Canada defeated Czechia 7-5 in the opening day of the 2026 World Junior Championship on Friday.
Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone sealed the victory with an empty-net goal after Czechia had pulled within one goal late in the third period.
The result carries extra weight. Czechia eliminated Canada in the quarterfinals at the past two tournaments.
“We’re a humble team, but people should still be scared of us,” Calgary Flames defenseman Zayne Parekh, who was named Canada’s player of the game, told TSN’s Kenzie Lalonde. “Two fifth-placed finishes aren’t good enough, but we’ve got a lot of talent on this team, and we’re trying to shock the world.”
The game featured multiple lead changes throughout.
Czechia took a 3-2 lead in the second period. But Parekh scored to tie the game, then added a power-play goal early in the third to put Canada ahead.
New York Islanders selection Tomas Poletin tied the game 4-4 less than two minutes after Parekh’s second goal. Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla restored Canada’s lead just 71 seconds later.
The three goals came in a 2:43 span.
“I thought we fought through adversity,” Iginla told Lalonde. “At this tournament, there are so many good teams, so many good players, that a lot of games are going to be decided in the third. I thought it was great how we came out and attacked in that period.”
Undrafted defenseman Ethan MacKenzie gave Canada a two-goal cushion midway through the third period with what became the game-winning goal.
Defenseman Tomas Galvas cut Canada’s lead to one with under five minutes remaining. But Czechia couldn’t complete the comeback.
Canada faces Latvia on Saturday. Latvia upset Canada in the round robin at last year’s tournament.
