WHL At The 2025 World Juniors: Czechia's Adam Jecho Stuns Canada With Late Goal

Entering the home stretch of the 2025 World Junior Championships, the team getting relegated has been decided and four squads are set to prepare for the semifinals.

Team Germany narrowly escapes relegation

While David Lewandowski (Saskatoon Blades) did not find the scoresheet in the final game for Germany, he was named one of his squad's best players of the tournament. The Blades forward totaled two goals in the tournament. WHL alumnus Noah Samanski (Wenatchee Wild) notched an assist to bring Germany within one, and they would add two more to take a 4-3 victory against Team Kazakhstan.

Team USA dismantles Switzerland

Leo Braillard (Lethbridge Hurricanes) tallied an assist in the Swiss' 7-2 loss to the Americans, and was named one of the top three players of the tournament for Switzerland. Braillard had a big tournament for his country, potting three goals and adding an assist in five games.

Finland downs Slovakia in eventful affair

Julius Miettinen (Everett Silvertips) got himself one assist on a Finnish insurance goal to stop a late Slovak rush, as Team Finland is victorious by a score of 5-3. Veeti Vaisanen (Medicine Hat Tigers) was also a solid presence on the blueline, despite totaling 16 minutes of ice time.

Czechia slays Canada in late heartbreaker

The WHL had their fingerprints all over this one, as team Czechia stuns the hosts to move on to the final four. Tanner Howe (Calgary Hitmen) tied the game at one halfway through the first period, and Jakub Stancl (Kelowna Rockets) got the lead back two minutes later. Canadian captain and Lethbridge forward Brayden Yager, as well as Blades blueliner Tanner Molendyk combined to bring the game within one after Czechia added another. Canada did tie the game late, but Edmonton Oil Kings forward Adam Jecho potted a clutch goal for his second point of the game and the eventual winner with 40 seconds left. Yager added a second assist as well, and he (along with Molendyk) were named two of the three players of the tournament for Canada.

Team Czechia will move on to face the USA in the semifinals, and Finland will meet Team Sweden on the other side of the bracket.

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