The 2026 World Junior Championship is reaching its climax, with the medal games set to take place today. After a thrilling tournament showcasing the future stars of hockey, the teams are ready to battle for the coveted podium positions.

Semifinal Results and Final Matchups

The semifinals, held on January 4th, set the stage for today's medal matches. Sweden secured their place in the gold medal game with a 4-3 shootout victory over Finland. Anton Frondell scored the decisive goal in the eighth round of the shootout, sending the Swedes to their second championship game in three years. In the other semifinal, Czechia upset Canada 6-4. Tomáš Poletín's late goal broke a 4-4 tie, propelling Czechia into the final.

The gold medal game will feature Sweden and Czechia, while Canada and Finland will compete for the bronze medal.

Bronze Medal Game Preview

Canada and Finland, both disappointed after their semifinal losses, will face off for the bronze medal. Canada, with a record 20 World Junior Championship titles, is looking to end their medal drought since 2023. Finland has a strong history in the tournament as well, with seven bronze medals.

A key player for Finland has been Aron Kiviharju, who contributed with a strong distribution game. Petteri Rimpinen was also named one of Finland's top players of the tournament. Canada will rely on players like Zayne Parekh, who leads the tournament in scoring with 11 points, Tij Iginla, Porter Martone and Cole Reschny.

Gold Medal Game Preview

Sweden will face Czechia in the gold medal game. Sweden is aiming for their first gold medal since 2012. Key players for Sweden include Ivar Stenberg and Eddie Genborg. Goaltender Love Harenstam has also been a crucial part of Sweden's success.

Czechia, after their impressive win against Canada, will look to capture their first gold medal since 2001. Vojtech Cihar, Maxmilian Curran, and Adam Benak have been offensive leaders for the Czechs, while Michal Orsulak has provided solid goaltending.

Players to Watch

Throughout the tournament, several players have stood out. Gavin McKenna (Canada) has been highly touted, with many predicting him to be a top forward. Other forwards to watch include Anton Frondell (Sweden), James Hagens (USA), Porter Martone (Canada), and Michael Misa (Canada).

On defense, Cole Hutson (USA) and Zayne Parekh (Canada) have been recognized as top talents. Carter George (Canada) has been a standout in goal.

Tournament Notes

The 2026 World Junior Championship marks the 50th edition of the tournament. The tournament is being held in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ten teams participated in the top division, with Denmark returning to the competition for the first time since 2019.