US reaches semifinals; Canada ousted

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Boston College’s Gabe Perreault scored twice and five other players had a goal as the US routed Latvia, 7-2, Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the IIHF world junior championship, hours after two-time defending champion Canada was ousted in an upset.

Perreault, the Rangers’ 2023 first-round pick, also had an assist as part of a dominant game by his line. Fellow 18-year-olds and Eagles’ Will Smith, the No. 4 pick by San Jose, and Ryan Leonard, No. 8 to Washington, combined for three points.

The Americans’ win came after favorite Canada was knocked out in stunning fashion, 3-2, to Czechia. Blues prospect Jakub Stancl scored the go-ahead goal with 11.7 seconds left.

“It feels like the world’s ending a bit,” Canada captain Fraser Minten said. “Such an unbelievable opportunity for all of us in our careers. You never really know if you’re going to get another look representing your country or playing on such a global stage.”

The Canadians carried the play for most of the final 40 minutes before Stancl fired a shot on goal in the dying seconds of regulation that deflected off the leg of Canada defenseman Oliver Bonk — the son of Czech-born ex-NHL forward Radek Bonk — and beat goaltender Mathis Rousseau.

“Felt like I gripped my stick a bit too tight,” said the Bruins’ Matt Poitras, who finished with two goals and two assists in five games.

Canada had won three of the past four world junior tournaments. In a pair of overtime quarterfinals, Finland beat Slovakia, 4-3, and Sweden beat Switzerland, 3-2. The US faces the Finns on Thursday, after the Swedes meet Czechia.