Team Canada is in the final four of the 2021 World Men’s Under-18 Hockey Championship in Frisco, Texas. In the semifinals on Wednesday, Team Canada will be facing Sweden.
In the preliminary round, Team Canada came through with four victories. They already pounded Sweden 12-1, and beat Latvia 4-2, Switzerland 7-0, and Belarus 5-2. In the quarterfinals, Canada hammered the Czech Republic 10-3.
Two players lead Team Canada in scoring with 10 points each so far in the tournament. Peterborough Petes center Mason McTavish of Pembroke, Ontario has five goals and five assists, while Kitchener Rangers center Francesco Pinelli of Stoney Creek, Ontario has three goals and seven assists. Due to coronavirus, McTavish and Pinelli were both playing in Europe this past season. McTavish was with Olten of the Swiss League, and Pinelli was with Jesenice of the Alps Hockey League. Jesenice is based in Slovenia. Remember, there was no Ontario Hockey League at all this year because of coronavirus.
The other semifinal on Wednesday has Finland versus Russia. The gold medal game and bronze medal game will take place on Thursday.
The United States has had great success at the World Under-18 Hockey Championship in recent years. In fact, they have won a medal every year since 2004. However, the Americans were beaten 5-2 to Sweden in the quarterfinals, and were thus eliminated.
