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WHL Regina Pats

Canada, Bedard to Face Czechia, Svozil in WJC Gold Medal Game

January 4, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


Halifax, N.S. - It will be a matchup many Pats fans were hoping for in the Gold Medal Game of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships, after both Canada and Czechia won their respective semifinal matchups on Wednesday evening, meaning Connor Bedard and Stanislav Svozil will go toe-to-toe on Thursday for World Juniors glory.

Canada surrendered the first two goals in their semifinal against the United States, but recovered by scoring six in a row, winning the contest 6-2.

Meanwhile Czechia got a goal from David Jiricek with just 39 seconds left in regulation to force overtime against Sweden, before Jiri Kulich scored the game-winner with just 50 seconds remaining in overtime.

RECAP - | Canada 6, United States 2

The U.S. got two goals in the first 10:30 of the game, courtesy of Logan Cooley and Kenny Connors.

Just over a minute after Connors made it 2-0, Pats captain Connor Bedard redirected home a back door feed from Ethan del Mastro to cut the Americans lead in half.

The Canadians rebounded big time in the second period. Logan Stankoven and Adam Fantilli scored one after another to give Canada a 3-2 lead.

Jackson Blake had thought he tied the game for the Americans 7:22 into the second period, but Canadian successfully challenged the play for goaltender interference, and the goal was taken back.

Roughly five minutes later, Joshua Roy extended Canada's lead to 4-2, with Bedard picking up a secondary assist, his 23rd point of the tournament.

The U.S. had yet another goal called back for goaltender interference just 38 seconds into the third period, keeping the score at 4-2.

Brandt Clarke gave Canada a big insurance marker midway through the third to make it 5-2, before Joshua Roy put the icing on the cake with an empty-netter to make it 6-2.

Canada goaltender Thomas Milic was fabulous in the game, finishing with 43 saves on 45 shots. He was named Canada's Player of the Game.

Connors was named the player of the game for the U.S.

RECAP - | Czechia 2, Sweden 1 (OT)

This was a low-event, tight-checking game all the way through, with both teams combining for just 53 shots on goal.

Sweden scored the opening goal 1:39 into the second period courtesy of Ludvig Jansson.

The score remained 1-0 in Sweden's favour until the final minute of the contest, when David Jiricek's one-timer with 39 seconds left in regulation tied the game 1-1, sending the contest to extra time.

After more than nine minutes of overtime - and when it looked like things might head to a shootout - Czechia's Jiri Kulich came down the right wing and was able to cut to the net and beat Carl Lindbom, sending his country to its first Gold Medal Game at the World Juniors since 2001.

Kulich was named the Player of the Game for Czechia. Jansson was named Player of the Game for Sweden.

COMING UP - Jan. 5

Gold Medal Game - Czechia vs. Canada, 5:30 p.m. Sask. time (7:30 p.m. Atlantic time)

Bronze Medal Game - USA vs. Sweden, 1:30 p.m. Sask. time (3:30 p.m. Atlantic time)

Check out the Regina Pats Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2023


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