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The highlight of the Group A schedule was the clash between host nation Czechia and favourites to win Canada. The significance of the match was evident in the crowd – over 3,500 fans packed the arena in Brno, creating a fantastic atmosphere. Canada opened the scoring in the first period, but fell silent in a goalless middle frame. The decisive moment came in the third period, where the Czech team conceded four goals. With the win, Canada secured first place in the group, while Czechia will face Slovakia in a battle for fifth place.
Penalties: 3:5. PP goals: 0:0. SH goals: 0:0.
Attendance: 3.
Report
The opening 20 minutes featured fast-paced, evenly matched hockey. The energy in Brno peaked, with the crowd pushing the Czech team forward. However, it was Canada who celebrated the first goal. After a great blocked shot, goalie Poletín deflected the puck straight to Daxon Rudolph, who passed it to his left to Liam Ruck who made no mistake in burying it into the open net.
No goals were scored in the second period, despite Czechia having a five-minute powerplay after Dimian Zhilkin fauled Šimon Bělohorský. Even with a 5-on-3 advantage for over 30 seconds, the Czechs couldn’t convert. Their best chance came from Tománek and Maxa – after a shot from the blue line, the Plzeň duo tried to pounce on the rebound, but Betts managed to keep Canada ahead. Following that missed opportunity, Canada looked hungrier and the home side had to rely on luck several times to stay in the game.
Canada sealed the win with a dominant final period. In the 52nd minute, Edwards skated behind the net and tucked the puck in to make it a 2:0 game and three minutes later, Rudolph fired a precise wrist shot into the top-right corner – an unstoppable strike that left Poletín with no chance – to up the score to 3:0. Liam Ruck made it 4:0 late in the game and Canada added a fifth just 30 seconds before the end. By the second Canadian goal, the Czech team appeared resigned to the result. Offensively, they simply didn’t have enough on the night.