By Matt Tidcombe/CHL
A Boxing Day rematch will decide the winner of the 2023 World Juniors as Canada will face Czechia tonight in Halifax.
After two thrilling semi-finals Wednesday, the top two sides from Group A will square off for gold.
2023 World Juniors medal schedule:
USA vs. Sweden — 2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT
Czechia vs. Canada — 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT
The day ahead:
Czechia earned its spot in the final in astonishing fashion. Trailing Sweden 1-0, they tied the game with 38.8 seconds left in regulation as David Spacek (Sherbrooke Phoenix) teed up David Jiricek’s one-timer.
Then, with just 49.6 seconds to play in overtime, Jiri Kulich sent Czechia to the gold medal game at the World Juniors for the first time since 2001.
Regardless of result, Czechia will medal for the first time since 2005 when they claimed bronze.
Canada advanced to the final for the fourth straight year courtesy of a 6-2 win over the USA. The Americans jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead before Canada rattled off six straight goals.
Joshua Roy (Sherbrooke Phoenix) had four points (2G, 2A) while Thomas Milic (Seattle Thunderbirds) stopped 43 shots. Connor Bedard (Regina Pats), Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts) and Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers) all had 1-1 in the victory.
Joshua Roy roofs the loose puck! 🇨🇦 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/kzSgdq36Rq
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) January 5, 2023
In the team’s first game of the tournament, Czechia skated away with a 5-2 win as they beat Canada for the first time ever in regulation at a World Juniors.
Who to watch
Eight Canadian players have the opportunity today to make World Juniors history as they seek their second straight gold medal.
Connor Bedard, Ethan Del Mastro, Nathan Gaucher, Zack Ostapchuk, Brennan Othmann, Joshua Roy, Logan Stankoven and Olen Zellweger will all look to add to their medal collection tonight as Canada looks to become the first team since 2009 to win back-to-back gold medals.
The eight players are a combined +48 in the tournament while Bedard, Roy and Stankoven, who were selected as Canada’s top three players of the tournament post-game Wednesday, have combined for 17 goals and 44 points.
CHL leaders
| Name | Points | Country | CHL club |
| Connor Bedard | 23 | Canada | Regina |
| Logan Stankoven | 11 | Canada | Kamloops |
| Joshua Roy | 10 | Canada | Sherbrooke |
| David Spacek | 8 | Czechia | Sherbrooke |
| Stanislav Svozil | 8 | Czechia | Regina |
| Gabriel Szturc | 8 | Czechia | Kelowna |
| Jakub Brabenec | 7 | Czechia | Charlottetown |
| Dylan Guenther | 7 | Canada | Edmonton |
| Marcel Marcel | 6 | Czechia | Gatineau |
| Shane Wright | 6 | Canada | Kingston |
Where to watch
Both the gold medal and bronze medal games can be seen live across all five TSN channels tonight.
