2026 World Junior Summer Showcase: Reschny, Funck highlight top standouts from Day 4
Sweden and Canada skated away with comeback victories on the penultimate day of game action at the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor, Ontario.
The opening game was a bit of a mixed bag for both Sweden and the United States. Sweden struggled early and even found themselves trailing 2-0 at one point. But five straight goals for the Swedes gave them their second consecutive come-from-behind victory, disappointing the American fans who made the short trip across the border following a 5-2 result.
The later game between Canada and Finland had a bit more spice. The first period was rather equal, with both sides getting quite physical. With just over 30 seconds to go in the opening frame, Julius Saari scored after whipping a wrister top shelf to make it 1-0. Eetu Orpana scored before the halfway point in the first, and Jesse Parssinen followed it up with a goal on his own. Canada then rallied back for three straight goals late in the second, with Dima Zhilkin scoring twice and Keaton Verhoeff tying it up late to set up an exciting third period. Goals from Caleb Desnoyers and Jackson Smith helped put the game away, giving Canada the 5-3 win – and their first of the week.
All four teams will sit tomorrow before returning for a pair of rivalry games on Saturday. Sweden and Finland will kick things off at the WFCU Centre at 12:00 PM ET, while Canada and Sweden will wrap up the tournament at 4:00 PM ET.
Here’s a look at the top performers from Wednesday night:
Sweden 5, USA 2
Sweden
#35 Mans Goos, G (Dallas Stars): Goos looked a bit floppy in the first half and really didn’t seem comfortable. But the second half was a different story, and he was a major reason why the Swedes were able to bounce back in this one. I’ve had my concerns about his game because for such a big goalie, it feels like he’s losing track of us way too often and isn’t positionally sound enough. But nobody can argue Goos’ athleticism. That massive glove save in the third period was a game-changing moment for the Swedes. I think Goos is the leader to become Sweden’s backup this winter.
#6 Linus Funck, D (Colorado Avalanche): Funck had just four goals in 65 regular season games last year with London, so it was surprising to watch him register two tonight. The Avalanche fourth-rounder plays a rugged game where he primarily focuses on killing plays. He’s good at getting the puck out of danger, but he’s never been known as much of a shooter. But, man, those two blasts today were impressive. Great effort all around for a guy who should have a good chance at making the final roster.
#17 Torkel Jennersjö, LW: Shoutout to Jennersjö – he has one of the best names in the tournament. He’s a grinder, and won’t give up on a play unless he has absolutely nothing else left to offer. Jennersjö scored a pair of goals today, with the first – the game-winner – coming after an excellent jam-in rebound off a faceoff. He’s one tough dude despite being small, and that’s because he has no regard for his own safety. I’ve enjoyed watching him in Windsor.
#28 Leo Sundqvist, RW: That’s one way to make a good impression on scouts. The undrafted winger had a goal and two assists today, where it felt like he never made a bad pass. Sundqvist never seems fazed under pressure, which allows him to be effective as a defensive threat. I like his motor and the way he’s always looking to get the puck down the ice by any means necessary.
USA
#34 Carter Amico, RHD (Philadelphia Flyers): Where did this tournament come from? In two years with the National Team Development Program, Amico had just one goal. Last season, he had one regular season goal and then three in the playoffs. That felt like a breakthrough for a guy who hadn’t really put a ton of pucks on net since he was about 13 years old. But Amico has been outstanding at this tournament, creating some high-quality offensive chances every single night. He’s one of those guys that really had to find a way to play their way onto the main roster, but it feels like he’s been one of the most impactful defensemen not named Chase Reid. He scored in today’s game, but it was called back due to a crease violation. It’s too bad because it felt like he deserved the goal given how well he played today.
#14 L.J. Mooney, RW (Montreal Canadiens): Canadiens fans have been excited about Mooney, and it’s easy to understand why. The small but skilled winger continues to find scoring lanes all over the offensive zone and was rewarded with a goal today. When he hasn’t been in the lineup, you can tell the Americans haven’t been as dynamic offensively. With him, though, it’s a dangerous group to try and contain. Mooney’s going to play a big role for the Americans in December thanks to his dog-on-a-bone energy. It feels like he’s built to thrive in a big moment because he plays with so much energy and skill.
Canada 5, Finland 3
Canada
#9 Cole Reschny, C (Calgary Flames): Reschny wasn’t in the lineup yesterday but was one of Canada’s best players today. He was buzzing all over the place, hitting guys at both ends while also creating some quality chances on the attack. Reschny had an assist on the first Canadian goal and then battled the heck out of a Finnish defender to set up the third goal. His ability to be engaged everywhere as a true play driver is one of the biggest reasons why he’ll challenge for the No. 1 C spot this winter. I hope we get to see him back in the lineup on Saturday against the States.
#18 Caleb Desnoyers, C (Utah Mammoth): Desnoyers has dealt with injuries the past few years, so I was interested to see how tough he’d play today. In the first 10 minutes alone, he threw four big hits and drew a penalty in what was one heck of an opening period for the NHL-bound forward. He then scored the go-ahead 4-3 goal early in the third to help swing the momentum in Canada’s direction. If Desnoyers doesn’t spend the full year in Utah, he’ll look to challenge for Canada’s top center job. That would be huge for Canada – his versatility would be absolutely massive.
#22 Dima Zhilkin, LW (2027 NHL Draft): What a night for the draft eligible winger. Zhilkin had a pair of goals, with both being beautiful plays where he forced the defenders to leave the blueline to chase him on the cherry pick. Zhilkin is a force of nature who makes it so hard to contain. He might no be huge, but he plays with so much raw power. And the hands? Yeah, pretty damn impressive.
Finland
#5 Julius Saari, D: Saari had been quiet heading into today, but he had a goal and an assist in this one. It felt like he was locked in from the get go, getting physical and making some great decisions with the puck. Saari is a solid two-way threat who uses his skating to dominate the puck possession. Fun fact: his goal today was his first with the Finnish junior team since the U-16 season in 2022-23.
#7 Vertti Svensk, D (Los Angeles Kings): It’s difficult to ignore Svensk’s appeal. The Kings prospect is a remarkable skater – the best on Finland’s blueline. He’s so fluid and does an impressive job of carrying the puck at speed. He uses his footwork to quickly evade attackers and sidestep opponents along the boards. My concern about him heading into the draft was his decision-making under pressure, but it didn’t seem to cause him many issues today.
#19 Jesse Parssinen, LW: Parssinen had yet another nice showing today. He has a good wrister, and he proved it on the 3-0 goal. He’s always trying to make offensive plays work, no matter the situation. Against his own age group, that’s his play style – he looks to exploit the space he doesn’t get when he’s playing against men. I expect Parssinen to be an impact player for the Finns when the games really matter.
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