Sweden finished a perfect 7-0 at the world junior hockey championship and played a nearly perfect final to take home a gold medal for the first time since 2012.
Sweden scored short-handed and on the power play, set up by great plays from Flyers prospect Jack Berglund. Then draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg took over in the third with a tremendous skating display before a Sascha Boumedienne goal. He added an empty netter after Czechia pulled close on goals by Adam Jiricek and Matej Kubiesa.
The Swedes usually know heartbreak at the tournament with strong group play and disappointing playoffs. They had lost four of their previous five semifinals, but they got past Finland, 4-3 in a shootout, That set the stage for winning their third gold medal in the 50 years of the tournament.
Silver medalist Czechia gets its fourth consecutive medal and Vojtech Cihar was named tournament MVP. Swedish goalie Love Harenstam, Jiricek and Swedish forward Anton Frondell also received honors.
Sweden vs Czechia highlights
Tournament awards
Final score: Sweden 4, Czechia 2
Czechia made it close at the end, scoring two goals with their goalie pulled. But Sweden played a nearly perfect game for 57 minutes to make the difference. Sweden wins its first gold medal since 2012. Czechia gets silver.
Ivar Stenberg puts it away
The draft-eligible forward tucks in an empty-netter. Sweden 4, Czechia 2
Czechia scores again
Matej Kubiesa scores with 23 seconds left. Sweden 3, Czechia 2
2 minutes left
Czech goalie out. It’s 6-on-5 again.
Czechia breaks through
Adam Jiricek scores on a one-timer with 2:24 left. Sweden 3, Czechia 1.
Czechs pull goalie
It’s 6-on-5
5 minutes left
3-0 Sweden, which leads 35-20 in shots.
Czechia power play
Linus Eriksson is called for holding. Needless to say, Czechia needs to score here. They don’t. No shots. Several Sweden blocks. About 12 minutes left.
Sweden goes up 3-0
This is why Ivar Stenberg is getting so much draft attention. He stickhandles down the ice and around the Czech zone before feeding Sascha Boumedienne for a one-timer. Sweden 3, Czechia 0
Early third period
Still not a lot of space out there, but Czechia gets a couple shots.
Third period underway
Sweden controlling play so far.
End of second: Sweden 2, Czechia 0
Another special teams goal for Sweden. And they look good on the penalty kill, too. Sweden is limiting Czechia’s chances. Just 11 Czech shots so far. Twenty more minutes of this, and Sweden gets gold.
Czechia power play
Loke Krantz is called for interference. Sweden kills it off, blocking several shots.
Sweden scores on power play
Another nice assist by Jack Berglund. Victor Eklund capitalizes. Sweden 2, Czechia 0
Sweden power play
Vojtech Cihar is called for cross-checking.
Sweden pressuring
Ivar Stenberg hits the post.
Second period underway
1-0 Sweden.
End of first: Sweden 1, Czechia 0
Giving up a short-handed goal is never good and Czechia didn’t look good in its coverage. That mistake is the difference in this game. Shots are 10-6 Sweden.
Sweden scores short-handed
Jack Berglund puts on a stickhandling display and then feeds Casper Juustovaara for a short-handed goal. Sweden 1, Czechia 0
Czechia power play
Sascha Boumedienne is called for delay of game.
Czechia power play
Ivar Stenberg is called for holding the stick. It’s killed off. One shot.
Lucas Pettersson in Sweden lineup
He had missed Sunday’s game because he was ill.
Game underway
Sweden’s Love Harenstam vs. Czechia’s Michal Orsulak, Both played in Sunday’s semifinals.
What channel is Sweden vs Czechia world juniors hockey gold-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 Sweden vs Czechia world juniors hockey gold-medal game today?
Date: Monday, Jan. 5
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 local time)
The Sweden-Czechia game is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild. The start time could be delayed if the bronze medal game runs long.
World juniors hockey gold-medal game: How to watch, stream
Time: 8:30 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
Canada 6 Finland 3 (Canada wins bronze)
Sweden, Czechia lines
Sweden players to watch
Forward Anton Frondell is the No. 3 overall pick of the Blackhawks. He has five goals. Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Bjorck are eligible for the 2026 NHL draft.
Czechia players to watch
Vojtech Cihar entered the day tied for the tournament lead with 11 points, though Canadian players have passed him. He scored twice in the semifinals. Defenseman Tomas Galvas, passed over in the NHL draft, has nine points.
Sweden’s recent record in gold medal games
Sweden last won gold in 2012. More recently, it has lost four times in gold medal games: to the USA in 2024, Canada in 2018, Finland in 2014 and USA in 2013.
Czechia will win fourth consecutive medal
The Czechs are guaranteed at least a silver medal. In the three tournaments before this, they won bronzes in 2024 and 2025, plus silver in 2023.