Seven different goal scorers, including the Greyhounds’ captain, powered Team Canada to a 7-1 win over Slovakia in Friday’s world junior quarterfinal in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS – The Tragically Hip hasn’t enjoyed this much play in the United States in decades.

After waiting nearly 14 minutes to find the back of the Team Slovakia net in Friday night’s quarterfinal match at the World Junior Hockey Championship, Team Canada scored five times in the final six minutes of the opening period to end their semifinal drought and returned to the final four for the first time since 2023.

Each time, the Hip’s 1992 anthem, Courage (For Hugh MacLennan), flooded the sound system at Minneapolis’ 3M Arena at Mariucci.tp the absolute delight of the mostly Canadian crowd who loudly sang along and will most certainly follow the team to Grand Casino Arena on Sunday, where they’ll take on Czechia in the semfinal round.

For forward Michael Misa and his teammates, it was a chance to let out a brief sigh of relief but recognize there still a long road ahead to the gold medal.

“It’s not even close to being done,” said Misa, the second overall pick by the San Jose Sharks last June, after the 7-1 triumph.

“We’ve got two more games, but onto the next.”

Of course, winning the quarterfinal, something Canada did not do in 2024 or 2025, was an important next step.

“You’ve got to win the quarters to get to the semis. You’ve got to win the semis to get to the final Our eyes are on the semis,” said Misa, who finished with a goal and an assist and has six points in five games at this year’s tournament.

The winner between Canada and Czechia will take on the winner of the Sweden/Finland semifinal, the Swedes doubling up Latvia 6-3 on Saturday while the Finns stunned the host United States team 4-3 in overtime.

Forward Brady Martin, whose power play goal wrapped up the scoring in the five-goal first, said he’s got one thing on his mind now that Canada has advanced.

“It’s gold medal or nothing,” said Martin, a Kitchener native currently playing for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.

“I’m really excited. That whole group is really excited. We’ve got our hands full. We’re going to have a tough opponent in Czechia, but we’re up for the challenge.

Cole Reschny started the barrage, connecting at 13:58 of the opening period on Friday night for his second goal of the tournament.

Tij Iginla, Michael Misa, Sam O’Reilly and Brady Martin followed suit chasing goaltender Michal Pradel in the process after the third of five goals in the period.

“It’s unbelievable. That’s one of the best starts you could have ever asked for,” said Cole Beaudoin, who wrapped up Canada’s attack at 10:21 of the second.

Slovakia’s lone goal came late in the third, Jan Chovan skating off the boards with the puck and firing it over the shoulder of Canadian goaltender Jack Ivankovic, making just his second start of the tournament.

Ivankovic stopped 21 of 22 Slovakian shots.

Canadian coach Dale Hunter said the fast start was all he could ask for against a team that wasn’t shy about talking upset before the game.

“They came out very well. They were skating well and we jumped on them early and you know, it’s one of the things you like in the first period, that you can set the tone for us in the game,” Hunter said.

“And we scored some goals. We had some looks early, their goalie was good, but we kept pushing and we got some goals.”

Puck drop on Sunday is 8:38 p.m. EST.

FIRST PERIOD

Scoring: 1. Canada, Reschny (Verhoeff, Beaudoin) 13:58. 2. Canada, Iginla (Martone) 14:42. 3. Canada, Misa (Parekh, MacKenzie) 16:11. 4. Canada, O’Reilly (Carels, Desnoyers) 17:03. 5. Canada, Martin (McKenna, Hage) 19:47 pp. Penalties: Straja SVK, Desnoyers CAN (roughing) 10:22, Pobezal SVK (high sticking) 18:25.

SECOND PERIOD

Scoring: 6. Canada, Martone (Verhoeff, Misa) 9:31. 7. Canada, Beaudoin (O’Reilly, Parekh) 10:21. 8. Slovakia, Chovan (Kalman, Tomik) 16:50. Penalties: Chovan SVK (hooking) 0:17, Tomka SVK (roughing) 13:15, Parekh CAN, Tomka SVK (unsportsmanlike conduct) 18:56, Carels CAN (delay of game) 19:00.

THIRD PERIOD

Scoring: No scoring. Penalties: Bench minor SVK (too many men, served by Tomka) 1:47, Martone CAN (slashing) 6:19, Parekh CAN (high sticking double minor) 14:32.

GAME DATA – SOG – Slovakia 6-7-9-22, Canada 16-20-7-43; Power plays (goals-chances) – Slovakia (0-0), Canada (1-4); Goaltenders – Slovakia: Michal Pradel, Alan Lendak (16:11, first), Canada: Jack Ivankovic; A: 5,250.