Canada defeats Finland 7-4 on New Year’s Eve at world juniors to top Group B

MINNEAPOLIS – Cole Beaudoin walked out of his home rink bitterly disappointed one year ago.

The Canadian forward had a much better New Year’s Eve exactly 12 months later.

Beaudoin scored twice and added an assist as Canada topped Finland 7-4 at the world junior hockey championship Wednesday. 

“You watch this tournament, and you watch this game specifically on New Year’s Eve with your family, so means a lot,” said the Ottawa native. “But couldn’t have done it without my linemates, the team.” 

One of six returnees from the group that lost to the United States 4-1 at Canadian Tire Centre in the nation’s capital before the calendar flipped to 2025 ahead of getting ousted in the quarterfinals, Beaudoin has done his best to put that disaster behind him.

The pain, however, will linger until there’s a gold medal hanging from his neck.

“Last year’s in the past,” Beaudoin said. “But it’s super cool and means a lot to keep this going. We need to keep this momentum going and crush some more dreams.” 

Brady Martin also scored twice for Canada, while Zayne Parekh had a goal and a pair of assists to help their country finish atop Group B at the annual men’s under-20 tournament. Tij Iginla scored and set up another. 

Michael Hage, Sam O’Reilly and Caleb Desnoyers each chipped in two assists. Carter George made 14 saves. O’Reilly added an empty-netter for a three-point night.

Canada’s third line of Beaudoin, O’Reilly and Desnoyers — a buzz-sawing trio that starts each period — combined for eight points on the night.

“That line has been getting us momentum, changing games for us,” George said. “They showed their offensive skills, and put the puck in the net. It was huge for us, and they sealed the win for us. 

“Our best line by far.” 

Roope Vesterinen, with a goal and an assist, Julius Miettinen, Oliver Suvanto and Lasse Boelius replied for Finland. Matias Vanhanen registered two assists. Petteri Rimpinen stopped 25 shots. 

Canada now pivots to Friday’s quarterfinal clash with Slovakia. The other matchups will see Finland take on the United States, Sweden face Latvia, and Czechia meet Switzerland. 

The Canadians secured 11 of a possible 12 points through four round-robin games, with the only blemish a 2-1 overtime triumph over Latvia. Canada has won seven straight against Finland at the world juniors, with the last loss coming in the quarters of the 2019 event in Vancouver. 

Finnish captain Aron Kiviharju, who played almost 28 minutes in Monday’s 2-1 OT victory against Czechia, sat out with an illness. 

Iginla broke a 3-3 tie midway through the second period when he took a long breakaway pass from Parekh on a power play and fired glove side. 

Beaudoin made it 5-3 with under three minutes to go before the intermission, but the Finns, who picked up a chippy 6-3 victory over Canada in a July exhibition game, responded 35 seconds later when Vesterinen jumped on a Keaton Verhoeff turnover and roofed his shot past George’s right ear. 

Beaudoin gave his team some breathing room at 6-4 with his second in the third, and Canada cruised from there on New Year’s Eve before O’Reilly iced it late. 

The countries were fired out of a cannon in a wild opening period at 3M Arena on the University of Minnesota campus. 

Parekh scored on the game’s first shot before Miettinen did the same on Finland’s initial effort on target. 

Voted goaltender of the tournament last year when Finland fell to the U.S. in a thrilling OT final, Rimpinen also allowed the second shot he faced when Martin bagged his first of the night 32 seconds later. But Suvanto replied just over a minute later as the countries combined for four goals on four official shots. 

Martin made it 3-2 on a power-play rebound before Boelius replied on a Finnish man advantage that stood after Canada challenged for goaltender interference on George, whose glove was touched by Joona Saarelainen’s stick, as the teams combined for six goals on 13 shots in just under 12 minutes. 

“Just a whirlwind of emotions there,” George said. “For us to score that early in the crowd being in it, and then to give out the lead three more times after that, it was definitely a crazy period.” 

Canada is looking to get back on the podium and is eyeing a record 21st gold medal after back-to-back fifth-place finishes, including last year on home soil. 

“There’s no place I’d rather be right now is playing hockey and playing for Team Canada,” Martin said. “It’s amazing I’m here … can’t wait for the next games coming.” 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2025.