Gold Medal Game: Sweden vs. Czechia
How to watch
Puck drop: 8:30 PM EST / 5:30 PM PST
In Canada: TSN (English,) RDS (French)
In the United States: NHL Network
Live stream: TSN+, RDS Direct
With the United States, Canada, and Finland, the three nations that have combined to win the past 13 championships, all eliminated on the way to the Gold Medal Game of the 2026 World Juniors, we’re going to see a team that doesn’t claim the title very often leaving the tournament with the gold medal. Sweden’s last gold came in 2012, just their second ever after first winning in 1981, while Czechia has to go back to 2001 to find memories of a tournament win, also their second as they claimed gold in back-to-back years.
Last year, Czechia beat Sweden in the Bronze Medal Game, and this year wants the same result for a more valuable medal. They clearly have the talent to make that happen with 30 goals through their opening six games, but Sweden managed one more leading up to this point. With Sweden also allowing the fewest goals of any team, you have to give them the advantage in this game, but it’s likely going to be a very even, high-energy match that could go either way.
Team Sweden projected lineup
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| #16 Anton Frondell |
#14 Linus Eriksson |
#18 Victor Eklund |
| #15 Ivar Stenberg |
#21 Viggo Bjorck |
#25 Eddie Genborg |
| #29 Casper Juustovaara |
#26 Jack Berglund |
#22 Loke Krantz |
| #27 Wilson Bjorck |
#12 Milton Gastrin |
#28 Eric Nilson |
|
#23 Liam Danielsson |
|
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| #8 Felix Carell |
#4 Leo Sahlin Wallenius |
| #5 Sascha Boumedienne |
#3 Felix Ohrqvist |
| #20 Alfons Freij |
#19 William Hakansson |
| #9 Victor Johansson |
|
| Starter |
Backup |
| #1 Herman Liv |
#30 Love Harenstam |
Team Czechia projected lineup
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| #15 Vojtech Cihar |
#17 Petr Sikora |
#14 Vaclav Nestrasil |
| #18 Tomas Poletin |
#12 Maxmilian Curran |
#20 Adam Benák |
| #24 Adam Novotny |
#25 Stepan Hoch |
#19 Dany Chludil |
| #11 Matej Kubiesa |
#29 Samuel Drancak |
#21 Jiri Klima |
|
#22 Adam Titlbach |
|
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| #7 Jakub Fibigr |
#5 Adam Jiříček |
| #23 Tomas Galvas |
#6 Radim Mrtka |
| #8 Matyas Man |
#3 Max Psenicka |
| #9 Vladimir Dravecky |
|
| Starter |
Backup |
| #30 Michal Orsulak |
#1 Matyas Marik |
