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IIHF World Championship day 9 recap: Canada dominates and Klapka has a breakout performance
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Adrian Kiss
May 18, 2025, 08:00 EDTUpdated: May 18, 2025, 01:30 EDT
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There was a full schedule on the docket for Day 9 of the IIHF World Championship, with six games on tap and almost every Flames player in action on the first day of the long weekend. Here’s how things unfolded.

🇫🇮 Finland vs. 🇱🇻 Latvia

The day began with a match-up between Finland and Latvia. Finland was coming off a dominant 9-1 win over Slovenia, but their offence didn’t quite make the trip to this game. After a scoreless first period, it was Juuso Parssinen who finally broke the deadlock, finishing a slick pass from Lenni Hämeenaho to give Finland a 1-0 lead.
Mikko Lehtonen added some insurance in the third, which proved crucial.
Latvia actually controlled much of the play, out-shooting Finland 35-23. But it was Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saros who stole the show. Latvia did manage to sneak one past him late, but that was all they could muster. Finland held on for a 2-1 win.
Next games:
  • 🇫🇮 Finland: May 19 vs. 🇨🇦 Canada
  • 🇱🇻 Latvia: May 18 vs. 🇸🇰 Slovakia

🇺🇸 U.S.A. vs. 🇩🇪 Germany

The U.S. has been trying to piece things together, and they faced a tough test against Germany, who were coming off their first loss of the tournament.
Things started well for the Americans, who scored three in the first period. But the tide turned in the second, as Germany responded with three of their own to tie things up heading into the third.
In the final frame, the U.S. regained composure and struck three more times to close out a 6-3 victory.
In a game that included nine goals, it also feature nine different goal scorers such as Tage Thompson and Connor Garland for the U.S and Eric Mik and Jonas Muller for Germany.
Next games:
  • 🇺🇸 U.S.A.: May 18 vs. 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
  • 🇩🇪 Germany: May 19 vs. 🇨🇿 Czechia

🇸🇪 Sweden vs. 🇫🇷 France

Sweden had no trouble dispatching France. Out-shooting the French 36-15, the Swedes earned their third straight shutout and continue to look impenetrable defensively.
Lucas Raymond and former Flames prospect Emil Heineman each scored in the first. Elias Lindholm added another to tie the tournament lead in goals (6) in the second, and Sweden sealed the 4-0 win with a third-period goal.
Mikael Backlund had another strong outing, picking up an assist—his fifth point of the tournament—on Lindholm’s goal. He also went 78 per cent on face-offs. Rasmus Andersson had a steady, if unspectacular, performance: no points, but solid at both ends. He’s played a key role in the three consecutive shut outs Sweden has had.
Next games:
  • 🇸🇪 Sweden: May 20 vs. 🇨🇦 Canada
  • 🇫🇷 France: May 19 vs. 🇸🇮 Slovenia

🇨🇿 Czechia vs. 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

This one was all Czechia, who steamrolled Kazakhstan 8-1.
Matej Stransky opened the scoring on a first-period breakaway. Another breakaway made it 2-0 in the second, and Stransky added his second soon after. Former Flame Roman Cervenka got in on the action as well, scoring the first of his eventual hat trick before the period ended.
Adam Klapka, making just his second appearance, had a breakout performance. He muscled through Kazakhstan’s defence for his first of the tournament and later tipped in a cross-ice feed for his second. With an assist earlier in the game, Klapka finished with three points and saw a bump in ice time—likely earning more minutes going forward.
Dan Vladar saw this game from the Czech bench as Karel Vejmelka took the reins in this one. There is still a good chance Vladar will see some game action before this tournament is over.
Next games:
  • 🇨🇿 Czechia: May 19 vs. 🇩🇪 Germany
  • 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan: May 18 vs. 🇺🇸 U.S.A.

🇩🇰 Denmark vs. 🇳🇴 Norway

In the final Group B game of the day, Denmark aimed for a third straight win, while Norway continued searching for their first.
Denmark came out strong with two goals in the opening frame from Patrick Russell and Mikkel Aagaard. Norway responded late to stay within one.
In the second, Denmark took over with three unanswered goals to stretch the lead to 5-1. Norway added another late marker, but the game was already out of reach.
Both teams scored once more in the third to finish 6-3. Norway remains winless and is now facing the threat of relegation if results don’t turn around in their remaining games
Next games:
  • 🇩🇰 Denmark: May 20 vs. 🇩🇪 Germany
  • 🇳🇴 Norway: May 19 vs. 🇭🇺 Hungary

🇨🇦 Canada vs. 🇸🇰 Slovakia

In the final game of Day 9, Canada made a statement with a 7-0 dismantling of Slovakia.
Already up by two after the first, it was Canada’s big names who took over. Sidney Crosby opened the second-period scoring, followed by a sweet goal from Macklin Celebrini and another from Nathan MacKinnon. Both Crosby and MacKinnon added their second goals of the night in the third to push Canada’s tournament goal total to be tied at the top with Czechia at 28.
MacKenzie Weegar was once again kept off the scoresheet. While offence isn’t his main role, you know he’d love to chip in soon. That said, his defensive game has been rock solid.
Samuel Honzek and the Slovaks were simply over-matched. Honzek had limited minutes through the first two periods but saw more ice in the third, logging over six minutes when the game was already out of reach.
Next games:
  • 🇨🇦 Canada: May 19 vs. 🇫🇮 Finland
  • 🇸🇰 Slovakia: May 18 vs. 🇱🇻 Latvia

Day 10 schedule

(All times MT.)
  • 🇸🇮 Slovenia vs. 🇦🇹 Austria — 8:20 a.m.
  • 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan vs. 🇺🇸 U.S.A. — 8:20 a.m.
  • 🇸🇰 Slovakia vs. 🇱🇻 Latvia — 12:20 p.m.
  • 🇭🇺 Hungary vs. 🇨🇭 Switzerland — 12:20 p.m.
While most Flames players will rest up ahead of the final stretch of round-robin games, tune in tomorrow to catch Sam Honzek and Slovakia as they look to bounce back against Latvia.
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