Day 5 Recap: Czechia and USA Set Up the Gold Medal Game; Canada Red and Canada White Meet for Bronze

OAKVILLE — The medal games are set. In the afternoon semifinal, Czechia beat Canada Red 4-3 behind two goals from Matyas Cutta and a 36-save performance from Matyas Novotny, with Canada Red battling to the final second. In the evening, the United States beat Canada White 5-2 behind Mason Martin's 44 saves and a game-winning goal from Drew Daley with seven seconds left in the second period. Saturday's schedule: Canada Red and Canada White meet for bronze, and Czechia faces the United States for gold. Here's how both semifinals unfolded and who stood out.

Cutta, Zelezny and Czechia Hold Off Canada Red, 4-3, to Reach the Gold Medal Game

Czechia is headed to the gold medal game after a 4-3 semifinal win over Canada Red, a game in which Canada out-shot Czechia 39-29 and pushed right to the final second. Matyas Cutta scored twice, Czech goalie Matyas Novotny made 36 saves, and Canada Red's group left everything on the ice.

The Czechs struck first, 55 seconds in. A point shot was deflected in front and Cutta banged home the rebound off passes from Zelezny and Adam Novotny, silencing the home crowd. Cutta has been one of the tournament's best forwards, and he was right back at it all night.

Canada Red's lineup had a notable change. Tanner Adams was not in the lineup, and with a spot open, Braden Reilly dressed for the first time this tournament, while Cole Guizzetti stepped up to an elevated role. Owen Loftus, meanwhile, kept it a one-goal game early with a great full-splits save on Jirota at 4:14 and a right-pad stop on Zelezny at 4:00.

Canada Red had a golden chance to answer. Back-to-back Czech penalties gave Canada a power play, then a brief 5-on-3, and the early sequence did not produce a shot on goal. It was exactly the kind of moment that can tilt a game, but this Canadian group did not let it linger. On the next power play, captain Liam Pue made a heck of a play to find Zaac Charbonneau across the ice for a backdoor goal with 8:07 left in the first, and the crowd got back into it. Canada killed off a late 5-on-3 of its own to hold things level at 1-1 after one.

Czechia's goalie had to be sharp too. On that first power play, Matyas Novotny made a great save on a cross-crease chance for Nicol after the puck went from Matheson to Pue, then down to Royer and across, a sequence that showed how close Canada was to getting on the board. “You have to be quite desperate to keep everything out of your net, so they're just good at that,” Kwajah said of the Czech defence. “The only thing we can say is we have to get one on Czechia.”

Czechia took advantage after a Canadian turnover at the defensive blue line. Zelezny stepped in alone, faked forehand, faked backhand and went back to the forehand to make it 2-1 Czechia with 1:19 left. Canada Red had been playing well in that stretch, and the goal was a momentum swing built on a world-class move. Late in the period, a potential Canada power play was negated by offsetting minors, and Canada started the third on a power play after a Michalek high-stick caught Pue in the helmet.

Pue made it count. He danced a defender at the point, went low, and his shot found a way through just 37 seconds into the third to tie it at 2-2, his second goal of the tournament. The bench celebrated with him. But Czechia answered right back: Zelezny danced a defender and fired on net, the rebound sat in front, and Cutta banged it in to make it 3-2. Sedlacek's one-timer found its way through traffic to stretch the lead to 4-2.

Pue was candid about the stretch that followed. “We kind of just took our foot off the gas after that goal, which we can't let happen,” he said. “It was important to keep the guys together and stay positive. It was kind of the story of our tournament. We were always down by a couple of goals, so we knew we still had a chance, and we tried to start back.”

Down two with just over 16 minutes left, Canada Red went to work. Dvorak was called for an illegal check to the head on Guizzetti, and a few minutes later, on a delayed penalty against Czechia, Canada had goalie Owen Loftus pulled for an extra attacker and scored with six skaters on the ice: Kwajah, as he does, finished from Pue and Fransen to make it 4-3 with 9:21 left. The goal ignited the crowd.

Canada Red pressed for the rest of the night. Later, Kwajah sent a cross-crease pass for Boisvert, and Novotny made a huge save to keep it a one-goal game. Pue kept the puck alive, threw it through everybody to Matheson, and a rebound could not be tipped home. It was the game in one sequence: relentless Canadian pressure against a goalie who refused to break.

For Czechia, it is a chance to do something it has never done at this tournament. The Czechs have never won gold, and their best finish is a silver from 1998. “Thirty years ago nobody was there, and now we are there,” Cutta said. “It's unbelievable. I still can't believe it. We are so proud to represent this jersey, and we just want to win the gold.”

Cutta had a simple explanation for the win: “I think we wanted it more.” Asked what is working for him, he said, “I don't know. I just go to the net and somehow scored. That's it.”

Cutta, who is in his first year in the QMJHL with Rimouski, said he has loved the transition to North American hockey. “It's amazing. Rimouski, they're so nice, so good there, and I'm happy that I can play there,” he said. He also credited Rimouski teammate and 2027 draft-eligible Max Mares: “He's a crazy guy, but he's a good guy. We play together, he's a great guy, and it's good to play with him.”

For Canada Red, Pue was proud of how his teammates handled the loss. “It definitely sucks to lose like that with the group we have,” he said. “We have such a special group, and the guys played their balls off and worked so hard. So it's tough to come out with that result. But at the end of the day, we're playing for a medal tomorrow, so our focus has to be on that, because that's why we still get to put on that maple leaf, and that's still super important.”

Pue also talked about leadership. “For me, it was such a great opportunity to lead my own team and see the pros and cons, what works and what doesn't,” he said. “The guys made it so easy for me because they were so respectful, they worked so hard, and they wanted the gold at the end of the day. They made my job a lot easier.”

Having played the Hlinka Gretzky Cup as well, Pue said the international stage has taught him something about pressure. “When you put on that white or red Canada jersey, you feel so much pressure from your country and the guys on your back,” he said. “But with pressure comes privilege. You put that jersey on and you be you, because that's why you're wearing it.”

The team's resilience was a theme. “It was kind of the story of our tournament,” Pue said of falling behind. “We were always down by a couple of goals, so we knew we still had a chance.” On the turnaround for the bronze medal game, he added, “It's important to come out hard tomorrow and wear that jersey with pride. So I'm going for bronze.”

Kwajah, who scored the goal that cut the lead to one, credited his captain. “Quick up to Pusey [Pue], and then he's hitting me coming down the lane. I just kind of buried it,” he said. “It's really all thanks to the boys.” He was also proud of the effort: “We're all just here for our country and trying to battle for each other, so I'm super proud of the boys. We still have a chance to play tomorrow, but battling to the end there really shows some character.”

Kwajah said the group is ready for the bronze medal game. “It's a big test of character,” he said. “We didn't end up with the result we wanted today, but we still have a chance tomorrow.”

Kwajah also spoke about the group he plays with. “It's been great with these players,” he said. “It's really an honour, such great players on the ice tonight, and it showed how we can build chemistry and how good everybody is out there.” It was a heart-and-soul effort from a team that battled to the last second and should be proud of how it competed.

Standouts
Matyas Cutta (20, CZE): two goals, including the opener 55 seconds in and the rebound that made it 3-2, and named Czechia's player of the game.
Dominik Zelezny (21, CZE): a goal and two assists, including the skill-and-patience goal that made it 2-1.
Matyas Novotny (CZE): 36 saves on 39 shots, including the huge cross-crease save that kept it a one-goal game.
Liam Pue (13, CAN-R): a goal and two assists, a power-play goal to tie it in the third, and Canada Red's player of the game.
Kash Kwajah (8, CAN-R): a goal and an assist, with the extra-attacker goal that made it 4-3.
Zaac Charbonneau (14, CAN-R): a backdoor power-play goal in the first period.
Owen Loftus (CAN-R): 25 saves, including full-splits and blocker saves early.

USA's Martin Stands Tall as USA Beats Canada White, 5-2

The United States will play for gold after a 5-2 semifinal win over Canada White, a game that Canada White controlled for long stretches, out-shooting the Americans 46-37, but in which USA goalie Mason Martin made 44 saves and the Americans made the most of their chances.

The first period belonged to Canada, 16-8 in shots, without a goal. Maddox Schultz was a man on a mission early, ringing one off the crossbar and creating chance after chance with Madden Daneault on his wing. On the other end, Dylan Mingo made a full-splits save on a low shot through traffic to keep it 0-0.

Canada White's forecheck was relentless early. Turchak and Brien kept the pressure on in the offensive zone, Kennedy laid down to block an Evans wrist shot, and Laurin ripped a hard shot from the slot. The Canadians also drew a pair of power plays in the first, with Daley and Buttweiler going off, but Martin kept the game scoreless with glove saves on Schultz-to-Daneault-to-McKinnon looks and a point-blank chance for McKinnon from the side of the net.

The second period opened with a huge hit from Schultz and the first power play goal of the night. With Schulberger off for holding, Kain Martinuik finished a play from Cloutier's great pass to make it 1-0 Canada White at 3:16. USA answered right away: Joey Cullen scored top shelf off a rebound on a broken play, and 12 seconds later, Ryan Teuscher's shot trickled in for a 2-1 USA lead. With seven seconds left in the period, Drew Daley took a pass at the top of the zone and ripped one low to make it 3-1, and it stood up as the game winner.

“I thought we played a great first period. It was back and forth all game,” Schultz said. “It kind of slipped away from us again in that second period. One thing we're looking for tomorrow is to play a full 60, and make sure we don't dwell and get down on ourselves in the second.”

“It felt awesome, just to get that one by the goalie,” Daley said. “I think it was perfect timing too, to get that, go up 3-1 and head to the locker room.” Cullen said the room was focused on finishing: “Just going out and finishing the game... tightening up our defensive-zone play.” Canada's room had the opposite energy. “We fully believed that game was ours to lose, even down 3-1,” coach Dylan Smoskowitz said. “Be comfortable being uncomfortable. That's kind of been the theme of our whole tournament.”

Cullen described his equalizer. “I just followed up the play and got a lucky bounce,” he said. “It popped onto my stick and I was fortunate, and just put it in.” Asked about the day off before the semifinal, he said it helped: “It was a good little reset to have that day off and focus up on playing Canada. I thought we did a good job of not coming out too slow.” Daley agreed: “I think an extra day of recovery is huge. We just chilled out at the hotel and rested up well.”

The third period turned on special teams. Canada White took back-to-back penalties, setting up a 5-on-3 for USA, and Mingo made a couple of huge saves to keep his team in it. Schultz even had a shorthanded breakaway and Martin got a piece of it with his stick. Henry's penalty and Wouters' hooking minor set up a Thompson point shot that was deflected on the way in, a power-play goal that made it 4-1 at 12:47. Smoskowitz said the PK was good, aside from a deflection: “At the end of that 5-on-3 they got a lucky one.”

Smoskowitz explained how the special teams battle shifts as a tournament goes on. “As the tournament goes on, the advantage starts to shift to the penalty kill,” he said. “In the first couple of games the power play has the advantage, because the PK is a reactive specialty. As you get more video and more reps, the PK gets dialed in. I thought our PK was good... our power play had some good looks and gave us some good energy.”

Carter Morris then stickhandled through the Canadian defence for a highlight-reel goal at 8:22, assisted by Cullen, to make it 5-1. Canada White did not stop. Schultz sent a long, unbelievable stretch pass to Colin Kennedy, who finished it to make it 5-2 with 5:08 left, and Canada pulled Mingo for the extra attacker. Schultz and Daneault had another one-timer chance stopped by an unbelievable blocker save from Martin, and a scrum after the whistle ended with penalties on both sides. The clock ran out on Canada's push.

Martin was the difference, and was named USA's player of the game. “He was unreal,” Daley said. “He kept us in there for a while, so props to him.” Cullen echoed it: “Anytime your goalie's playing well, it's a huge confidence booster for us.”

Smoskowitz tipped his cap to the goalie as well. “When you get to the final four teams, there are high-end goalies, defencemen and forwards alike,” he said. “You expect guys to have big performances, he had a good one. He's a good goalie. But there were a lot of good performances on the ice tonight.”

Schultz, Canada White's player of the game, gave Martin his due. “Props to him. He had a great game,” he said. “He stepped up when they needed him, and he got player of the game for a reason.” He also looked ahead: “We didn't come this far to get nothing. There's a medal on the line still, so it's important that we get up for it.”

Smoskowitz said he is very proud of his group. “I thought the guys worked hard. They created a lot of chances themselves. They stuck with it, the bench was positive and the energy was high. I'm very, very proud of those 22 guys.” He added that “sometimes the hockey gods have different plans for guys. If you play that game back, nine out of ten times it probably goes different ways, but tonight it wasn't our night.” Of his group heading into the bronze medal game: “They're sticking together, they're staying positive, they're excited at a chance to still medal at this tournament.” And with a Canada vs. Canada bronze game coming: “I think the medal itself is enough... My Barrie guys are playing against each other, so definitely bragging rights.”

The coach also tied the night to the journey. “We lose our first two games, and that's uncomfortable. We bounce back and win the next two. Even against the Finns, we felt like we were playing well, and all of a sudden we're tied 5-5. We were comfortable in uncomfortable situations,” he said. Cullen said the Americans' room message afterward was about the quick turnaround: “He said it was an amazing game tonight, and then it's a quick turnaround, and we get focused for Czechia.”

For USA, it's a gold medal game against Czechia. “We have to enjoy this one for a little bit, get back to an even keel and be ready to go,” Daley said. “We have to come out hot. They're a good team over there.” Cullen said the day off helped. “It was a good little reset to have that day off and focus up on playing Canada.” Daley, who grew up modelling his game after Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes, will bring that game to the final.

Standouts
Mason Martin (31, USA): 44 saves on 46 shots, USA's player of the game.
Maddox Schultz (19, CAN-W): Canada White's player of the game, with a hard-hitting, high-energy effort, a crossbar, a shorthanded breakaway and the stretch pass on Kennedy's goal.
Drew Daley (43, USA): the game-winning goal with seven seconds left in the second period.
Joey Cullen (34, USA): a goal and an assist, including the equalizer and the setup of Morris.
Carter Morris (46, USA): a highlight-reel goal and an assist on Daley's goal.
R.J. Thompson (41, USA): the power-play goal that made it 4-1.
Kain Martinuik (18, CAN-W): a power-play goal that put Canada White up 1-0.
Colin Kennedy (27, CAN-W): a goal in the third from Schultz's long pass.
Cruz Jim (8, CAN-W): had his strongest game of the tournament, moving pucks offensively while looking solid defensively.
Dylan Mingo (CAN-W): 32 saves, including several huge ones on the 5-on-3.

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