In an absolutely wild game to determine the winner of the IIHF U-20 World Championship Division I Group A in Bled, Slovenia, the Danes twice led by two goals but had to hang on for dear life to beat Austria in a game they needed to win in regulation time.

As a result, Denmark has qualified for the 2026 World Junior Championship in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn., USA.

Denmark vs Austria was the first game on the final day of play. Austria had won its first four games all in regulation time, while the Danes had three regulation wins and an overtime loss to France. Denmark, therefore, needed a regulation victory, while one point would be enough for the Austrians. Both teams had beaten Norway, whose lineup featured two NHL first-round draft picks and entered the tournament as the favorite.

Denmark led the last game 3-1 after one period, but Austria fought back to tie it 3-3 early in the third. With momentum on their side and needing only a single point, it felt like the Austrians had first place within hand. However, one incident with 12:11 remaining in the third period drastically affected the outcome of the game and tournament.

A knee-on-knee collision between two of the tournament’s higher profile players who both play in the SHL – Denmark center Oscar Fisker Mølgaard and Austria defenseman Gregor Biber – left Mølgaard lying on the ice. The Seattle Kraken first-round draft pick had to be helped off the ice and didn’t return to the game, although he was present in street clothes for the post-game ceremonies with no apparent injury. Biber, a Utah HC prospect, was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for kneeing.

On the ensuing five-minute power play, Denmark got two goals from Anton Linde and Oliver Larsen. Johannes Neumann got one back for Austria with 4:38 remaining. The Austrians pushed for another equalizer with their goaltender out in the late going, but were unable to do it again.

Eliminated from the possibility of advancement, the best the Norwegians can now do is third if they beat France in their last game. The team’s stars have been silent in the tournament, with Detroit Red Wings’ prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygård surprisingly held pointless through the team’s first four games.

The tournament’s last game on Sunday evening features Hungary and host Slovenia each aiming to avoid relegation to Division 1 Group B.