Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team jumps right back into action Friday, facing Czechia as the preliminary round
continues at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship at Vantaa Trio Areena.
Last Game
On Thursday, Canada kicked off the prelims with a
6-3 victory over Sweden. Jett Luchanko and Malcolm Spence gave the Canadians an early 2-0 lead,
Gavin McKenna scored twice in 1:49 apart in the first period, and Matthew
Schaefer and Carson Wetsch rounded out the scoring. Carter George stopped 26
shots for the win.
Czechia opened its tournament Thursday with
a 3-0 win over Switzerland. Maxmilian Curran opened the scoring early in the first period, before
Tomas Poletin and Marek Danicek added insurance markers in the third. Jakub
Milota made 17 saves for the shutout.
Last Meeting
Canada and Czechia last met a year ago at Worlds, with the
Canadians winning 8-3 to close the preliminary round. Matthew Wood had a hat trick, Macklin
Celebrini had three assists and Ty Halaburda recorded a goal and two
helpers. Carson Bjarnason made 23 saves between the pipes.
What to Watch
How about Gavin McKenna? The 16-year-old recorded 34 goals, 63 assists and
97 points in 61 games with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers
this season, seeting a WHL record for assists by a rookie. Not eligible
until the 2026 NHL Draft thanks to a Dec. 20 birthday, McKenna set a
tournament record at the 2023 Canada Winter Games when he posted 31 points
(16-15—31) in just seven games on P.E.I.
The only returning forward for the Czechs is Adam Jecho, who crossed the
Atlantic (and most of Canada) to play this season with the WHL’s Edmonton
Oil Kings. In 54 games, the 18-year-old registered 23 goals and 47 points in
the Alberta capital. Jecho is already on the board in Vantaa, assisting on
Tomas Poletin’s goal in the tournament opener.
A Look Back
This will be the 18th meeting between these Canadians and Czechs at U18
Men’s Worlds and Canada has a slight edge in the head-to-head history, with
nine wins and a tie.
All-time record: Canada leads 9-7-1 (1-3 in OT)
Canada goals: 69
Czechia goals: 45
