PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Day four of games from the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase took place here today at USA Hockey Arena with Canada topping Finland, 8-6, and Sweden taking down the U.S. by a 7-5 count.

The event serves as an evaluation for athletes seeking to make their respective national teams for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, set for Dec. 26, 2024, through Jan. 5, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario.

Below are brief recaps from the two games.

HIGHLIGHTS

Propelled by three power-play goals, Canada skated to an 8-6 win over Finland in the first game of the day.

Finland’s Topias Hynninen opened the game’s scoring 11:55 into the game with a power-play tally, finishing a quick rebound off an initial shot by Emil Pieniniemi.

Canadian winger Andrew Cristall found the equalizer with a power-play goal of his own 3:38 later with a shot from the right dot.

Tij Iginla scored goals just eight seconds apart late in the period to give Canada a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes. A tip-in off perfect pass from Beckett Sennecke with 1:10 to play gave the Canadians a lead they would not relinquish, then a shot went five-hole off a seam pass from Dylan MacKinnon to wrap up a busy first.

Cristall netted his second of the night 3:05 into the middle frame, putting the finishing touch on a tic-tac-toe play with Vincent Collard, then Cole Beaudoin made it 5-1 with 8:58 left in the period with a wrister from the right dot.

A power-play score from Pieniniemi just over a minute later from the top of the left circle made it 5-2 heading into the final period.

Sennecke buried a one-timer on the power play 1:22 into the third, Sam Dickinson scored a power play goal of his own just 45 seconds later, then Riley Heidt scored off the rush to give the Canadians an 8-2 lead.

The Finns registered four goals in the back half of the period, including two on the power play, to account for the 8-6 final.

GAME PHOTOS

Despite outshooting Sweden by a 39-19 count, Team USA dropped a 7-5 contest to close the day’s action.

Sweden jumped out to a 3-0 lead after Leo Sahlin Wallenius snuck home a rebound off an Albert Wikman shot from the point 3:57 into the game, then Jack Berglund tipped in a quick feed from Isac Hedqvist home 1:38 later. The third came from Lucas Pettersson, who came flying off the Swedish bench and went far-side from the right dot with 5:20 left in the period.

Austin Burnevik (Blaine, Minn.) got Team USA on the board with 2:30 left in the first, going forehand backhand in the low slot off a centering feed from Chris Pelosi (Sewell, N.J.). William Whitelaw (Rosemount, Minn.) picked up an assist on the play as well.

Joey Willis (Elmhurst, Ill.) cut Sweden's lead to one with a wrister that went blocker side past Melker Thelin at the 11:01 mark of the middle frame. Jayson Shaugabay (Warroad, Minn.) and Jake Fisher (Woodbury, Minn.) collected assists.

Felix Nilsson responded on a breakaway with 6:15 to play in the period and a power-play goal from Theo Lindstein less than two minutes later made it 5-2 after 40 minutes.

Svante Sjödin scored at 6:56 of the third to stake Sweden to a 6-2 advantage.

A one-timer from Whitelaw on the power play with 11:51 left in regulation cut the Swedish lead to three. Logan Hensler (Woodbury, Minn.) and Willis tallied assists.

Shaugabay scored on a breakaway with 5:53 to play after Willis chipped the puck free at the top of the U.S. zone, then Team USA pulled Sam Hillebrandt (Riverview, Fla.) for an extra attacker and Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass.) slipped the puck past Thelin in the low slot after connecting with Whitelaw on the power-play.

Victor Eklund scored into an empty net with :55 left for the 7-5 final.

Sam Hillebrandt (Riverview, Fla.) had four saves in the first 29:14 of play, while Carsen Musser (Sherburn, Minn.) went the rest of the way and had eight stops.

GAME PHOTOS