Canada bests Czechia in 12-goal WJHC thriller

Canada edged Czechia 7-5 in a thrilling conclusion to the first day of the 2026 World Junior Championship on Friday.

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone iced the game with an empty-netter after the Czechs drew within one late in the final frame.

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."

This one was a back-and-forth affair that saw both teams surrender leads.

Czechia held a 3-2 advantage in the second period. But Parekh sniped to even the contest, and he scored on the power play early in the third to give Canada a brief lead.

New York Islanders selection Tomas Poletin evened the game at 4-4 less than two minutes after Parekh's second tally, only for Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla to give Canada another lead just 71 seconds later. The three-goal flurry occurred 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 lead midway through the third period, and his tally proved to be the game-winner.

Blue-liner Tomas Galvas cut Canada's lead to one with under five minutes left, but Czechia was unable to complete the comeback.

Canada faces Latvia on Saturday. Latvia shockingly upset Canada in the round robin in last year's tournament.