Team Canada is entering the elimination round of the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s Hockey Championships in Switzerland undefeated. On Wednesday, Canada defeated the Czechia 3-2 in Fribourg to improve to a record of seven wins and zero losses. Of Canada’s seven Pool B wins, six wins came in regulation, and one win came in extra time. Canada had 20 of a possible 21 points.
Three Canadian players reached double digits in points. San Jose Sharks centre and Team Canada captain Macklin Celebrini of Vancouver, British Columbia scored two goals, while Canadian Olympic gold medalist and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia and Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon of Surrey, British Columbia had two assists each. Crosby won the gold medal for Canada at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
Canada’s game-winning goal also came from an Olympic gold medalist. John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs broke a 2-2 deadlock at 9:25 of the third period. A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Tavares won gold at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Tavares’s goal was one of three consecutive goals for Canada in the game as the Czechia originally went up 2-0.
Canada will play the United States in one of four quarterfinal games on Thursday. The other quarterfinal games have Switzerland versus Sweden, Finland versus Czechia and Norway versus Latvia.
