Day five has come and gone. We can say that it was quite the twist and turn as Kazakhstan took Slovakia to overtime, and Latvia secured their spot in the quarterfinals. Day six is just as exciting, with Kazakhstan and Switzerland now battling for the final group B spot, and the biggest game of the tournament, Canada vs. USA, takes place.
Related: A Quick Guide to the 2025 World Junior Championship
It all happens today on the final calendar day of 2024. Let’s take a look at today’s games.
Switzerland vs Kazakhstan (11:00 AM CST)
Arguably, one of the biggest stories of the day is Switzerland and Kazakhstan. Switzerland needs to win in regulation while Kazakhstan has to win in either regulation or overtime.
Kazakhstan has only finished in the quarterfinal rounds just a handful of times and never made it to the semifinal while Switzerland has won bronze way back in 1998.
It’s more than just where teams have finished historically, it’s the grit and determination to compete at a higher level that’s showing. Both Switzerland and Kazakhstan are set for an 11:00 AM puck drop and there will certainly be eyes on this game with a trip to the quarterfinals on the round.
I project that Switzerland should punch their ticket, but after Kazakhstan took Slovakia to overtime yesterday, it’s truly anybody’s game.
One Player to Watch from Each Team
Switzerland has yet to secure a point in the 2025 World Juniors, as they’re projected to finish in the relegation game, they’re going to rely on Leo Braillard and Kimo Gruber. Above all, they’re going to look at Kimo Gruber to continue his consistent production and overall two-way play for Switzerland if they want to have their tournament extend past the relegation game.
Kazakhstan has utilized their entire lineup, and if they want to survive more games beyond the relegation game, it’s going to be Davlat Nurkenov and Beibarys Orazov. Similar to Switzerland, the Kazakhs are going to look for Davlat Nurkenov to bring his game to just another level. He’s got the tools to help carry this Kazakhstan team to the quarterfinals, but ultimately, it’s the belief that the Kazakhs need to have in themselves as a group.
Latvia vs Finland (1:30 PM CST)
Latvia and Finland is another game that will be interesting, and that’s for the reason Latvia defeated the Canadians and Finland was shut out by them.
This is a battle for third place, which doesn’t quite carry much meaning until you see who their potential opponents may be. Every last point matters and both teams will hope to land against the opponent they hope for.
Ultimately, Latvia needs to get into another gear if they want to get into medal conversation and this is the game to show just that.
One Player to Watch from Each Team
For Latvia, they have a few options that are legitimate scoring on their roster. For me, it’s Davids Livsics who’s the player that people need to watch in this game. He’s topping Latvia’s scoring group, but he’s provided that extra element where others like Eriks Mateiko can quietly become a scoring threat of their own.
Finland is going to look at the players on their roster and hope a sleeping giant awakes with one of them. It’s Konsta Helenius who hasn’t scored a goal yet who will do some true work if he can find his goal-scoring magic against Latvia tonight.
Czechia vs Sweden (4:00 PM CST)
Another standings position battle, and it’s between Czechia and Sweden this time. However, it’s for first place in Group B. There will be a lot of eyes on this game given the implications it has on tournament placing and game times.
It’s fair to say that both teams have a lot to lose in this game as that fourth-place team in Group A could be considered a free pass to the semifinals. However, with the way the tournament has gone, no team is a free pass right now.
One Player to Watch from Each Team
The Czechs are loaded with talent, but so are the Swedes. This is one of those games that might go into overtime and have you right on the edge of your seat the entire time.
Czechia has found scoring throughout their lineup, but if they want to get past the Swedes and secure first place in Group B, they’re going to want to see increased production from Petr Sikora and others. Sikora is definitely a player who stands out for his quiet play, but his strong numbers offensively and a plus-minus of plus-nine are a marquee attraction for him.
In the favor of the Swedes, they’re going to look toward Axel Sandin-Pellikka to continue his scoring pace to bring the Swedes to where they’re hoping to be. It’s just one of those stories to follow in this game.
USA vs Canada (7:00 PM CST)
Finally, Group A and the battle for first place. On Canadian soil, the Canadians host their neighbours south of the border. It will be interesting and intense. That’s for sure.
What isn’t for sure is the projection of who will win this game, and it’s the same as the previous game for me. It can go either way, and it could be an overtime thriller if Canada can get their act into the game.
Both powerhouse teams have a lot to lose. For the USA, it’s a strong defence of their gold medal from the 2024 tournament. For the Canadians, it’s the pride that’s already been knocked down several pegs in this tournament and that’s amplified on home turf.
One Player to Watch from Each Team
The Americans have a lot of great talent, but Gabe Perrault has been a standout this entire tournament and he could cement himself as an award contender with another huge game, especially against Canada. Perrault is one of those players who is easy to pick but for all of the right reasons. His highlights speak for themselves and his performance this tournament has been incredible so far.
Canada is a sleeping giant in my opinion. They haven’t had a lot of success so far and they haven’t found themselves in a position where they’re pushing for more. Sawyer Mynio had a great first game, but the Canadians need more. Porter Martone and Brayden Yager haven’t recorded points yet, but the Canadians are going to rely on a guy like Calum Ritchie to provide them with big goals in big moments. If there’s a bigger moment in this tournament, we’ll have to wait and see, but for now, this is the big moment that Canada needs to capitalize on.
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