Canada faced Latvia in the second game of the IIHF World Junior Championship.
A year ago on this day, Latvia gave a surprise by beating Canada.
Michael Hage remained on the same line, accompanied by Gavin McKenna and Brady Martin. Caleb Desnoyer made his tournament debut on the left side of the third line.
Here is the Canadiens team lineup:
Saturday installation.
Our lineup this Saturday.
#WorldJuniors | #MondialJunior pic.twitter.com/T4mWhQBrP4
– Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 27, 2025
There have been no changes on the Latvian side.
Here is the Latvian line-up:
Latvian
youth team for the first game of the world championship against the Canadian team
– LV Hockey Federation (@lhf_lv) December 27, 2025
Young hockey fans didn’t have much to practice in the first period. The Canadian team performed powerfully, hitting 11 shots on target versus Latvia's 7.
The Latvians soon realized that they would have to sacrifice body and soul to stay in the game. Several shots were blocked by Latvian players.
Despite a power play late in the period in Canada's favor, the score was 0-0 after twenty minutes of play.
At the beginning of the second period, Martins Klaukans received a five-minute major penalty and an ejection for illegally checking Zane Parekh. The check initially appeared to be legal, but after the check, both of the offender's skates left the ice before he hit a Canadiens defenseman in the head.
The Calgary Flames defenseman remained in the game, albeit shaken.
Latvia received a 5-minute penalty for hitting Martins Klaucan on the head of Zeine Parekh
pic.twitter.com/XaPDPDQSx1– Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 27, 2025
The Canadiens took advantage of the opening moments of the power play to open the scoring.
Cole Reshny returned to the roots of hockey. The latter crashed into the gap and then delivered a veiled shot that bewildered the Latvian goalkeeper.
Goal from Cole!
Cole threads the needle!
#WorldJuniors | #MondialJuniorpeak.twitter.com/bFJDkQAL0A
– Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 27, 2025
Canada's turn will be penalized with four minutes for high sticking. Ben Danford was caught off guard and it resulted in a high stick.
The Latvian team failed to capitalize on their advantages, despite several quality scoring chances.
After the second period the score was 1:0.
Caleb Desnoyers came close to doubling Canada's lead and the Latvian goalkeeper appeared to be at his mercy, but Nils Maurins followed him to perfection and saved the shot with the tip of his stick.
With less than five minutes remaining, Michael Hage made a deft pass to Brady Martin, but he hit the crossbar.
This year history repeated itself! Latvia equalized with less than two minutes left.
Rudolf Berzkalns took a shot on the rebound and beat the Canadiens goalie in the process. The game went into overtime.
No way! At the end of the third period, Latvia tied with Canada… #DejaVu#WorldJunior at RDS
pic.twitter.com/E4AiN7ezlx
– RDS (@RDSca) December 28, 2025
Michael Hage played the hero in overtime, scoring a superb goal while the team was on the power play.
Accurate, powerful kick on the rebound.
MICHAEL HAGE WITH THE WINNER IN LINE!
MICHAEL HAGE WITH THE WINNER IN LINE!
– Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 28, 2025
Final score: 2-1 in overtime in favor of the Canadiens.
Team Canada will cross swords with the Canadiens on Monday night at 7:30 pm local time (8:30 pm Montreal time) in their third preliminary game.
after a while
-Michael Hage was used in total and was the best forward on the Canadian junior team.
As for Quebec's Caleb Denoyer, he had a decent game with no points, but played solid defense and had a few scoring chances. This could keep him in the lineup for the next game.
– Canadiens captain Porter Martone was a real leader this time and behaved correctly. He played simply and, most importantly, was disciplined. Martone received a penalty in the last game for an unsportsmanlike gesture.
– The gesture will probably be reviewed by the referees after the match. Cole Beaudoin landed a very dangerous blow to the head of the Latvian striker, but was not punished. But shortly before this, Klaukantz was sent off for a similar check.
