Fans expect a hard-fought game whenever 2025 semi-finalists Sweden and Finland clash. In this 2024 picture, Sweden's Axel Sandin Pellikka (L) confronts Finland's Janne Naukkarinen (R).
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATT ZAMBONIN
No European team has won the IIHF World Junior Championship in the 2020’s. However, that might be about to change, as three of our four semi-finalists at the 2025 tournament in Ottawa hail from across the Atlantic. There’s no lack of motivation. Finland is looking to end a six-year drought, Sweden a 13-year drought, and Czechia a whopping 24-year drought.
Of course, the defending champion United States is determined to ensure it goes for gold again, regardless of which opponent it might face in the final. Intrigue is high after host Canada, a perennial contender with an all-time record 20 golds, was eliminated in the quarter-finals by the Czechs.
Let’s take a closer look at Saturday’s two semi-final matchups. All times are local (Eastern Standard Time).
Sweden-Finland (15:30)
The Swedes remain the only team with a perfect record this year, but arguably their aura of invincibility was blemished in their 3-2 quarter-final win over never-say-die Latvia. The first and third periods belonged to the Juniorkronorna, who outshot the underdogs 19-2 and 18-2 in those frames. Yet they allowed the Latvians back into the game in the second period with two Eriks Mateiko goals, and in a one-goal game, anything can happen.
“We played pretty solid defence and we had good offence, but we just need to capitalize,” said Swedish captain Axel Sandin Pellikka, whose nine points tie him with Slovakia’s Dalibor Dvorsky for the World Junior lead.
In this first semi-final at the Canadian Tire Centre, it’ll likely boil down to Swedish firepower versus Finnish defence.
Sweden boasts the top-ranked power play (8-for-22, 36.3 percent). Its winning goal against Latvia came on the man advantage courtesy of David Edstrom, who incidentally has the best faceoff percentage among semi-finalists that have taken more than 100 draws (60.5 percent). After Sandin Pellikka, eight other Swedes rank among the top 30 scorers with between five and seven points apiece, including forwards Anton Wahlberg (4+3=7) and Felix Unger Sorum (1+6=7).
It’s a balanced attack, stabilized by a blue line that has come as advertised. Swedish coach Magnus Havelid deploys an elite, minute-munching second pairing with Theo Lindstein and Tom Willander.
Meanwhile, only one Finn so far has cracked the top 30 in scoring: forward Jesse Kiiskinen (4+1=5). Yet coach Lauri Mikkola’s team is starting to produce more, with five of its 15 goals coming in the 5-3 quarter-final win over Slovakia. And goalie Petteri Rimpinen’s tournament-best 94.0 save percentage creates hope he could outduel Swedish starter Melker Thelin, who has an 88.4 save percentage.
“It's just amazing how [Rimpinen] can play at like the same level every night,” said forward Jesse Nurmi, who shone with two goals and an assist versus the Slovaks.
Finland could potentially win a special teams showdown. Its World Junior-best penalty kill (94.1 percent) contrasts with Sweden’s PK struggles (62.5 percent).
Suomi is also a little more battle-tested at this stage than the Swedes, who have only faced one elite opponent in Czechia (4-2 win). In contrast, the Finns have already gone up against Canada (4-0 loss) and the U.S. (4-3 overtime win).
However, Mikkola needs his top offensive players to get going in this critical semi-final. That includes forwards like Konsta Helenius (0+3=3), Kasper Halttunen (1+2=3), and Emil Hemming (0+0=0), not to mention captain and top blueliner Aron Kiviharju (0+3=3).
The Swedes, 2024’s silver medalists, look better-poised to advance overall, but a gritty Finnish effort from top to bottom could certainly see the blue-and-white squad prevail.
USA-Czechia (19:30)
In the 2010’s, a U.S.-Czechia playoff meeting typically meant an American blowout: 7-0 in the 2013 and 2016 quarter-finals, 9-3 in the 2018 bronze medal game. However, times have changed. The Czechs downed the U.S. 4-2 in the 2022 quarter-finals. How about today?
Coach Patrik Augusta’s Czechs enter the 2025 semi-finals riding a wave of confidence. Not only did they dramatically knock off Canada in the quarter-finals for the second straight year, but they are also tied with the U.S. for the tournament’s most goals (29).
After the 4-3 win over Canada, Augusta noted: “We're in the semi-finals – they're not giving us any medals yet. But playing a big game like this, in Canada, on the big stage, with 18,000 people cheering for Canada, I think it's going to be something the players will remember. And it’s going to make them stronger, character-wise in the future of their careers.”
It could even pay off short-term. The Americans must respect the resilience and skill of returning attackers like Czech captain Eduard Sale and Jakub Stancl, who are tied for the World Junior lead in goals (five). Vojtech Hradec is having himself a tournament: his eight points match Stancl’s team-leading total, and the towering 19-year-old forward – a sixth-round Utah HC pick in 2024 – also has averaged more ice time (20:36) than any other Czech skater.
Between the pipes, goalie Michael Hrabal (92.0 save percentage, 2.52 GAA) has looked at least as solid as the more highly touted U.S. starter Trey Augustine (91.4 save percentage, 2.97 GAA).
Still, coach David Carle’s Americans have the edge in both top-end and secondary scoring potential, not to mention the blue line.
The number one line of James Hagens (4+4=8), Gabe Perreault (2+5=7), and captain Ryan Leonard (4+2=6) combined for seven points in the 7-2 romp over Switzerland. Danny Nelson (4+1=5) has been a marvelous surprise, and sharpshooter Cole Eiserman (2+4=6) can never be ignored.
Meanwhile, nifty defenceman Cole Hutson (4+4=8) remains in contention for the tournament scoring title. Fellow D-man Zeev Buium (2+2=4) has been an on-ice general, averaging a team-high 24 minutes a night.
“We’re a fast team, and when we play like that, we’re hard to beat,” said U.S. forward Brandon Svoboda. “We’re watching video every day, and if we can keep improving little things, then we’ll continue to be successful.”
Bottom line: the experience and elite talent of this American team makes it the favourite here. But there is a not-inconsiderable chance that the Czechs could return to the World Junior gold medal game for the first time since Jaromir Jagr was last on track for an NHL scoring title (2001).
Of course, the defending champion United States is determined to ensure it goes for gold again, regardless of which opponent it might face in the final. Intrigue is high after host Canada, a perennial contender with an all-time record 20 golds, was eliminated in the quarter-finals by the Czechs.
Let’s take a closer look at Saturday’s two semi-final matchups. All times are local (Eastern Standard Time).
Sweden-Finland (15:30)
The Swedes remain the only team with a perfect record this year, but arguably their aura of invincibility was blemished in their 3-2 quarter-final win over never-say-die Latvia. The first and third periods belonged to the Juniorkronorna, who outshot the underdogs 19-2 and 18-2 in those frames. Yet they allowed the Latvians back into the game in the second period with two Eriks Mateiko goals, and in a one-goal game, anything can happen.
“We played pretty solid defence and we had good offence, but we just need to capitalize,” said Swedish captain Axel Sandin Pellikka, whose nine points tie him with Slovakia’s Dalibor Dvorsky for the World Junior lead.
In this first semi-final at the Canadian Tire Centre, it’ll likely boil down to Swedish firepower versus Finnish defence.
Sweden boasts the top-ranked power play (8-for-22, 36.3 percent). Its winning goal against Latvia came on the man advantage courtesy of David Edstrom, who incidentally has the best faceoff percentage among semi-finalists that have taken more than 100 draws (60.5 percent). After Sandin Pellikka, eight other Swedes rank among the top 30 scorers with between five and seven points apiece, including forwards Anton Wahlberg (4+3=7) and Felix Unger Sorum (1+6=7).
It’s a balanced attack, stabilized by a blue line that has come as advertised. Swedish coach Magnus Havelid deploys an elite, minute-munching second pairing with Theo Lindstein and Tom Willander.
Meanwhile, only one Finn so far has cracked the top 30 in scoring: forward Jesse Kiiskinen (4+1=5). Yet coach Lauri Mikkola’s team is starting to produce more, with five of its 15 goals coming in the 5-3 quarter-final win over Slovakia. And goalie Petteri Rimpinen’s tournament-best 94.0 save percentage creates hope he could outduel Swedish starter Melker Thelin, who has an 88.4 save percentage.
“It's just amazing how [Rimpinen] can play at like the same level every night,” said forward Jesse Nurmi, who shone with two goals and an assist versus the Slovaks.
Finland could potentially win a special teams showdown. Its World Junior-best penalty kill (94.1 percent) contrasts with Sweden’s PK struggles (62.5 percent).
Suomi is also a little more battle-tested at this stage than the Swedes, who have only faced one elite opponent in Czechia (4-2 win). In contrast, the Finns have already gone up against Canada (4-0 loss) and the U.S. (4-3 overtime win).
However, Mikkola needs his top offensive players to get going in this critical semi-final. That includes forwards like Konsta Helenius (0+3=3), Kasper Halttunen (1+2=3), and Emil Hemming (0+0=0), not to mention captain and top blueliner Aron Kiviharju (0+3=3).
The Swedes, 2024’s silver medalists, look better-poised to advance overall, but a gritty Finnish effort from top to bottom could certainly see the blue-and-white squad prevail.
USA-Czechia (19:30)
In the 2010’s, a U.S.-Czechia playoff meeting typically meant an American blowout: 7-0 in the 2013 and 2016 quarter-finals, 9-3 in the 2018 bronze medal game. However, times have changed. The Czechs downed the U.S. 4-2 in the 2022 quarter-finals. How about today?
Coach Patrik Augusta’s Czechs enter the 2025 semi-finals riding a wave of confidence. Not only did they dramatically knock off Canada in the quarter-finals for the second straight year, but they are also tied with the U.S. for the tournament’s most goals (29).
After the 4-3 win over Canada, Augusta noted: “We're in the semi-finals – they're not giving us any medals yet. But playing a big game like this, in Canada, on the big stage, with 18,000 people cheering for Canada, I think it's going to be something the players will remember. And it’s going to make them stronger, character-wise in the future of their careers.”
It could even pay off short-term. The Americans must respect the resilience and skill of returning attackers like Czech captain Eduard Sale and Jakub Stancl, who are tied for the World Junior lead in goals (five). Vojtech Hradec is having himself a tournament: his eight points match Stancl’s team-leading total, and the towering 19-year-old forward – a sixth-round Utah HC pick in 2024 – also has averaged more ice time (20:36) than any other Czech skater.
Between the pipes, goalie Michael Hrabal (92.0 save percentage, 2.52 GAA) has looked at least as solid as the more highly touted U.S. starter Trey Augustine (91.4 save percentage, 2.97 GAA).
Still, coach David Carle’s Americans have the edge in both top-end and secondary scoring potential, not to mention the blue line.
The number one line of James Hagens (4+4=8), Gabe Perreault (2+5=7), and captain Ryan Leonard (4+2=6) combined for seven points in the 7-2 romp over Switzerland. Danny Nelson (4+1=5) has been a marvelous surprise, and sharpshooter Cole Eiserman (2+4=6) can never be ignored.
Meanwhile, nifty defenceman Cole Hutson (4+4=8) remains in contention for the tournament scoring title. Fellow D-man Zeev Buium (2+2=4) has been an on-ice general, averaging a team-high 24 minutes a night.
“We’re a fast team, and when we play like that, we’re hard to beat,” said U.S. forward Brandon Svoboda. “We’re watching video every day, and if we can keep improving little things, then we’ll continue to be successful.”
Bottom line: the experience and elite talent of this American team makes it the favourite here. But there is a not-inconsiderable chance that the Czechs could return to the World Junior gold medal game for the first time since Jaromir Jagr was last on track for an NHL scoring title (2001).