Yahoo Sports 'Sh***y Feeling, To Be Honest': Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan And Canada’s World Juniors Ends In Yet Another Disappointing Quarterfinal Exit
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan and Team Canada's World Juniors ended Thursday night in the nation's capital.
Canada lost 4-3 to Czechia in the quarterfinals in what was a thriller from start to finish. The Canadians were down 3-1 entering the second period before scoring back-to-back goals to even up the game.
After a kneeing penalty from Andrew Gibson, Czechia's Adam Jecho found the back of the net with 40 seconds left in the third period. Canada couldn't score and fell to Czechia in the quarterfinals in back-to-back years, the first time that's happened at the World Juniors.
Team 🇨🇦 loses in quarterfinals in consecutive years
First time that's ever happened at #WorldJuniors— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) January 3, 2025
Cowan's tournament ends with one goal and two assists for three points in five games with Canada. It's the most points on the team, along with Winnipeg Jets prospect Bayden Yager.
This will be the final time Cowan plays in the World Juniors with Canada. He finishes with two goals and three assists in 10 games with the team over the last two tournaments.
"It sucks. It hurts a lot. I love those guys in there," Cowan told TSN's Kenzie Lalonde after the loss. "Sh***y feeling, to be honest."
Cowan will return to the OHL's London Knights where he has a 56-game point streak across two seasons. He has 94 points (38 goals, 56 assists) during the streak deemed unofficial by the CHL and OHL.
The 19-year-old has 15 goals and 13 assists in 20 games with London this season.
Maple Leafs fifth-round (151st overall) pick Miroslav Holinka moves onto the semifinals with Czechia. He's had a strong tournament, like Cowan, scoring one goal and two assists in five games.
In 23 games with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings this season, Holinka has 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points. Czechia will face the United States in the semifinals on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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