IIHF World Championship Thursday Roundup: Canada and Czech Republic Dominate

The fourth day of the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Sweden and Denmark saw several powerhouse teams flex their muscles with convincing victories, highlighted by standout performances from NHL stars.

Group A: North American Stars Shine

In a lopsided affair, Finland demolished Slovenia 9-1 behind Eeli Tolvanen's (Seattle Kraken) four-goal outburst and Teuvo Teräväinen's (Chicago Blackhawks) six-assist masterpiece. The Finns set a tournament high for goals in a game this year.

Canada maintained their perfect record with a 5-1 win over Austria, powered by Nathan MacKinnon's (Colorado Avalanche) two goals and Sidney Crosby's first tournament marker. The Canadians lead Group A with maximum 12 points.

Group B: European Powers Clash

Swiss forward Sven Andrighetto (ZSC Lions) stole the show with a four-goal performance as Switzerland routed Germany 5-1. The Swiss scored four unanswered goals in the decisive second period.

Defending champions Czech Republic regained group leadership with a 6-1 thrashing of Hungary, led by David Pastrňák's (Boston Bruins) two goals and one assist. The Czechs now sit atop Group B with 11 points.

Tournament Standings Update

Group A:
1. Canada - 12 pts
2. Sweden - 9 pts
3. Finland - 8 pts
...
7. Slovenia - 0 pts

Group B:
1. Czech Republic - 11 pts
2. Switzerland - 10 pts
3. Germany - 9 pts
...
6. Hungary - 3 pts

The championship continues Friday with key matchups including Sweden vs. Canada and USA vs. Slovakia, as teams jockey for quarterfinal positioning.