Washington Capitals prospects scored a ton of goals on Thursday, perhaps none more significant than Petr Sikora’s first-period marker for Czechia against Team Canada.
Sikora, a Washington sixth-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, scored just 43 seconds into the World Juniors quarterfinal matchup. After dishing to linemate Vojtech Hradec, Sikora drove to the front of the net and deflected a return pass through the five-hole of goaltender Carter George.
The goal was the first of four scored by the Czechs, who sent Canada packing before the medal rounds for a second straight tournament. Canada’s 4-3 defeat marks the first time they have bowed out in the quarterfinals in back-to-back World Juniors.
Adam Jecho scored the game-winning marker with just 40 seconds remaining in regulation. Sikora grabbed the secondary assist on the goal.
Sikora’s role in Canada’s downfall likely stung the crowd in attendance at Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre even more as they spent most of the game booing the 19-year-old forward.
He drew a five-minute kneeing major penalty on Canada’s Cole Beaudoin in the first period, and many of the home nation’s fans accused Sikora of faking an injury.
The Karvina, Czechia native, was eventually called for embellishment on a later play in the third period, much to the crowd’s delight. However, he got the last laugh as Czechia skated into the semifinals.
After leaving the ice, the Czechs were heard blaring Canada’s goal song in their locker room postgame.
Czechia was belting Canada’s goal song in their room after their Quarter-Final win 😳#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/AaJ4zPAtbv
— BarDown (@BarDown) January 3, 2025
Sikora has been one of the tournament’s highest-scoring players, tied for eighth with seven points (4g, 3a) in five games. Among the six Capitals prospects in Ottawa, only Cole Hutson (8) has more points than him.
Czechia will play Hutson, Ryan Leonard, and the rest of Team USA in the next round. Even if they lose to the Americans, they will be playing for a medal this year as the two losing semifinalists compete for bronze.
