Team USA remains in contention for a repeat championship at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Tournament following a decisive 7-2 victory over Switzerland. With this win, the U.S. has secured a place in the medal round, aiming to become the first American team to win consecutive titles in the tournament's 49-year history. Conversely, Canada faced a disappointing exit after losing 4-3 to Czechia, marking the second consecutive year they will not advance to the medal round.

In the quarterfinal matchups, Sweden narrowly defeated Latvia 3-2, while Finland triumphed over Slovakia 5-3. Alongside Team USA's substantial victory, these match results shaped the upcoming semifinal schedule. The semifinals will feature Sweden against Finland at 3:30 p.m. ET and the United States facing Czechia at 7:30 p.m. ET. The subsequent medal round, including the third-place and gold medal matches, is scheduled for January 5, with specific matchups to be determined.

As for the Sweden vs. Latvia clash, Sweden established an early 3-0 advantage, with goals from Zeb Forsfjäll, Anton Wahlberg, and David Edstrom. Despite Latvia's determined comeback efforts, highlighted by two goals from Eriks Mateiko, they managed only two shots in the final period, allowing Sweden to secure a spot in the medal round for the fourth consecutive tournament. In a parallel contest, Team USA's strong offensive play was evident in their quarterfinal game against Switzerland, where they netted four goals in the first period, with contributors including Brandon Svoboda, James Hagens, Ryan Leonard, and Danny Nelson. Swiss players Nils Rhyn and Andro Kaderli provided their team's only goals.

Finland's game against Slovakia showcased a solid performance, although Slovakia outshot Finland. Petteri Rimpinin, Finland's goaltender, made timely saves to help maintain the lead. Despite Slovakia's concerted efforts, highlighted by their ability to narrow Finland's lead late in the third period, Jessi Nurmi's crucial insurance goal secured Finland's advancement. In a closely contested match, Czechia eliminated Canada from the tournament with a late power-play goal by Adam Jecho, depriving Canada of a chance to redeem their previous quarterfinal exit from the previous year.

As the tournament progresses, Team USA, Sweden, Finland, and Czechia will look to build momentum in their upcoming matches, poised for a thrilling conclusion to the event.