Canada will play its final preliminary round game today against Germany at the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Canadians, who are coming off a 2-0 loss to the host Swedes on Friday, have a 2-1 record. Sweden is 3-0 and has clinched first place in Group A.


The Neepawa Farmers and Minnedosa Bombers were winners in the Tiger Hills Hockey League. Gatlyn Plett made 33 saves as Neepawa downed Boissevain 4-2 at the Yellowhead Centre. Shane Byram, Reigan Buchanan, Tarek Lapointe and Garrett Rempel did the goal scoring for the Farmers. Chase Austin and Von Mullin replied for the Border Kings. Cole Erickson scored twice as the Bombers beat Rivers 4-1. Mark Willis and James McCarville also scored for Minnedosa. Josh Belcher had the lone goal for the Jets.


The Brandon Wheat Kings won their final game of 2023 Saturday night in Regina. Brett Hyland had a goal and two assists as Brandon defeated the Pats 5-3. Roger McQueen, Rylan Roersma, Matteo Michels and Carter Klippenstein also scored for the Wheat Kings who have won nine of their last 10 games.


Nino Niederreiter scored twice and Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in front of 15,325 fans at Canada Life Centre. It was Winnipeg’s first sellout of the season. Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and Alex Iafallo also scored for the Jets who have held opponents to three goals or less in a franchise record 24 consecutive games. Winnipeg will play its final game of 2023 Sunday afternoon against the Wild in St. Paul.


Canada gave up three late third period goals and lost 4-3 to HC Dynamo Pardubice in the semifinals of the Spengler Cup hockey tournament in Davos, Switzerland. Martin Kaut scored the equalizer with 85 seconds remaining and Patrik Poulicek potted the go-ahead goal with 33 seconds left. Derek Grant scored twice for the Canadians. Jonathan Hazen had the other Team Canada goal. HC Dynamo Pardubice will meet host HC Davos in the gold medal game.