Switzerland secured its first victory at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship with a solid 3-1 win over Kazakhstan on Tuesday at TD Place, Ottawa. This important preliminary round match ensured Switzerland's advancement to the quarter-finals, showcasing strong performances from key players.
Simon Meier opened the scoring for Switzerland just 1:41 seconds after the start of the game with a power-play goal. "I actually didn't think I got a lot on it, but it was enough, I guess," Meier said, acknowledging the role of teammate Rico Gredig, who screened the Kazakh goalie, Vladimir Nikitin, allowing the puck to slip through. The Swiss team displayed impressive puck movement, a highlight noted by teammate Ludwig Johnson when he remarked, "We had good puck movement and it really helped us today. It was a big part of our power play."
Despite Switzerland's early lead, Kazakhstan responded with Kirill Lyapunov's equalizer at 6:10 of the first period, as he sent a wrist shot from the slot past Swiss goalie Christian Kirsch. This goal highlighted Kazakhstan's resilience and was their third of the tournament, helping them stay competitive throughout the match.
The second period saw Switzerland regain the momentum as Robin Antenen, a W rated skater on the NHL Central Scouting’s players to watch list for the 2025 draft, netted the second goal for Switzerland with a high snap shot from the left half-boards at 17:18. This goal proved to be pivotal as it set the stage for Switzerland to take control as they entered the third period with the lead.
Switzerland continued to dominate play, which often resulted from Kazakhstan's penalties contributing to their struggles. Johnson scored the final goal for Switzerland at 8:59 of the third period on another power play, this time with a powerful one-timer from the right face-off dot, extending the lead to 3-1 and sealing the victory. Johnson’s performance was significant, and the pressure he applied with his shots kept Kazakhstan constantly trying to catch up.
After the match, Kazakhstan’s captain, Ashlan Zhussupbekov, expressed the importance of staying competitive. "It's gonna mean the world. We have to stay here, because I think we deserve it. We just have to prove to everyone we can stay here," emphasized the captain, showing motivation to remain within the top division of junior ice hockey.
Switzerland's offensive efforts were well-coordinated, evident in their outshooting Kazakhstan, 35-12. Their effective power play strategies were apparent, converting two of their six opportunities to capitalize on Kazakhstan's penalties. Not only did Switzerland find success on the scoreboard, but their coordination on the ice was pivotal to securing this much-needed victory.
Despite their struggles throughout the tournament, where they were outscored 14-7 over their prior three games, the Swiss are now heading to the quarter-finals, where they will face either the defending champion United States or the host nation, Canada. Johnson confidently declared, "To be honest, I don't think we care who plays; it's about us and what we do out there," highlighting the team's focus and determination moving forward.
Adjustments will be necessary for Kazakhstan as they head to the relegation round against Germany on Thursday. The Kazakhs aimed for offensive improvement but recognized their need to tighten their defensive strategies after suffering considerable losses earlier, including their earlier 14-2 defeat to Czechia. They will need to regroup, and assistant captain Alexander Kim mentioned their upcoming battle, stating, "It will be tough... I think it's gonna be a fight, a war. The Germans will shoot a lot from the top, so we just gotta be ready for it."
While Switzerland has historically been the more successful hockey nation, it’s worth noting Kazakhstan has not always been easy competition. The two teams have had six past head-to-head World Junior encounters, with Kazakhstan managing two wins, demonstrating their ability to put up a fight against stronger opponents. Their most recent encounter before this championship saw Switzerland narrowly edge Kazakhstan with a 5-3 victory during the 2020 World Juniors.
Overall, this match not only highlighted Switzerland's offensive potential through strategic play but also showcased Kazakhstan's determination to evolve and improve as they look to secure their place among the best junior teams globally. Both teams will be key players to watch as they continue through the remainder of the championship.