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In the final preliminary round game of the 2026 World Juniors, Team Canada took on Finland in a battle at 3M Arena at Mariucci between the top two teams of Group B to determine who would get the easier path in the next stage.
Both teams had two regulation wins, but were separated by Canada’s overtime win over Latvia. Previously, Finland’s only loss of the tournament came from Czechia in overtime on Monday, Dec. 29.
Last year’s silver medalist was Canada’s biggest test of the series so far.
If Gavin McKenna (2026), Michael Hage (MTL), and Brady Martin (NSH) hoped to take another win, they had to find the offensive success they struck against Denmark in their 9-1 win earlier in the week.
FloHockey contributor Chris Peters has the full breakdown and keys to the game.
Going into the game, the Finns only allowed 4 goals, the fewest in the tournament by a significant margin.
Here’s everything you need to know from Canada vs Finland in the last preliminary round game of the World Juniors tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Read the game recap for Canada vs Finland in the preliminary round of the 2026 World Juniors on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
It was a game that opened with four goals on five shots. Eventually, Canada won Group B in the preliminary round of the World Juniors with their 7-4 victory over Finland.
Now, we know the quarterfinals schedule for Friday, Jan. 2:
After O’Reilly set up Beaudoin twice for his first two goals of the tournament, Cole passed it over to O’Reilly in the neutral zone, who was open to easily seal the deal and score the empty-netter with just over a minute remaining.
O’REILLY SEALS IT FOR CANADA WITH AN EMPTY NETTER!
7-4. 🇨🇦#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/QfUnqkRYVg
As Finland pulls out all the stops, they add the 6th attacker and send Rimpinen to the bench for the last two minutes of the game. They followed it up with a timeout to see how they might be able to score the first of two goals to close the deficit.
Heading out of the under 6-minute timeout, Canada looks to be largely in control of the game with a stable two-goal lead.
Shots on goal:
O’Reilly set up Beaudoin once again with a perfect sauce out front for Beaudoin to backhand the puck past Rimpinen.
COLE BEAUDOIN WITH HIS SECOND OF THE NIGHT PUTS CANADA UP 6-4!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/K2qXM5VWeL
The Finns will get their 4th power play of the game (1/3) after Cootes tripped Saarelainen in Canada’s zone. Just one shot on goal during the power play and they weren’t able to get anything going during the 5-on-4.
Finland starts the third frame with a minute of power play time.
The best chance came for Canada when Luchenko took a turnover in the neutral zone and after two slick moves into the o-zone, was able to put a confident backhand on Rimpinen that he was able to knock away with the blocker.
While you wait, check out Team Canada’s roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics, released earlier today.
Here are the 2⃣5⃣ players who will wear the 🍁 at #MilanoCortina2026! 🇨🇦
Voici les 2⃣5⃣ joueurs qui porteront la 🍁 à Milan-Cortina! 🇨🇦
ROSTER: https://t.co/5I8Uz2Psfa
FORMATION : https://t.co/zbOWuEgdPQ@TeamCanada | @Equipe_Canada pic.twitter.com/dTc1YKengx
2026 NHL Draft prospect Ivar Stenberg scored a late goal for Sweden in their 6-3 win over USA at the World Juniors. The win allowed Sweden to take first place in group play and allowed Stenberg to exact a little family revenge as older brother Otto was on the team that USA beat for gold in Sweden.
It was all Canada until the final minutes of the period as the game continued into the middle frame. Defense picked up considerably, although there were still high speed breakaway chances both directions.
One came from a 75-foot pass from Zayne Parekh to Tij Iginla on the power play, scoring to break a scoring draught that lasted since 7 minutes remained in the first.
Then, a goal and quick rebuttal wrapped up the period with Cole Beaudoin potting his first and Roope Vesterinen striking back almost immediately for Finland.
Shots on goal:
Finland got a late power play after Parekh’s stick took out Westergard’s feet as he moved inside to enter the zone.
In Finnish fashion, repeating their MO from this game so far—Vesterinen scores just seconds after the puck hit the ice from Beaudoin’s goal.
FINLAND GETS IT RIGHT BACK OFF A ROCKET FROM ROOPE ESTERINEN. 🚀
THIS GAME IS INSANE. 🤯#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/rExoDFwYEa
After a lot of hard work down near the net, O’Reilly chucked the puck from the edge into the net and Beaudoin was there to clean up the rebound and knock it in for the first goal in half a period. That was Beaudoin’s first goal of the tournament.
COLE BEAUDOIN PUTS CANADA UP TWO!
5-3 🇨🇦#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/70pslRDlPl
Finland was saved by the whistle after a rebounding puck bounced next to Rimpinen while Brunicke worked at it and tucked it into the net. The whistle had already blown though and the score remained 4-3.
The period has been pretty lopsided in favor of Canada, shots on goal this period:
As the officials try to reign in the extracurricular activities after the whistle, they sent Desnoyers and Vanhanen to the box for roughing.
Zayne Parekh launched it to Tij Iginla, who was breaking out, all the way from Canada’s defensive zone to open the opportunity. Another power play goal for the tournament-leading unit.
Carter George earned an assist as well.
WHAT A PASS FROM PAREKH. 👀
WHAT A FINISH FROM IGINLA. 🚀
CARTER GEORGE ALSO GETTING AN ASSIST TOO! 🤣#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ZtY1k6DSm1
Just moments after the last power play ended, Finland’s Saarelainen gets a stick into the hands of Canada’s attacker to force a turnover and earn a hooking call.
Canada gets their 2nd power play of the game after scoring in the first 13 seconds in their first. Finland killed it off with zero shots on goal, although Canada opened the man advantage with plenty of time to set up—just shot it wide multiple times.
After the first five minutes of the second period, Canada added four more shots on goal and pressured Rimpinen for one of their most consistent pushes of the game. Finland has yet to have a chance the other way this period.
There’s a lot more aggression after each whistle with hands flying as teams try to draw a power play.
It’ll be up to both goalies to see if they can bring things back within their control after the intermission. During the intermission, the broadcast team talked with the referees and got an explanation about the goal that stood.
They explained that it was incidental contact while going for a loose puck between the defender and goalie’s glove.
It was a furious first 20 minutes of the Canada vs Finland game in this World Juniors finale to the year. Canada opened the scoring but Finland had an answer each time—finishing things off with a somewhat controversial goal that stood after a challenge at Carter George’s request.
The packed 3M Arena at Mariucci is getting an entertaining show as Brady Martin potted two more goals, including a power play shot at point blank range to get it past Los Angeles Kings’ Petteri Rimpinen.
Shots on goal:
Canada challenged Lasse Boelius’s goal for interference after it appeared that Saarelainen blocked Carter George’s glove from making a play on the shot.
They called it a good goal after a short review. Canada is assessed a two-minute minor penalty for delay of game due to the failed challenge.
CANADA CHALLENGES FINLANDS THIRD GOAL FOR GOALIE INTERFERENCE BUT IT STANDS.
ITS 3-3 AND ONLY IN THE FIRST PERIOD.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/5ZOPQvQDVD
Westergard (PHI) attacked George with speed forcing Ethan MacKenzie to make the penalty and send Finland on their first power play.
Canada goes back on top after spending all of twelve seconds on the power play. It took about four passes and a Michael Hage “pass” off of Rimpinen’s pads that Martin cleaned up easily and put into the goal.
BRADY MARTIN WITH HIS SECOND OF THE PERIOD TO GIVE CANADA THE 3-2 LEAD!
THIS GAME IS CRAZY🤯#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/UvNjeFrUbq
Canada goes on their first power play of the game after Finland’s Onni Kalto finished Ben Danford (TOR) hard into the boards from behind. After a short delay, the officials made the announcement that he earned a two-minute minor for boarding.
Sweden defeats Team USA 6-3 to finish Group A in first place. USA will await the final result of Canada-Finland and could play Finland or Czechia in the quarterfinal on Jan. 2. Sweden will meet Latvia.
Vesterinen put it on Carter George’s blocker but the rebound was juicy and projected top 2026 NHL draft pick Oliver Suvanto was ready to sling it in for the tying goal.
Four goals total on six shots.
FINLAND TIES IT RIGHT BACK UP! THIS GAME IS BACK AND FORTH! 🤯#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/DGr0G2hYUg
Brady Martin scores his second of the tournament with a great shot that was assisted by Michael Hage (MTL).
Three shots on goal for three goals so far in this game.
CANADA MAKE IT A 2-1 GAME!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/8GsrisSYuw
Finland’s Captain Miettinen (SEA) opened the ice with speed, Vanhanan found him with a beautiful sauce before Miettinen lifted the puck and found the back of the net to tie it up.
FINLAND GETS A BEAUTY FROM THEIR CAPTAIN TO TIE THINGS UP AT ONE A PIECE!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/6Eu0gHgSXD
It took no time at all for Zayne Parekh to get enough space at the dot to rip his first shot and goal of the game—4th of the tournament. Porter Martone and Tij Iginla were in lockstep with Parekh, making the entry into the zone and drawing the Finnish defenders.
JUST OVER A MINUTE IN ZAYNE PAREKH GIVES CANADA THE LEAD! 🔥#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/a02klEi9Mm
It’s a packed house and the crowd went wild for the teams taking the ice in this New Year’s Eve finale to the preliminary round of the 2026 World Juniors.
Petteri Rimpinen in net for Finland.
Carter George in net for Canada.
Canada has beaten Finland six straight times, can they make it seven?
Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg and more: Chris Peters shared his top draft prospects to watch at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. Read the full write-up here.
A few players he listed from tonight’s game:
Here’s what Chris had to say about Oliver Suvanto:
“Among the younger players in the draft class, Suvanto is built like a man already at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds. He is rising up draft charts steadily while playing more and more regularly in Liiga. He has just seven points in 30 games, but is getting a regular shift and a good level of ice time. Finland has a big hole at center without Konsta Helenius, if Suvanto can adequately fill it and produce a little, teams are going to take serious notice.”
Here are some quick stats on Canada and Finland so far in the World Juniors, heading into this New Year’s Eve match-up.
Here’s the official line-up.
Tij Iginla (UTA) – Michael Misa (SJS) – Porter Martone (PHI)
Gavin McKenna (2026) – Michael Hage (MTL) – Brady Martin (NSH)
Caleb Desnoyers (UTA) – Cole Beaudoin (UTA) – Sam O’Reilly (TBL)
Jett Luchanko (PHI) – Cole Reschny (CGY) – Braeden Cootes (VAN)
Carter Bear
Cameron Reid (NSH) – Zayne Parekh (CGY)
Ethan MacKenzie – Harrison Brunicke (PIT)
Kashawn Aitcheson (NYI) – Ben Danford (TOR)
Keaton Verhoeff (2026)
Jack Ivankovic (NSH)
Carter George (LAK)
One last dance in 2025. 🇨🇦
Une petite dernière en 2025. 🇨🇦#WorldJuniors | #MondialJunior pic.twitter.com/lBisZ6bLSb
What to watch for, players to watch, and what will it take for either team to win in tonight’s World Juniors showdown—Chris Peters has it all ready to go for you. Click here to read his full breakdown.
FloHockey’s Maddy Mendoza is providing live updates of the USA vs Sweden World Juniors game Watch NHL draft eligible Brady Knowling (2026), the youngest player on Team USA, getting his World Juniors debut against one of the best junior hockey teams in the world.
Team USA giving 17-year-old Brady Knowling the start in net against Sweden on New Year’s Eve. Big spot for the young fella!#worldjuniors #nhldraft pic.twitter.com/XmgSv9jUCz
NHL Draft prospect Keaton Verhoeff made his World Juniors debut in Canada’s 9-1 win against Denmark. Hear his reactions.
All games during 2026 World Juniors tournament will be broadcast live on the NHL Network for viewers in the US.
The network will air live game telecasts of the World Junior Championships plus analysis, highlights, and interviews about the tournament.
If you live in Canada, you can watch each game on TSN.
You can also follow along on FloHockey for the latest news throughout the tournament.
The puck drops on Canada vs Finland at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 31 at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, MN. You can follow live updates right here throughout the evening.
Here are the current standings after the games on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
(Points) W-OTW-OTL-L
It’s been an exciting first weekend of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. Here are the scores so far:
Here’s who won the Gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship since 2000.
View the list of teams, by group, for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
FloHockey will be on site for complete coverage of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can expect game-by-game coverage of both Team USA and Team Canada from FloHockey’s experts, interviews with key players and coaches and much more. Follow FloHockey’s WJC coverage here.
The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don’t miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.
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