General | 1/3/2025 9:42:52 AM

The USHL has an active or former player on every roster heading into the semifinals of the IIHF World Junior Championship at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on Saturday, Jan. 4. Sweden and Finland will drop the puck at 3:30 p.m. ET before the U.S. and Czechia faceoff at 7:30 p.m. ET. The winner of each semifinal will advance to play for gold on Sunday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

USA vs. Czechia

The U.S. cruised through Group A in the preliminary round with a 3-0-1 record and kept its foot on the gas with a 7-2 win vs. Switzerland in the quarterfinal. Approaching the medal round, the Americans have outscored their opponents 29-12. Top NHL Draft prospect James Hagens (NTDP) and Washington Capitals prospects Cole Huston are tied for second in tournament scoring with eight points each. In net, the U.S. has split time between Los Angeles Kings prospect Hampton Slukynsky (Fargo Force) and Trey Augustine (NTDP), who has posted a 2-1-0 record with a 2.97 goals against average and .914 save percentage. 

Backstopped by Utah Hockey Club prospect Michael Hrabel (Omaha Lancers), the Czechs emerged from Group B with a 3-1-0 record and earned a semifinal birth in exciting fashion, matching Canada's late game-tying goal with a power-play goal at 59:20 to oust the host with a 4-3, last-minute victory. It marks the first time since 1978-80 that Canada has not had an opportunity to medal in junior hockey's crowning event. Hrabel has played four of five games for Czechia with a 3-1-0 record, 2.52 goals against average and .921 save percentage. 

Sweden vs. Finland

Sweden is the only undefeated team in the tournament with wins against Slovakia, Switzerland and Czechia in the preliminary rounds, and a 3-2 win vs. Latvia in the quarterfinal. The defending champions' top-ranked power play is converting at 36%, however their penalty kill is only touch above 62%. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Melvin Strahl (Youngstown Phantoms) is rostered, but has yet to see action between the pipes. 

After losing its opening game of the tournament 4-0 to Canada, Finland quickly found its footing with preliminary wins against Germany and the U.S., then a 5-3 victory vs. Slovakia in the quarterfinal round. Overcoming an injury scare that nearly left him out of the tournament, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Heikki Ruohonen (Dubuque Fighting Saints) has three assists in the tournament with a pair coming in the quarterfinal. In contrast to Sweden, Finland's power play is among the worst in the tournament at 11% but their penalty kill is at the top of the leaderboard at 92%, having allowed only one power-play goal against. 

Notebook

• Latvia's Oliver Murnieks (Sioux City Musketeers) finished the tournament with one goal and three assists as a 16-year old. That puts him in a small, but elite class of players who have also done it: Connor Bedard, Sidney Crosby, Michael Frolik, Aleksander Barkov, Connor McDavid and Simon Nemec.
• Slovakia's Juraj Pekarcik (Dubuque Fighting Saints) finished second in team scoring with three goals and four assists. Maxim Strbak (Sioux Falls Stampede) had one goal and five assists. Daniel Alexander Jencko (Youngstown Phantoms) had two goals and two assists. Luka Radivojevic (Muskegon Lumberjacks) had a pair of helpers and Peter Cisar (Fargo Force) had an assist. In net, Samuel Urban (Sioux City Musketeers) was 2-2-0 with a 8.71 save percentage and 3.16 goals against average, while Alan Lendak (Fargo Force) saw action in a pair of losses. 
• German defenseman and Buffalo Sabres prospect Norwin Panocha (Green Bay Gamblers) finished with an assist, helping the Germans avoid relegation.