Sweden Beats Czechia to Win Gold in 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship Bracket

Sweden has won its first IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal since 2012.

After finishing fourth last year and second in 2024, the Swedes handled business against Czechia, winning 4-2.

Sweden beat Finland in the semifinals on Sunday, while Czechia advanced past Canada to reach the gold medal game. Before Monday's championship game, Canada downed Finland in the third-place game.

Sweden's Casper Juustovaara opened up scoring in the first period, finding the back of the net after an assist from Jack Berglund.

Sweden then made it a 2-0 lead in the second period after Victor Eklund scored off an assist from Berglund and Ivar Stenberg on a power play.

Sweden tacked on early in the third period to go up 3-0, this time on a goal from Sascha Boumedienne off a play by Stenberg. Czechia managed to answer and show some signs of life with a goal from Adam Jiříček.

Czechia then managed to cut it down to just a 3-2 deficit, scoring in the final minute thanks to a goal from Matej Kubiesa.

Unfortunately for the Czechs, their scoring outburst was too little, too late, and they couldn't complete the three-goal comeback.

While Sweden's defense was questionable in the final three minutes, it did just enough to end its 14-year championship drought.