MINNEAPOLIS – Canada has been pushed at the 2026 World Junior Championship. They’ve been pushed more than maybe anyone thought they would be in the tournament. Czechia took them to the brink, Latvia took them to overtime and they didn’t have too much trouble with Denmark. Now they take on last year’s silver medalist Finland on New Year's Eve with a chance to win their group and a top seed in the quarterfinals.

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The tournament started hard for Canada, but it only gets harder from here. On New Year’s Eve, it won’t be a traditional rival that Canada plays, but they’ll get a Finnish team that has been stingy defensively and a goaltender who has thrived in the spotlight so much that his nickname is “Showtime.”

Considering all we’ve seen from Canada so far in the event, this game against Finland may be the one we can learn the most from. It's going to be an absolute battle. So what should we be watching for in the major NYE showdown?

What To Watch For: Canada Vs. Finland

What Is On The Line?

Canada enters the game with eight of a possible nine points in the standings so far. They are in first place. A win of any kind puts them in first place in the group. 

Finland has seven of a possible nine points so far following an OT loss to Czechia Monday. A win of any kind would put Finland into first place in the group. Regulation pushes them past Canada with 10 points in the standings, while an overtime win gets them even with Canada and they’d win in the head-to-head tiebreaker. 

Additionally, Finland could finish as low as third if they were to secure no points and Czechia scores a win of any kind over Latvia. 

It’s a big, big day because seeding most definitely matters. Finishing third in the group means a guaranteed date with one of USA or Sweden in the quarterfinals. 

Will The Top Guys Open The Floodgates?

Canada has had one line producing for them consistently so far in this tournament. Gavin McKenna (2026), Michael Hage (MTL) and Brady Martin (NSH) have been fairly reliable. Everyone else has been picking at it a little bit.

Michael Misa (SJS) got his first goal of the tournament against Denmark, while Porter Martone (PHI) seems to be hitting his stride. Canada is going to need those guys to be a factor against a Finnish team that can clog lanes and make things difficult.

We’re still waiting to see Canada’s best game of this tournament. We didn’t learn much from the 9-1 win against Denmark, to be fair. Yeah, it was an easy win, but Canada still hasn’t looked like the best team here yet. They still are on paper, but now they’ve got to actually show it.

Can Finland Drag This Game Into The Mud?

If there is a better country on an annual basis that is as good at defending as a team, I haven’t seen it. Finland is in every tournament and has a chance in every game because they are committed, disciplined and they are opportunistic.

This Finnish roster is not as skilled or as deep as last year’s team. It is going to be a tough game. If they can slow down Canada’s offensive attack early, they can do what Latvia did earlier in the tournament and create some frustration and forcing of plays. Finland is going to block a ton of shots.

How does Canada beat that? They have the size, the speed and the will to get to the middle, but they haven’t done it well enough in this tournament on a game-to-game basis. If Canada doesn’t find ways to win more space between the dots, they’re not going to have success.

What makes Finland even more dangerous is Petteri “Showtime” Rimpinen (LAK) is as good a last line of defense as there is in this tournament. His numers are not sparkling in the tournament, but he’s also only faced 43 total shots over three starts. This team does not allow a lot.

Who Starts In Net For Canada?

Dale Hunter has a decision to make. Does he go with Carter George (LAK) in a game Canada surely wants to secure the win and the No. 1 seed? Or does Jack Ivankovic (NSH) get the net?

George hasn’t had his fastball here with six goals allowed on 46 shots so far. Ivankovic stopped 26 of 27 against Latvia in a game that was far tougher than anyone thought it would be. 

If Canada decided at the start of the tournament that Carter George is their guy, then that’s who should start. But if there is any doubt based on what we’ve seen in this tournament, the net is going to have to go to Ivankovic.

It’s a big decision that probably has implications far beyond one game as the Canadian coaching staff balances between in experience and performance.

Players To Watch: Canada Vs. Finland

Michael Misa, C, Canada (SJS)

Misa hasn't been especially effective in this tournament yet and the expectations on him have been massive. He did score against Denmark and that could be the spark needed to break out. This is the kind of game where precision is going to matter. When Misa is at his best, he can find the seams and the openings when there isn't a lot there. If he can play closer to the top of his game, which we haven't seen him do yet here, it's going to go a long way to helping Canada win this game.

Jett Luchanko, C, Canada (PHI)

A team like Finland can slow the game down, but Luchanko can speed the game up. He has not hit the scoresheet yet in this tournament, but he's going to have a chance to step up in a game that will be defined by there not being a lot of time or space. Luchanko doesn't have that high-end skill that some of Canada's other players do, but he has speed and drive. They're going to need a ton of that in this game.

Petteri Rimpinen, G, Finland (LAK)

The man with the inside track on the directorate award for his goaltending in this tournament for a second straight year, Mr. Showtime is doing what he does best here. Finland has clearly decided that he is just going to play every game and that's that. He has a defense in front of him that makes it tough to find space inside. He handles everything from the outside especially well. Rimpinen is an elite competitor and he likely goes as hard for this game as any other. 

Emil Hemming, LW, Finland (SJS)

With three goals through three games in the tournament, Hemming is doing what he has for most of his Finnish international career. His job is to put pucks in the net. Finland is going to have to pick their spots, but they also have to take their chances when they're there. Hemming has been a focal point of the offense. He'll need to get to the interior more to get the goals against Canada, but he can score from anywhere and the lethal accuracy of his shot will certainly come in handy when the chances may be fewer and farther between. 

2026 World Juniors Quarterfinal Schedule

Friday, January 2

• 12:30 p.m. ET - Relegation Game
• 2:00 p.m. ET - Quarterfinals Game 1 - Sweden vs. TBD
• 4:30 p.m. ET - Quarterfinals Game 2 - TBD vs. TBD
• 6:00 p.m. ET - Quarterfinals Game 3 - USA vs. TBD
• 8:30 p.m. ET - Quarterfinals Game 4 - Canada vs. TBD

2026 World Juniors Medal Round Schedule, Semifinals and Final

Sunday, January 4

• 4:30 p.m. ET - Semifinals Game 1
• 8:30 p.m. ET - Semifinals Game 2

Monday, January 5

• 4:30 p.m. ET - Bronze Medal Game
• 8:30 p.m. ET - Gold Medal Game

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