Late Skate Deflection Sends Czechia Past Canada, 6-4, Into Gold Medal Game Poletin credited with the late winner after review as Czechs outlast Canada in a back-and-forth semifinal

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Canada threw push after push at Czechia on Sunday night, tied the game late, and still could not shake them.

Tomas Poletin was credited with the go-ahead goal at 18:46 of the third period as Czechia knocked off Canada 6-4 in the semifinal round of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. A Maximilian Curran point shot deflected off Michael Misa and then Poletin near the crease, and video review upheld the goal.

Vojtech Cihar added an empty netter with 25.9 seconds left to seal it, sending Czechia into the gold medal game against Sweden. Canada will play Finland in the bronze medal game.

Canada entered the night with the kind of reputation that can bend games before they even start. Czechia did not play along.

The Czechs came out with pace and layered pressure, forcing Canada to defend shifts and leaning on Jack Ivankovic to keep things level early. Ivankovic delivered, including an early glove stop and a rebound denial that prevented the game from tilting before it could settle.

Canada eventually earned a power play late in the first period and converted. Tij Iginla opened the scoring at 15:14, jamming home a loose puck at the edge of the crease to put Canada up 1-0.

Czechia answered quickly. Curran tied it at 16:56, sliding a finish through traffic to make it 1-1 heading into intermission.

Czechia grabbed its first lead early in the second. At 3:44, Adam Titlbach snapped home a slot chance after sustained pressure made Canada chase without a stick in the defensive zone.

Canada’s response came on special teams. With a 5-on-3 advantage, Zayne Parekh tied the game at 12:38 when a point shot found its way through, evening the score at 2-2.

Then came one of the strangest sequences of the tournament. Michael Hage was awarded a penalty shot, made a move, and was tripped by the Czech goaltender. The play resulted in a rare re-take, and Hage came up empty again, leaving the game tied with tension building.

Czechia used that momentum swing to reclaim the lead late in the period. With 42.8 seconds left in the second, Adam Benak buried a low finish off an odd-man look to send the Czechs into the third up 3-2.

Canada came out with urgency and tied the game early. Cole Reschny muscled his way to the crease and scored at 3:59 of the third to make it 3-3.

Czechia did not blink. Cihar drove hard to the net and restored the Czech lead at 9:49 with a quick finish that beat Ivankovic before he could recover.

Canada still had one more push. With the game tightening late, a Harrison Brunicke shot created a net-front bounce, and captain Porter Martone finished it at 17:19 to tie the score 4-4.

That tie lasted 87 seconds.

Curran fired the eventual winner from the point with 1:14 left. The puck changed direction off skates in front and ended up in the net, and the review confirmed the goal would stand, giving Poletin the credit and Czechia the lead at 18:46.

Canada pulled the goalie, but Czechia closed the door. Cihar hit the empty net at 19:34, turning a one-goal game into a 6-4 final and sending the Czechs to the gold medal game for another shot at the top of the podium.

Czechia will play Sweden for gold in St. Paul. Canada, knocked out despite tying the game late, will face Finland for bronze.