ryan Lin 香蕉视频直播� combined for four shots on goal, but neither registered a point. Lin played a big part in an early five-minute penalty kill, blocking multiple shots.
Giants goaltender Burke Hood is also representing Canada internationally for the first time, but is the third goaltender and only played in pre-tournament action.
Canada will play Sweden in the final game on Saturday, May 3 at 5 p.m.
Sweden scored two goals in the third period to break a 2-2 deadlock en route to a 4-3 victory over the United States in that match.The Americans were to face Slovakia for bronze. Giants prospect Tobis Tom铆k has played over 17 minutes for Slovakia and had one shot on goal.
Canada is looking to become the first back-to-back gold medal winners at the World U18s since the United States accomplished the feat in 2014 and 2015.
Slovakia returns to the bronze medal game for the third-consecutive year and is trying to change its fortunes, as it lost both of those games and hasn香蕉视频直播檛 medaled at the U18s since winning silver in 2003.
