World Junior Recap – Slukynsky (Gold) & Dvorak (Bronze) Win Medals while George shines for Canada

Hampton Slukynsky (USA) and Jakub Dvorak (Czechia) each brought home hardware from the 2025 World Junior Championships (WJC) that concluded over the weekend. Taking place in Canada across 11 days, with Ottawa the host city, it was Slukynsky and the Americans that came away from the U-20 showcase event with the Gold Medal, marking the first time in country history that the United States won the Gold Medal in back-to-back tournaments (2024-25). Also significant, Dvorak and the Czechs defeated Canada in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year and followed that win up with a second consecutive Bronze Medal, defeating Sweden in the bronze-medal game.

Both medal games ended in dramatic fashion as the Gold Medal was decided in the eighth minute of a 3-on-3 overtime, with USA defeating Finland, while the Czechia won the Bronze Medal over Sweden in an almost inconceivable 14th round of a shootout.

Kings Player Performances
Hampton Slukynsky (USA)
Slukynsky returns to Western Michigan University with a well-earned Gold Medal after appearing in two of USA’s games, including a quarterfinal elimination game. Going 2-0-0 in the tournament, Slukynsky stopped 42 of 45 shots faced against Latvia and Switzerland to earn himself a tournament-high .933 save percentage and 1.50 goals against average. Slukynsky’s two victories helped propel USA to an impressive 6-0-1 record across the tournament.

Slukynsky entered the tournament in a tough position to take the net, coming in behind Trey Augustine, who led the United States to a gold medal last season as well. Slukynsky earned the second spot, however, and was trusted to play not only a group-play game but also an elimination game in a must-win situation. He excelled in both opportunities. With Western Michigan, Slukynsky has a 3-3-1 record this season with a .941 save percentage and a 1.84 goals-against average. He ranks third in the NCAA in save percentage and tenth in goals-against average, the best marks in a country by a freshman goaltender.

Jakub Dvorak (Czechia)
Dvorak heads back to the Ontario Reign with his Bronze medal having played a crucial role on the blue line for Czechia. Often paired against the top lines of their opponent, the Kings second round draft pick from 2023 logged an average of 17:15 time on ice, netted one goal and was a +4 across seven games.

Dvorak was unable to participate in last season’s tournament, as he prepared for a big life move, coming from professional hockey in Czechia to the Western Hockey League in Canada. Dvorak returned to the professional ranks this season with the Reign and has held his own against much older and more experienced players. Now, he returns to Ontario to continue the second half of the season. Dvorak could be in line for his return to action this week, with the Reign set to play twice.

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Carter George (Canada)
George was given the helm of Canada’s net entering the tournament and was stellar despite the team’s disappointing early exit in the quarterfinal round. George began his tournament with back-to-back shutouts over the eventual Silver Medalists, Finland, and Germany, making a combined 61 saves in the two victories.

George’s pair of wins brought Canada back into contention for the top seed of Group A as he and his team faced USA in the last day of group play with the winner earning that coveted top seeding going into the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, from that point on, Canada’s skaters got George into an uphill battle that he often times had to face on his own. George and Canada fell 4-1 to USA behind three American power play goals on seven opportunities dropping them to the third seed in the group. Then, George and Canada’s unlikely quarterfinal departure from the 2025 World Juniors thanks to Dvorak’s Czechs came in heartbreaking fashion. Put in four very difficult positions in the game, George surrendered two backdoor tap-ins, gave up an own goal from a defenseman accidentally swatting the puck into his own net and a last minute one-timer on the power play to fall 4-3 in regulation. George, who heads back to the OHL concluded the tournament 2-2-0.

At the end of the tournament, George was selected as one of the top three performers on Team Canada, as is custom for each team at the tournament.

George now heads back to the OHL with an Owen Sound team that has struggled early in the season, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference. George and the Attack sit seven points out of a playoff spot and, as per this article on Daily Faceoff, they’d be much further back if not for the play of George between the pipes. See if he can continue his own strong play, both in net and on the scoresheet, in the second half.

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

With the World Juniors behind us, we’ll have plenty of prospect coverage in the second half of the season. For the Kings, they’re back on the ice for practice this morning, progressing towards tomorrow’s homestand finale against Calgary and, eventually, the five-game roadtrip that begins in Winnipeg on Friday. More to come on all fronts!