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World Juniors: Canucks’ Braeden Cootes scores as Canada falls 4-2 to Sweden in preliminaries
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Photo credit: © Steven Ellis/The Nation Network
Dave Hall
Dec 21, 2025, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 21, 2025, 01:36 EST
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Canada and Sweden wrapped up their two-game preliminary set in Ontario on Saturday, inching closer to their final roster decisions for the 2026 World Junior Championship.
After taking the opener earlier in the week, Team Canada made its first round of cuts, sending forwards Marek Vanacker and Jake O’Brien, along with defenceman Jackson Smith, home from camp. With its skater group largely set, Canada iced a full lineup for the rematch. Sweden, meanwhile, is expected to make just one final cut ahead of its roster deadline.
Following top-six usage on the right wing in Game One, Vancouver Canucks 2025 first-round pick Braeden Cootes saw a reduced role in the rematch, skating on Canada’s fourth line as the coaching staff continued to tinker with combinations. He was also removed from both special teams units as Canada experimented with different looks ahead of the tournament proper.
On the Swedish side, Wilson Björck was held out of the lineup, with 2026 draft-eligible forward Ivar Stenberg drawing in instead.
The game opened with an unusual first-period moment, as Gavin McKenna inadvertently gave Sweden the lead late in the frame. Handling the puck in his own zone on a delayed penalty, McKenna bobbled it before it slipped over the goal line for an own goal.
Canada responded early in the second period when Tij Iginla capitalized on a loose rebound, scoring his first goal of the preliminary slate to tie the game.
Midway through the frame, Cootes got himself on the scoresheet. After Nashville prospect Brady Martin forced a turnover, Harrison Brunicke slid a perfect backdoor pass to a driving Cootes, who finished to give Canada a 2–1 advantage from his knees.
Sweden pulled even early in the third period, however, capitalizing on a shorthanded breakaway. After a miscue at the offensive blue line, the puck sprang loose from Zayne Parekh, and Berglund raced past the flat-footed defender to beat the Canadian goaltender.
Just past the midway point, Stenberg put Sweden ahead for good. Taking a pass along the half wall, he drifted toward the top of the circles and snapped a perfect wrist shot into the top corner.
Sweden added an empty-net goal late, with Berglund striking again after stripping McKenna and walking through the defence.
Both teams will now travel together on a chartered flight to Minnesota for their final tune-up games. Canada will face Denmark, while Team Sweden will wrap up its exhibition slate against Switzerland — and Canucks prospect Basile Sansonnens — on December 23.

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