(As of 12:01 a.m.) by Hartley Miller Updated at 2:00 p.m.
World Jr. Hockey Championship: (in the Czech Republic)
Canada crushed Slovakia 6-1 today in the quarterfinals at the World Junior Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic.
Alex Lafreniere, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, notched a goal and an assist in his first game since suffering a knee injury earlier in the tournament.
Canada crushed the Czechs 7-2 Tuesday to clinch top spot in Group B with a 3-1 record.
(Earlier in the round-robin, Canada beat the USA 6-4, lost 6-0 to Russia and beat Germany 4-1.)
In other quarterfinal action today, Russia beat Switzerland 3-1, Finland got by the U.S.A. 1-0 and Sweden whipped the Czech Republic 5-0.
The semis on Saturday have Sweden against Russia (6 a.m. PT) and Canada vs. Finland (10 a.m. PT).
The Canadians lost to the Finns in overtime in the quarterfinals of last year’s tournament.
Mitch Love of Quesnel, the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades, is one of the assistant coaches for Team Canada under head coach Dale Hunter.
The tournament schedule/results right here.
Cariboo Cougars:
The Cariboo Cougars reached the final four in the 25-team men’s division at the Mac’s AAA Midget Hockey Tournament in Calgary.
The Cougars lost to the Calgary Buffaloes 6-2 in the semifinals after earlier on Tuesday defeating Okanagan Rockets 4-3 in the quarterfinals.
The Cats finished the prestigious international event with a 4-2 record. Their only losses were to the tournament finalists, the Buffaloes and the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Buffaloes whipped the Warriors 6-2 in the championship game.
Your #Macstournament winners. @aaabuffs pic.twitter.com/kUUStvx3UG
— Mac’s Tournament (@MacsTournament) January 2, 2020
Team captain John Herrington, who led the club in scoring during the tournament, was named to Mac’s all-star team.
The Cougars started the Mac’s with a 7-2 win against the Airdrie CFR Bisons, then fell 3-2 to the Warriors and bounced back with a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Royals. In their last game of pool play, they beat the St. Albert Nektar Raiders 3-2.
The Cougars will resume league play with Jan. 11-12 games in Kelowna against the Rockets.
The (17-5-1-1) Cougars will resume league play with Jan 11th-12th games in Kelowna against the
first place (20-2-1-1) Okanagan Rockets.
Cariboo is in 3rd place in the 11-team BCMML.
The Major Midget League schedule/results/standings right here.
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At the Pat Quinn Classic in Burnaby, the major bantam Cariboo Cougars played their best hockey of the season and advanced all the way to the championship game before losing to the Burnaby Winter Club 11-3.
WHL: (PG Cougars)
The Prince George Cougars host the (25-8-2-1) Everett Silvertips Friday and Saturday before heading out on a six-game prairie road trip.
Prince George beat the Silvertips 4-3 last Friday in Everett.
The Silvertips lost 4-3 in a shootout Wednesday afternoon to the Oil Kings in Edmonton.
The Cougars ended 2019 with a 3-2 Monday night overtime loss in Kelowna.
Western Conference wild-card spot. Prince George is also six points back of the (13-19-2-1) Seattle Thunderbirds.
The PG Cougars schedule/results right here.
The WHL standings are right here.
LISTEN: @Hartley_Miller brings popular former @PGCougars Evan Fuller for another round on the Cat Scan podcast @PGCougarsAlumni
| https://t.co/qB07uquXJI #CityofPG #sports pic.twitter.com/FWO2ZWt1Mj— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) December 26, 2019
BCHL: (PG Spruce Kings)
With 19 games left, the (13-21-2-3) Spruce Kings are last in the Mainland Division, three points behind (14-17-2-4) Surrey and six back of (17-17-1-1-1) Langley.
The BCHL standings are right here.
The Spruce Kings 2019-20 schedule/results right here.
BIG NEWS! Congrats to @NickPoisson11 on being added to Team West! Another accolade for #24! #GetInTheMix | #CJHLHockey https://t.co/CwgPUrl5UV
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) December 31, 2019