Canada and Finland fell short in Sunday’s world junior hockey championship semifinals, but there’s still a medal up for grabs on Monday, Jan 5.
The two countries will play for a bronze medal, starting at 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. local time) at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Canada lost 6-4 to Czechia on Sunday and Finland lost to Sweden 4-3 in a shootout. Sweden and Czechia will play for the gold medal at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday.
Canada and Finland faced each other in the final game of the preliminary round with the Canadians skating off with a 7-4 victory.
USA TODAY Sports is providing live updates on the bronze medal game between Canada and Finland. :
Finland pulls goalie
It’s 6-on-5.
Two minutes left
Carter George gets a big save on Arttu Valila.
Gavin McKenna scores for Canada
Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen loses his stick as Canada pressures. Gavin McKenna has a wide-open net to shoot at. He has four points in the game. So does MIchael Hage, who draws an assist. Canada 6, Finland 3
Finland power play
After killing off a penalty, Finland gets a power play when Ethan MacKenzie is called for holding. Finland is 1-for-2 in the game. Canada’s Jett Luchanko gets a shorthanded breakaway, but Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen makes a glove save.
Michael Hage injury update
Hage was on the power play so he’s back in action.
Canada power play
Finland called for too many men on the ice. The Finns kill it off.
Third period underway
Finland has a carryover power play. And that’s killed off.
End of second: Canada 5, Finland 3
Canada gets another power play goal to pad its lead, but Finland kills off the last Canadian man advantage and Heikki Ruohonen scores to make it closer.
Finland power play
Michael Misa is called for holding. There will be a carryover of 33 seconds into the third period.
Michael Hage injury update
The Canadian forward is not on the bench after taking a hard fall earlier in the game, TSN reports.
Finland gets one goal back
Heikki Ruohonen shows nice speed getting to the right faceoff circle and fires over a sliding defenseman and past Carter George to get Finland closer. Canada 5, Finland 3.
Canada power play
Emil Hemming is called for slashing. Canada is 2-for-2 so far. Finland kills that one off as Canada hits a post.
Sam O’Reilly scores again
Canada’s vaunted power play strikes again. Sam O’Reilly gets his second goal of the game on a deflection. Canada 5, Finland 2
Canada power play
Heikki Ruohonen slashes Michael Misa. Canada has a power play goal in this game.
Porter Martone scores for Canada
Martone takes the tournament lead with his sixth goal. Zayne Parekh adds an assist to give him 13 career points, a Canadian record for a defenseman. Canada 4, Finland 2
Second period underway
3-2 Canada.
End of first: Canada 3, Finland 2
These teams’ first meeting ended at 7-4 Canada. This one is equally high scoring. Zayne Parekh has the go-ahead goal and ties the record for most points by a Canadian defenseman at the world junior championships.
Zayne Parekh puts Canada ahead
It’s his fifth goal of the tournament. It would have been his sixth, but his semifinal goal was awarded to Cole Reschy earlier Monday. Parekh ties Alex Pietrangelo and Bryan McCabe for most points (12) by a Canadian defenseman. Canada 3, Finland 2
Canada power play
Lasse Boelius cross-checks Cole Beaudoin to prevent a scoring change.
Finland ties game
Finland work the puck around well on the power play, but Carter George makes some good saves. After a failed Canada clearing attempt, the Finns work it to Julius Miettinen, who beats George from the right faceoff circle. Canada 2, Finland 2
Finland power play
Zayne Parekh gets called for holding as he tackles a Finland player.
Canada retakes lead
Braeden Cootes gives Canada the lead again. That’s three goals in less than five minutes in this game. Canada 2, Finland 1
Finland ties game
Arttu Valila scores on the first Finland shot. He had scored the overtime winner against the USA in the quarterfinals. Canada 1, Finland 1
Canada scores first
Sam O’Reilly scores 70 seconds into the game. Michael Hage and Gavin McKenna pick up the assists. Canada 1, Finland 0
Game underway
Goalie matchup is Canada’s Carter George vs. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen.
What channel is Canada vs Finland world juniors hockey bronze-medal game today?
TV channel: NHL Network
Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.
Watch world junior championships on Fubo
What time is Canada vs Finland world juniors hockey bronze-medal game today?
Date: Monday, Jan. 5
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 local time)
The Canada vs. Finland game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.
World juniors hockey bronze-medal game: How to watch, stream
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 5
Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
TV: NHL Network
Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.
World junior championships medal games today
Monday, Jan. 5
All times p.m. ET
Finland lineup vs. Canada
Canada lineup vs. Finland
No Brady Martin, who was injured in the semifinal. Liam Greentree is dressing. Carter George will be the starting goalie, Jack Ivankovic, who played in the semifinal, isn’t dressed.
Canada players to watch
Penn State forward Gavin McKenna could go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. He has 10 points in six games at the tournament. Canada defenseman Zayne Parekh, a Flames prospect, is tied for the scoring lead with 11 points. Parekh and captain Porter Martone, a Flyers draft pick, are among the co-leaders with five goals.
Finland players to watch
Draft eligible Jasper Kuhta and Flyers prospect Heikki Ruohonen lead Finland with seven points each. Roope Vesterinen and Joona Saarelainen (Lightning) have four goals each.
Hockey Canada mourns death of David Branch
The organization put out a statement on the death of David Branch, the former Ontario Hockey League commissioner and Canadian Hockey League president who died Sunday at 77. Branch ran the OHL, one of Canada’s three major junior hockey leagues, from 1979 until his retirement in 2024. He was CHL president from 1996 to 2019. ‘David’s impact on junior hockey in Canada is incalculable,’ the statement said. ‘He played a significant role in helping establish Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, and was recognized for his achievements by being invested into the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2016. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and we know his legacy will continue to impact the game moving forward.”
Canada beat Finland earlier in tournament
Canada won 7-4 in their matchup on Dec. 31. Brad Martin had two goals in that game, but he left the semifinal game with an injury after a collision. Cole Beaudoin also had two goals, plus an assist, for Canada. Roope Vesterinen had a goal and an assist to lead Finland.
