Sikora scores twice as Czechia levels Latvia 5-1 in world junior warm-up

By The Canadian Press on December 20, 2024.

BROCKVILLE, Ont. – Petr Sikora scored twice and netminder Jan Kavan made 21 saves as Czechia levelled Latvia 5-1 in a pre-World Junior Championship hockey game on Friday night at the Memorial Civic Centre.

Matej Mastalrisky, Adam Jecho and Patrik Volas also scored for Czechia, which outshot Lavia 30-22.

Eriks Mateiko scored for Latvia, which trailed 2-0 after the first period and 4-1 heading into the third.

Latvia went 0-for-5 on the power play, while Czechia was 0-for-3.

In a later exhibition game at the Civic Complex in Cornwall, Ont., Finland is playing Slovakia.

The 2025 World Junior Championship tournament gets underway on Dec. 26 with four games in Ottawa, including Czechia playing Switzerland at TD Place. Latvia plays Canada on Dec. 27 at the Canadian Tire Centre.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 20, 2024.